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Emissão Online \| Historial \| Ajuda? Actualizado às 18:16 de 14/06/2006 Timor-Leste: A posição do Governo de Díli O Governo timorense classifica de "mal entendido" o recente incidente entre a Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) e as forças australianas em Timor-Leste. 07/06/2006 Ana Pessoa Enviar por e-mail Versão para imprimir (23:21) Os militares australianos negaram-se a receber, num centro de detenção que controlam em Díli, três detidos transportados pela GNR, questionando a legitimidade das forças portuguesas. A ministra da Administração Estatal timorense garante que a permanência da GNR no terreno não está em causa. Ana Pessoa reconhece, no entanto, que existe ainda falta de coordenação, mas espera que a situação seja resolvida após reuniões entre as partes. "É natural que no início, quando as coisas não estão definidas ao pormenor, possam surgir mal entendidos, que acreditamos vão ser rapidamente ultrapassados", diz a governante timorense. O Executivo português ordenou que os militares da GNR passem a estar confinados ao quartel-general improvisado em Díli, até ser resolvida a questão da coordenação das forças no terreno. Segundo o porta-voz do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Carneiro Jacinto, para já estão suspensas as negociações técnicas entre forças portuguesas e australianas no terreno. Já o Ministério da Administração Interna garante que a missão da GNR não está em causa. NOTÍCIAS RELACIONADAS: Timor-Leste: Missão da GNR confinada a quartel OUTRAS NOTÍCIAS - HOJE: Restantes notícias do dia Função Pública: FESAP anuncia vigília Desporto/Lei: Nova Lei de Bases segue para o Parlamento Economia: Sócrates diz que nada está perdido Economia: BE pede firmeza ao Governo Greve/Docentes: Ministra acusa Fenprof de ter agenda político-partidária Mau tempo: Várias inundações em bairros históricos de Lisboa Economia: Opiniões da GM e do ministro da Economia coincidem Casa Pia: Governo dá um abono ao procurador Municípios: As propostas do PSD para descentralizar competências Parlamento: Lei da Paridade com nova votação agendada Justiça: Sentenças condenam "gang do Norte" Economia: Poucas certezas quanto às negociações em curso Ensino Superior: Como anda o processo de Bolonha Greve/Docentes: Os números de adesão à greve Saúde: É o Dia Nacional da Dor Iraque/Embaixada: Resposta incompreensível, diz sindicato Túnel do Marquês: Obras com fim à vista Greve/Docentes: Escolas a meio gás Arrendamento: Nova lei em Conselho de Ministros UNESCO: Sintra com diversas advertências Iraque/Embaixada: Um "sequestro técnico" na representação portuguesa Trânsito: "Estrada Segura" em curso Meteorologia: Chuvas e trovoadas em todo o país Desemprego: Nova descida em Maio Co-incineração: Processo volta ao Parlamento Greve/Docentes: Professores queixam-se, Governo estranha Álvaro Cunhal: O testemunho de Jerónimo de Sousa OUTRAS NOTÍCIAS - ARQUIVO: Seleccione: Ontem Anteriores 14/06/2006 - 18:09 No intervalo do segundo jogo do Grupo H, a Tunísia ganhava por uma bola a zero, um golo marcado pelo avançado Ziad Jaziri. 14/06/2006 - 15:39 Mundial 2006: Espanha 4 Ucrânia 0. - Lisboa: 25º - Porto: 24º - Coimbra: 27º - Faro: 23º Acha ou não que se está a criar expectativas demasiado altas para a prestação da Selecção Nacional de futebol no Mundial 2006? Sim Não VOTAR \|\|\|\|\| A GNR está confinada ao seu quartel improvisado em Díli com ordens do governo português para não sair a rua devido a um bloqueio diplomático nas negociações com a Austrália sobre as cadeias de comando, disse fonte governamental. A decisão foi tomada depois de um incidente a meio da tarde de quarta-feira (hora local), quando a GNR transportava dois detidos para o novo centro de detenção temporária guardado pelas tropas australianas. Os militares australianos negaram-se a receber os detidos, questionando a legitimidade da GNR para proceder às detenções. De acordo com a fonte, o governo português decidiu suspender todas as negociações técnicas no terreno sobre a actuação da GNR e as formas de coordenação com outras polícias e os militares australianos. Neste momento decorrem negociações urgentes em Nova Iorque, disse ainda a fonte à Lusa, confirmando estar actualmente em causa a permanência da GNR em Díli, a não ser que Xanana Gusmão e o governo timorense clarifiquem a actuação da força portuguesa no quadro do acordo bilateral assinado ente Lisboa e Díli que garante à GNR autonomia operacional. \|\|\|\|\| A decisão foi tomada depois de um incidente a meio da tarde de quarta-feira (hora local), quando a GNR transportava duas pessoas para o novo centro de detenção temporária guardado pelas tropas australianas. Os militares australianos negaram-se a receber os detidos, questionando a legitimidade da GNR para proceder às detenções. De acordo com a fonte, o governo português decidiu suspender todas as negociações técnicas no terreno sobre a actuação da GNR e as formas de coordenação com outras polícias e os militares australianos. Neste momento decorrem negociações urgentes em Nova Iorque. Em causa está a permanência da GNR em Díli, a não ser que Xanana Gusmão e o governo timorense clarifiquem a actuação da força portuguesa no quadro do acordo bilateral assinado ente Lisboa e Díli que garante aos militares portugueses autonomia operacional. Ouvida pela TSF, a ministra da Estado de Timor-Leste, Ana Pessoa, afirma que não faz sentido a ideia de que pode estar ameaçada a missão do sub-agrupamento Bravo no território timorense. «Os problemas que surgiram com as autoridades australianas vão ser certamente resolvidos e ultrapassados com maior coordenação e articulação com o Governo de Timor-Leste a fazer esse papel», disse. Para Ana Pessoa o que está em discussão nesta altura é apenas que missão a GNR vai assumir efectivamente no terreno. \|\|\|\|\| Morreu o militar dos comandos que estava internado no hospital Curry Cabral, em Lisboa devido a um golpe de calor. O estado de saúde de Dylan da Silva agravou-se e não pôde receber o transplante de fígado de que precisava para sobreviver. O ministro da Defesa já lamentou a morte do militar, Azeredo Lopes diz que é imperativo dar continuidade ao inquérito para apurar as causas das mortes no curso de Comandos. \|\|\|\|\| "White Lines", a nova série da Netflix com Nuno Lopes: "Não podia ter saído numa altura melhor, é o oposto do que estamos a viver" MAG	The Portuguese Republican National Guard (GNR), that arrived last Sunday at Dili, have interrupted their patrols in the streets of Dili and are now confined to their temporary headquarters. Map of Dili and immediate surroundings. According to a Portuguese governmental source, the GNR force is confined to its improvised headquarters in Dili, with orders from the government not to go out into the streets, due to a diplomatic block in the negotiations with Australia about the command chain. The decision was made after a incident during the middle of the afternoon (local time), when a Republican National Guard patrol was transporting three men to a new temporary detention center, guarded by Australian troops. The Australian soldiers refused to receive the detained men, questioning the legitimacy of the Portuguese soldiers to make arrests. At this moment, urgent negotiations are being made in New York. Portugal is waiting for President Xanana Gusmão and the Timorese government to clarify the action of the Portuguese force on the bilateral agreement signed between the two governments that guarantees operational autonomy to the Portuguese soldiers. Contacted by SIC reporters, the spokesman of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, Carneiro Jacinto, denied that the problem is the presence of the GNR in East Timor. Carneiro Jacinto told SIC that the case is being handled through diplomatic channels, including the United Nations, the government and the Timorese presidency. Carneiro Jacinto also said that it's necessary to clarify the case once and for all, so that situations "serious like this one" will not be repeated. Ana Pessoa, East Timor's State Minister, told TSF News Agency that the idea that the Portuguese contingent's mission in Timor may be threatened makes no sense. She said all that is being discussed at this time is what mission the GNR force will assume in East Timor. Last Friday (June 2) an Australian mission held a meeting with Portugal's Foreign Minister, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, who was sent to ask for clarification of the agreement signed the day before (June 1, Thursday) between Portugal and East Timor. The agreement gave the Portuguese Republican National Guard troops their own operational command, reporting directly to President Xanana Gusmão. In a meeting on Monday (June 5) between Australian, Malaysian, New Zealand and Portuguese representatives, the four countries discussed the creation of a coordination structure, instead of an entirely Australian-led command, for the police forces working on the Timorese territory. Beyond the 120 soldiers of the Portuguese Republican National Guard force, that arrived this Sunday to East Timor, there are 70 Australian and 200 Malaysian police officers in the country. A New Zealand police team also arrived yesterday from Auckland to negotiate their possible contributions towards policing. In addition to these police forces, the international force includes more than 2,000 Australian, New Zealand and Malaysian soldiers.
Due to COVID restrictions, the NCAA and the city of Indianapolis plan to hold the entire 2021 NCAA Tournament in central Indiana, allowing teams to avoid traveling across the country during a pandemic. The NCAA plans to utilize six venues for tournament games. Teams will practice at the Indiana Convention Center and stay at hotels in Indianapolis. Check out the six venues that will host games for the 2021 men’s division I basketball tournament. \|\|\|\|\| Air Park Manager: Steven P. Rocco 1001 NE 10 Street, Pompano Beach, Fl 33060 954.786.4135 Fax 954.786.4136 History Services Goodyear Blimp The Pompano Beach Air Park, located in the heart of the Gold Coast serves the general aviation needs of Broward County. This air transportation facility is owned and operated by the City of Pompano Beach with easy access to recreational activities such as fishing, scuba diving, and boating. Also, located on the airport property is a municipal golf course (36 holes); driving range; Sand Traps restaurant; municipal swimming pool; municipal baseball stadium; tennis facility; bike path; fitness trail and community park. In addition, the Amphitheater (across NE 10 Street) offers a variety of entertainment. Nearby is the Pompano Beach Square Mall to meet your shopping needs. The airport provides a multitude of general aviation services including: flight training, aircraft rental, air taxi/charter, scenic rides, air ambulance, aerial photography, mapping and surveying, search & rescue, storage hangers, aircraft sales, maintenance, avionics repairs and ramp services (aircraft fueling, tiedowns, catering, etc.) For a listing of contact numbers for the Pompano Beach Air Center please click here. Quiet Flying is good business .. The City of Pompano Beach, owner and operator of Pompano Beach Air Park, is concerned with the impact of aircraft operations over sensitive residential areas. Pilot in Command (PIC) cooperation in adhering to guidelines and procedures is critical in minimizing this impact. Take a look at our guidelines. History Pompano Beach Airport was constructed during World War II as a satellite training field serving the Naval Air Station located at what is now Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. On August 29, 1947, the City of Pompano Beach obtained the Airport under the Surplus Property Act of 1944 and renamed it Pompano Beach Air Park, due to its intent to limit the airport's usage to general aviation. For the same reason, the City shortened Runway 15-33 from its original length of 5,000 feet to its current length of 4,420 feet in 1971. Additional lands surrounding the Air Park, including land along Copans Road and the Florida East Coast Railway tracks to the west of the Air Park, were transferred to the City on June 24, 1948, bringing the total acreage at the Air Park to 1.035 acres. On August 5, 1958, 10 acres of Air Park property were released to Broward County School Board for the construction of Pompano Beach Elementary School. The County received 9 more acres on September 18, 1967. On March 8, 1958, the City sold 60 acres, located in the northeast corner of the Air Park Property, for development of the Pompano Square Mall. The final transfer of Air Park property occurred in 1981 when 10 acres in the southwestern section of the Air Park Property were purchased by the Pompano Elks Club. These transfers account for the current total 946 acres of the Air Park. Pompano Beach Air Park is owned by the City of Pompano Beach. The Air Park is a Surplus Property Act airport; the Surplus Property Act of 1944 states that any lands conveyed under the act must be used for aviation purposes or ownership reverts back to the FAA. The FAA can, however, release excess portions of the property for non-aviation purposes; any proceeds from the sale of excess property must be used to support airport growth and development under the stipulations of the Surplus Property Act. Services Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) provide a wide range of services at the Air Park. These services include: * Aircraft/helicopter charter, taxi and rentals * Bank courier services * Aircraft sales * Aviation fuel sales * Flight instruction * Aircraft engine, propeller, and accessory maintenance * Aircraft storage The available aircraft storage offered by FBOs at Pompano Beach Air Park includes T-hangers and apron tie-downs. In the winter months the Air Park is the base for approximately 235 general aviation aircraft, 10 rotor craft, and 1 airship (blimp). The general aviation aircraft consist mostly single-engine pistons, twin turboprops, and twin pistons; there are no general aviation business jets currently based at the Air Park. FBO Phone Numbers and Links: Other Links of Interest Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) The National Business Aviation Association Inc (NBAA) Stars and Stripes Click on image for larger view	A Goodyear blimp crashed at a Coral Springs, Florida industrial park on Thursday night, causing about 1,400 homes to lose power. The two people on board, pilot Daniel Lynn Thomas and passenger Charles Thomas, were not hurt, although they were trapped on board briefly while electrical crews cleared the area. The blimp, named the "Stars and Stripes" is 192 feet long, 59.5 feet tall, and 50 feet wide. It took off from Goodyear's 32 acre blimp base at Pompano Beach Air Park, about 12 miles away, shortly before the crash. It is one of three Goodyear Blimps in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash, thought to be weather related. Goodyear company spokesman Jerry Jenkins, in a brief statement on Thursday, said, "We're grateful there were no injuries onboard or on the ground. Following an investigation, more information will be released." "Stars and Stripes" was the oldest of the three operational Goodyear blimps and was best known for providing aerial coverage of NASCAR races.
Triple vehicle crash injures 13 Canadian soldiers KANDAHAR, Afghanistan Thirteen Canadian soldiers suffered minor injuries when three armoured vehicles smashed into each other on the pre-dawn streets of Kandahar. Major Dale MacEachern, a spokesman for the Canadian Forces, says the accident happened when a convoy of recently arrived combat troops was moving between bases. All of the injured were treated at the nearby medical clinic at the Canadian-run provincial reconstruction base, but six of them were transferred by air to the NATO hospital at Kandahar airfield for further observation. Maj. MacEachern says all of the injuries are minor and the soldiers are expected to return to duty within days. Details of how the accident happened were not released and military police are investigating. The fact all of the soldiers involved are new to the theatre is being considered as a factor because each new rotation has encountered a series of vehicle accidents at the beginning. \|\|\|\|\| Eight dead in Afghan helicopter crash 13 Canadians hurt in separate accident Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press Published: Sunday, February 18, 2007 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Military investigators from two countries are looking into two separate crashes that killed eight NATO soldiers and injured 27 Sunday in southern and eastern Afghanistan. The worse accident involved a coalition CH-47 Chinook helicopter that crashed in the Shahjoy district of Zabul province, roughly 270 kilometres northeast of Kandahar. U.S. soldiers embark from a CH-47 Chinook military helicopter to take part in the ground opening of Lashkar Gah's PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) of Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, in this March 19, 2005 file photo. MUSADEQ SADEQ / AP Photo Email to a friend Printer friendly Font: * * * * The chopper, carrying 22 U.S. service members, suffered a sudden, unexplained loss of power and crashed near the main highway to Kabul. “The loss of these service members is felt by all of us here in Afghanistan, and we offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those who were killed,” said Lt.-Col. David Accetta, a coalition spokesman. The U.S. military emphasized that the cause of the crash was believed to be mechanical and not due to hostile action, although the aircraft was carrying troops meant to counter an expected militant operation in the region. “It was not enemy-fire-related,” said Col. Tom Collins, a spokesman for NATO in Kabul. “The pilot was able to radio in that he was having engine problems. We’re confident it was not due to enemy action.” In the past two years, two other U.S. Chinooks have crashed in Afghanistan, one involving enemy fire, the other due to mechanical trouble. A total of 26 lives were lost as a result of both incidents. The eight dead and 14 injured in the chopper early Sunday followed the crash of three Canadian armoured vehicles on the pre-dawn streets of Kandahar. Thirteen Canadian soldiers suffered minor injuries early Sunday when their LAV III fighting vehicles smashed into one another. The accident happened when a convoy of recently arrived combat troops was moving between bases, said Maj. Dale MacEachern, a spokesman for the Canadian Forces. “I can’t discuss the nature of (individual) injuries to the soldiers for reasons of privacy, but I can say they were all minor injuries,” he said. “All of these soldiers are expected to go back to work.” All of the injured were treated at the nearby medical clinic at the Canadian-run provincial reconstruction base, but six of them were transferred by air to the NATO hospital at Kandahar Airfield for further observation. “It’s just to be safe to make sure our soldiers are OK,” said MacEachern. Details of how the collision happened were not released and military police were investigating. The LAV IIIs sustained minor damage. The fact that all of the soldiers involved are new to the theatre - troops from the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment and reserve units from around Atlantic Canada arrived in the country this month - is being considered as a factor because each new rotation has encountered a series of vehicle accidents at the beginning. “Our soldiers receive excellent training before they’re deployed to theatre, but I don’t think anything can quite fully prepare anyone for the nature of the roads here in Kandahar,” said MacEachern. Like many Middle Eastern countries, there is no such thing as a speed limit on many of the highways and side streets. Traffic, especially during peak times, is chaotic with vehicles passing one another or weaving about in a manner that would be illegal in North America. Traffic accidents have taken a considerable toll on the army. Last August, Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt was killed in a truck crash. Three other soldiers have died in accidents involving their armoured vehicles. Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson and Cpl. Paul Davis were killed in a crash outside Kandahar in March 2006. Just over four months before that, Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield died in a similar accident. © The Canadian Press	Thirteen Canadian soldiers sustained minor injuries yesterday when three light armoured vehicles (LAV III) smashed into each other in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The LAV IIIs are reported to have sustained minor damage. Seven soldiers were taken to the Canadian-run provincial reconstruction base medical clinic. Six soldiers were transferred by air to the NATO hospital in Kandahar airfield. The soldiers, who arrived in Afghanistan this month, are from the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment and reserve units around Atlantic Canada.. "Our soldiers receive excellent training before they're deployed to theatre, but I don't think anything can quite fully prepare anyone for the nature of the roads here in Kandahar," said a spokesman for the Canadian Forces, Major Dale MacEachern. They are now safe and will return to their units in a couple of days.
Police have been granted a further seven days to question Mr Ibrahim Many families evacuated after police carried out controlled explosions in their cul-de-sac have been allowed to return to their homes in Bristol. Bomb disposal experts carried out three controlled explosions at the home of Andrew Ibrahim, 19, who has been held under the Terrorism Act since Thursday. Most of the 30 people who had to leave their Westbury-on-Trym homes on Thursday, returned on Sunday. Mr Ibrahim, a Muslim convert, can be held by police for seven days. His most immediate neighbours spent Sunday night away from home. The displaced residents had to spend the first night of their stay away from home in a local school and at the homes of Neighbourhood Watch members. And 14 people were given hotel accommodation for two more nights. This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol Farooq Siddique, Bristol Muslim leader A spokesman for Bristol City Council said those staying in hotels would not be asked to foot the bill. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said that there should be a phased return for residents over the course of the week. 'Peace and harmony' Once all of those who had to leave their homes have been allowed to return, police will begin house-to-house inquiries. The first detonation was carried out on Friday, and the second and third on Saturday, once more sandbags had been delivered. About 14 homes were evacuated on Thursday ahead of the blasts, and another 40 to 50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. On Saturday the Council of Bristol Mosques, which represents eight of the 10 mosques in Bristol and more than 30,000 Muslims, firmly rejected any links with terrorism. The council said in a statement: "The Council of Bristol Mosques condemns all forms of terrorism and its facets. "We stress that we stand alongside the authorities in Bristol to keep extremism out and we continue to support and promote peace, harmony and transparency for the best interest of Bristolians." Recent convert Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Police said the materials blown up in the blasts would be analysed as part of a "long and complex" investigation. It was too early to say whether further arrests would be made, they said. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Police have been granted a further seven days to question Mr Ibrahim Many families evacuated after police carried out controlled explosions in their cul-de-sac have been allowed to return to their homes in Bristol. Bomb disposal experts carried out three controlled explosions at the home of Andrew Ibrahim, 19, who has been held under the Terrorism Act since Thursday. Most of the 30 people who had to leave their Westbury-on-Trym homes on Thursday, returned on Sunday. Mr Ibrahim, a Muslim convert, can be held by police for seven days. His most immediate neighbours spent Sunday night away from home. The displaced residents had to spend the first night of their stay away from home in a local school and at the homes of Neighbourhood Watch members. And 14 people were given hotel accommodation for two more nights. This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol Farooq Siddique, Bristol Muslim leader A spokesman for Bristol City Council said those staying in hotels would not be asked to foot the bill. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said that there should be a phased return for residents over the course of the week. 'Peace and harmony' Once all of those who had to leave their homes have been allowed to return, police will begin house-to-house inquiries. The first detonation was carried out on Friday, and the second and third on Saturday, once more sandbags had been delivered. About 14 homes were evacuated on Thursday ahead of the blasts, and another 40 to 50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. On Saturday the Council of Bristol Mosques, which represents eight of the 10 mosques in Bristol and more than 30,000 Muslims, firmly rejected any links with terrorism. The council said in a statement: "The Council of Bristol Mosques condemns all forms of terrorism and its facets. "We stress that we stand alongside the authorities in Bristol to keep extremism out and we continue to support and promote peace, harmony and transparency for the best interest of Bristolians." Recent convert Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Police said the materials blown up in the blasts would be analysed as part of a "long and complex" investigation. It was too early to say whether further arrests would be made, they said. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Evacuated residents will likely remain out of their homes until Saturday Bomb disposal experts in Bristol have carried out a third controlled explosion at the home of a man arrested under the Terrorism Act. It comes a day after police were granted a further seven days to question Andrew Ibrahim, a 19-year-old British Muslim convert. A first controlled blast was carried out at the property, in a cul-de-sac in Westbury-on-Trym, on Friday. A second explosion was carried out earlier on Saturday. The second and third detonations had originally been intended for Friday evening, but were postponed as officers awaited the delivery of sandbags to minimise the impact of the blast. About 30 people in 14 homes had to be moved from their properties on Thursday. Another 40-50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. '10 or 12 different bolts' Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested on Thursday after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Next-door-neighbour Rachel Clifford told BBC News that she met the suspect only recently, after she knocked on the door to complain about loud, Islamic-sounding music. She said the man in Islamic dress who answered the door had first had to unlock 10 or 12 different bolts. "I remember feeling quite unnerved, I just wanted to say my piece and get out of there," she said. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Container The first controlled blast, in the early hours of Friday morning, was carried out after a raid on the suspect's home. Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen, who is leading the operation, told a press conference that a container was removed from the home, covered in sandbags and taken to a safe location before being destroyed. The materials blown up are to be analysed as part of what police described as a "long and complex" investigation. Police said it was too early to say whether further arrests would be made. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said Avon and Somerset police were leading the investigation but that officers from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command had been assisting them. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Evacuated residents will likely remain out of their homes until Saturday Bomb disposal experts in Bristol have carried out a third controlled explosion at the home of a man arrested under the Terrorism Act. It comes a day after police were granted a further seven days to question Andrew Ibrahim, a 19-year-old British Muslim convert. A first controlled blast was carried out at the property, in a cul-de-sac in Westbury-on-Trym, on Friday. A second explosion was carried out earlier on Saturday. The second and third detonations had originally been intended for Friday evening, but were postponed as officers awaited the delivery of sandbags to minimise the impact of the blast. About 30 people in 14 homes had to be moved from their properties on Thursday. Another 40-50 people had to leave their homes temporarily on Saturday morning. '10 or 12 different bolts' Mr Ibrahim, who moved into the area three weeks ago, is understood to have recently converted to Islam. He was arrested on Thursday after covert inquiries prompted by an intelligence tip-off. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Police said he lived alone but did not own the house. He had had previous contact with police. Next-door-neighbour Rachel Clifford told BBC News that she met the suspect only recently, after she knocked on the door to complain about loud, Islamic-sounding music. She said the man in Islamic dress who answered the door had first had to unlock 10 or 12 different bolts. "I remember feeling quite unnerved, I just wanted to say my piece and get out of there," she said. Local Muslim leader Farooq Siddique said Ibrahim was a British Muslim. But he said he was "not known" to Bristol's Muslim community. He said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for the Muslim community in Bristol. It is a blow to community relationships in the city. "We want the police to be allowed to do their jobs as simply and as quickly as possible. We need to be united in this." Container The first controlled blast, in the early hours of Friday morning, was carried out after a raid on the suspect's home. Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen, who is leading the operation, told a press conference that a container was removed from the home, covered in sandbags and taken to a safe location before being destroyed. The materials blown up are to be analysed as part of what police described as a "long and complex" investigation. Police said it was too early to say whether further arrests would be made. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said Avon and Somerset police were leading the investigation but that officers from Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command had been assisting them. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these?	Families who were evacuated in Bristol, United Kingdom have been allowed to return home. This move by the police comes two days later than that reported by the ''BBC''. Avon and Somerset police recently released a statement on this issue, part of which is available below: This move comes after Avon and Somerset police arrested a man in the Westbury on Trym area of the city on suspicion of terrorism.
Enlarge By Julio Jimenez, East Valley Tribune via AP Channel 10 photojournalist John Noetzel reacts after finding out four fellow television reporters from Channel 3 and Channel 15 were killed. Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook In a calm, steady voice, the pilot from Channel 15's helicopter asked a question that revealed just how confusing and dangerous covering a police chase from the air can be. It was moments before Friday's midair crash that killed four people, and pilot Craig Smith wanted to know the exact location of Channel 3's helicopter. Only his voice could be heard: "Where's 3?" "Like how far? Oh, jeez." "3, I'm right over you. 15's right over you." "Oh, jeez." At 12:47 p.m., the sound of metal hitting metal was heard over the air at Channel 15 (KNXV), and the live signal from the helicopter went to static. Both helicopters fell hard and burst into flames at the park near Central Avenue and Indian School Road. Smith and photographer Rick Krolak died, as did the pilot from Channel 3 (KTVK), Scott Bowerbank, and photographer Jim Cox. Anchors at both stations went from narrating a police chase to tearfully chronicling the deaths of their colleagues. RAW VIDEO: Phoenix news choppers collide PILOT DEATHS: Phoenix copter tragedy rare, official says On a clear and warm day at lunchtime, there were many witnesses to the crash. Larry Sweet, 43, had an appointment at the VA hospital nearby. "I looked up just as the two helicopters collided," he said. "Everything disintegrated. There's pieces of both of them all over the place. It was one of the most devastating (things) I've seen with my two eyes." Bob Smith of Phoenix was about 100 yards away from the crash having a picnic in the park with his construction workers. "I heard the pop. They (the helicopters) exploded and went down. Debris is all over the park," Smith said. "Black smoke is everywhere." The incident began at 12:06 p.m. with a 911 call reporting a stolen vehicle. Police spotted the truck, a heavy-duty "dually" with a large tank mounted on the back, a short time later at Seventh and Jefferson streets. The driver then rammed a police vehicle. As television helicopters followed the pursuit and broadcast live coverage, the driver jumped from the truck and stole another vehicle. Even after the helicopters crashed, the chase continued, winding up nearly 10 miles away in a home on the 8700 block of West Encanto Boulevard. Police surrounded the home, and shortly after 3 p.m., they arrested Christopher Jones, 23. When asked if the suspect could be held criminally liable for the deaths of the men on the two aircraft, Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said forcefully, "Yes." Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said there are rules governing airspace and communications when news pilots desire to fly in the same airspace. On Friday afternoon, air-traffic control cleared five news helicopters and one police chopper to enter the same airspace. Once cleared, individual pilots used a dedicated helicopter frequency to communicate and maintain separation from other aircraft. Gregor said that, within an hour of the crash, FAA officials went over recorded transmissions from air-traffic control and determined all pilots were correctly following procedure. The helicopters involved in the crash appear to be the same model, a single-engine helicopter called an Aerospatiale built by Eurocopter. The helicopter is used in a wide range of industries including forestry, fire service, news gathering, mining, sightseeing, law enforcement and border patrol among others. The company's website says the helicopter's "flexibility and low acquisition cost has made it a very sought-after helicopter." The helicopter appears to have a good safety record based on information from the National Transportation Safety Board. Even in ideal circumstances, the job of a news helicopter pilot can seem impossibly complex. Both pilots had many years of flying experience. Bowerbank was a flight instructor and flew fixed-wing aircraft as well. Smith was a part of his station's morning program and was known for flying with his dog, Molly, a West Highland white terrier. The dog was not aboard Friday. Even with years of experience, covering a breaking news story can be difficult. "It can be very demanding," Wayne Baker said of piloting a news helicopter. Baker is an air ambulance operator, backup pilot for 12 News and former Mesa police helicopter pilot. "You're talking to Phoenix tower, you're talking to other helicopters on the talk channel, listening to your police scanner, listening to your station as they communicate to the photographer in the back," he said. "There's a lot going on up there." That job is fairly manageable when helicopters are hovering over a stationary scene like a house fire. "But when you're in pursuit, you're constantly moving to get the photograph. There's more of a requirement to let everyone know where you are. Obviously, today that didn't happen." Daniel Schwarzbach, a Houston police pilot and president of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, said pilots keeping track of each other can be the hardest thing to do, because there is so much they cannot see with blind spots above, below and behind them. "You lose 'em for a second and you're asking, 'Where are you? I can't see you.. .. OK, you got me. I got you.' That's not uncommon when you're working and trying to keep track of four or five other aircraft." The last fatal Valley crash involving a news helicopter occurred on July 5, 1991, when Mike Nuetzman, a helicopter pilot for radio station KTAR-AM, was apparently spooked by a bottle rocket that flashed by him as he flew low. He lost control and crashed just before he was to deliver a traffic report. News anchors reporting on Friday's crash on KTVK appeared emotionally shaken. "It is very much a brotherhood, like firefighters," said Scott Clifton, CBS 5 helicopter pilot, of the Valley news pilots. Daniel Clark, photojournalist with Channel 12, was in the air following the car chase when his pilot said two media helicopters were down. "We all know each other out there," Clark said. "These pilots they all know each other. They all have that common bond of helicopter pilots. Everyone knows everybody. Even though we are all competitors, there's also that strong brotherhood there," Clark said. "When something like this happens, it devastates everyone of us." Contributing: Republic reporters Lindsey Collom, Becky Bartkowski, Kelsey Hazlewood, Chelsea Schneider, Jennifer Price, Jennifer Kitson, Tiffany Tcheng, Dennis Wagner, Robert Anglen and Jay Jenkins and 12 News also contributed to the report. Share this story: Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook Enlarge By AJ Alexander, La Voz-The Arizona Republic via AP Two news helicopters fall after colliding in midair while covering a police pursuit in central Phoenix Friday. Two news helicopter crash sites are shown in Indian Steele Park Friday in Phoenix. The collision happened as the two choppers, one from KNXV, the other from KTVK, broadcast coverage of police pursuing a truck. By Ross D. Franklin, AP Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map. \|\|\|\|\| Viewers did not witness the crash during the coverage of the chase The crash aftermath Both helicopters went down in Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, Arizona, and caught fire as they were covering the police pursuit of a pick-up truck. Everyone on board the two craft was killed. No-one on the ground was hurt. Within moments of the collision, other TV news helicopters were broadcasting pictures of the burning wreckage. Viewers did not see the accident as both cameras were pointed towards the ground. Police pursuits are fertile material for many US TV stations and have proved popular with viewers. In Los Angeles, a service exists whereby viewers, in return for a monthly subscription, are paged every time a pursuit is being shown. Broken images As a driver led police on a high-speed chase through Phoenix, helicopters from five local TV stations were covering the incident live. I looked up and I see this 'boom', and I see one of the helicopters coming down Mary Lewis As the cameras zoomed in on the action, KNXV news reporter Craig Smith, who died in the collision, said "Oh geez!" and the screen went blank. Viewers caught a jumble of broken images before the stations cut back to the studio. Mary Lewis, who saw the incident, said: "I looked up and I see this 'boom,' and I see one of the helicopters coming down, and I said 'Oh my God'." The two helicopters crashed to earth near a boarded-up church in Steele Indian School Park. Fire fighters rushed to the scene as thick, black smoke rose from the burning wreckage. The driver involved in the car chase was later detained by police after he had barricaded himself inside a house. 'Very professional' The local TV station KNXV, the ABC affiliate in Phoenix, said it owned one of the helicopters while the other was operated by the local independent channel, KTVK. The president of the Radio Television News Directors Association, Barbara Cochran, said she could not recall a previous incidence of two news helicopters colliding whilst covering a story. "These pilots, they are very professional. They combine the skills of pilots and skills as journalists," she told the Associated Press. \|\|\|\|\| ABC15.com staff Two news helicopters covering a police chase on live television collided and crashed to the ground on July 27, killing all four people on board. Both helicopters went down in a park in central Phoenix and caught fire. Killed in the crash were ABC15 Pilot Craig Smith and Photojournalist Rick Krolak. Also killed in the crash were 3TV pilot-reporter Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox from NewsChannel 3. Krolak had worked at ABC15 for 9 years. Smith had been with ABC15 since September 2005. His dog Molly, who was frequently up in Chopper15 with him, was not with Craig at the time of the crash. A memorial continues to grow near the site where two news helicopters crashed, killing all four people aboard. Mourners are dropping off flowers, candles, stuffed animals, notes of condolences and signs honoring the four television journalists at the entrance to the park where the crash happened. "It's hard to believe," said Anna Morales, 29, who cried and held her daughter's hand while looking at the memorial. Signs remembering ABC 15 pilot Craig Smith and cameraman Rick Krolak and Channel 3 pilot Scott Bowerbank and cameraman Jim Cox faced quiet onlookers. "Thank you for your courage," one read. "We will miss you," said another. Ken Trahan is gathering signatures for a petition to erect a permanent memorial at the park. As of Sunday night, he has collected 120 signatures for the petition. He has also developed the website, phxmemorial.com, where he is posting information about the memorial petition. Federal investigators have finished removing wreckage from the park. They spent several hours Sunday wading through water in a pond near the crash site. In the water, investigators recovered a helicopter door from ABC15's chopper. They also recovered a pair of binoculors, maps and bearings. Officials from the NTSB say the wreckage from the crash will be laid out at another location in the Phoenix area for detailed examination over the next few days. The NTSB is also searching for witnesses of the crash and have announced a telephone hotline for people to call in information. That number is 202-314-6000. The two choppers came down on the grass lawn in front of a boarded up church at Steele Indian School Park. Police have identified the suspect at the center of the police chase as Christopher Jones, 23, and said he has a criminal record and is on parole. Jones was booked into jail late Friday night on two counts of vehicle theft, four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest with other charges expected to be filed later. Earlier Friday, Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris suggested that the suspect could "be held responsible for any of the deaths from this tragedy." Rick Gotchie, working in a nearby building, was watching the beginning of a tragedy he could do nothing to stop. Two of them began circling closer, Gotchie noticed, and one appeared to get too close to the other. "I kept saying go lower, go lower, but he didn't," said Gotchie, a Phoenix air conditioning contractor. In one of the helicopters, ABC15 Pilot Craig Smith saw the driver get out of the first truck. "This may be the end of this thing," he said on-air. "OK, now it's a foot chase." Police were trying to stop the motorist from leaving in the second vehicle when Smith's helicopter and Channel 3's collided. "Oh geez!" was all viewers could hear Smith say as his broadcast broke up in a jumble of spinning, broken images. Witness Mary Lewis said she was stuck in traffic with her four grandsons and was watching the helicopters, turned to talk to the children, and then saw a fireball in the air when she looked again. "I looked up and I see this 'boom' and I see one of the helicopters coming down, and I said, 'Oh my God,"' Lewis said. She said she went to the crash site to help. "It's nothing there," Lewis said. "Just burned-up stuff." Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association in Washington, said the group does not track fatalities among helicopter news pilots, but she could not recall another example of two news choppers colliding while covering a story. "These pilots, they are very professional. They combine the skills of pilots and skills as journalists," she said. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the pilots of the five news helicopters and one police chopper over the chase were not talking to air traffic controllers at the time, which is normal. "Typically air traffic controllers clear helicopters into an area where they can cover a chase like this," Gregor said. "Once they are in the area, the pilots themselves are responsible for keeping themselves separated from other aircraft." Pilots generally use a dedicated radio frequency to talk to each other and maintain their positions, Gregor said. "There is a high degree of coordination," Gregor said. "To fly for a TV station you have to have a commercial rating, which means more (flight hours), more training." ABC15 Photojournalist Jeff Cochran was close friends with Rick Krolak.He was one of the first people at the scene."It's too weird, too close to home," he said.Another ABC15 photojournalist, Jim Fry, sat on a cement stump and stared into space between live shots at the scene."It could have been anyone," Fry said.Stay with ABC15.com for updates. \|\|\|\|\| Date 2 hrs ago 1:02 Tooltip Information: 'Supermoon' comes closest to Earth as it will all year Video by: Description: On Saturday, the moon came the closer to Earth than it will again in 2013. When that moment coincides with the full moon, it's called a "Supermoon" and it's the biggest and brightest moon of the year. Rating: 4	Aerial view of Phoenix, Arizona. Map of the United States, highlighting Arizona Four people are dead after two news s crashed in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States. The helicopters were covering a high-speed chase within the city, when, at the same time as the suspect left his car in order to carjack another car, the two choppers inadvertently crashed into each other. Wikinews has learned that the two helicopters belong to independent TV station (Channel 3), and ABC affiliate (Channel 15). There is still no word on an exact cause of the collision, however, the is reviewing tapes to see if the helicopter pilots were communicating with air traffic controllers at the time. On a tape of radio transmissions from the Channel 15 helicopter, pilot Craig Smith (of KNXV-TV) can be heard asking, "Where's 3? Like how far? Oh jeez", followed by "3, I'm right over you. 15's right over you." Moments later, the sound of the crash was heard over the air on Channel 15's signal, which then went to static.
Bankruptcy bill prompts Chocola ads MoveOn's radio spots to run through Friday. NATION/WORLD By JAMES WENSITS Tribune Political Writer A new bankruptcy bill signed into law by President Bush has prompted MoveOn PAC to launch a radio advertising campaign targeting Rep. Chris Chocola, R-Bristol, for his support of the measure. The campaign is expected to run for a week on four area stations and will cost $8,520, according to Tom Mattzie, director of the Washington, D.C., operation. Two of the stations running the ads are WSBT-AM and WNSN-FM. The ads began Tuesday and are scheduled to run through Friday, according to Marci Sears, national sales manager for the stations, both of which are owned by The Tribune's parent company, Schurz Communications. The ads are also running this week on WHLY-AM and WUBU-FM, according to station representatives. MoveOn PAC is affiliated with MoveOn.org, which zeroed in on Chocola in February with a television campaign critical of the congressman's statements regarding proposed changes to the Social Security program. The script for the new advertisement says Chocola "just voted for a bankruptcy law practically written by the credit card companies." According to Mattzie, the spots are running in the districts of nine other Republican members of Congress, including Hoosier Reps. James Hostettler and Michael Sodrel. Chocola spokesman Brooks Kochvar, noting that the bill had bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, including from U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., questioned why MoveOn isn't going after Democrats. "We are," Mattzie said in reply. "We went after the number two Democrat in the House," Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Mattzie said his organization had an even bigger advertising buy for Hoyer, who is the House Democratic whip. "I was proud to join with Sen. Evan Bayh and 73 House Democrats in passing a bill that had strong bipartisan support," Chocola said Wednesday. The new law, which is to go into effect in six months, is expected to make it harder for Americans to wipe out their obligations by requiring debtors to work out repayment plans instead of having their debts erased. "The president and Chris Chocola talk and campaign like they are people-friendly candidates," said Mattzie, who accused Chocola and other members of Congress of voting the way credit card companies wanted them to. "They are letting credit card companies squeeze middle class families," Mattzie said, adding that medical bills for illness and injuries account for more than half of bankruptcies that are filed. Mattzie said the legislation will leave people burdened with debt, make it more expensive to file for bankruptcy, add new hurdles and requirements to meet during the bankruptcy process and make it harder to repay debts by increasing minimum payments. The measure also "preserves at all costs" loopholes that allow millionaires to hide their money in special exemptions and trusts, he said. "Bankruptcy reform prevents millionaires from using loopholes in bankruptcy laws to avoid paying their debts, and leaving hard-working American families with the tab," Chocola contended. "The bill also protects lower income individuals and those most in need by allowing them the bankruptcy protections they need." "This is the industry's bill," said Mattzie, adding that the banks and credit card companies have been pushing for the legislation for eight years. "They finally got what they wanted," he said. Staff writer James Wensits: jwensits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6353 \|\|\|\|\| The bankruptcy reform bill signed into law by President Bush today has been branded a consumer foe by bankruptcy attorneys and consumer advocates alike. The new legislation, which goes into effect six months from now, is the biggest rewrite of the bankruptcy code in 25 years and was pushed for eight years by banks and credit card companies. Here are the most important changes, along with details on how they will affect those filing for bankruptcy protection. 1. More people forced into Chapter 13 Currently, more than twice as many people file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy than for Chapter 13. Under Chapter 7, most of the filer's unsecured debts are written off, whereas Chapter 13 requires the consumer to repay all or part of their debts within three or five years. Once the law is in place, however, most people will be forced into Chapter 13 even if they can't afford it, says Stephen Elias, a bankruptcy attorney and co-author of Nolo Press's "How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy." That's because the new Means test will disqualify from Chapter 7 filing anyone whose income is higher than the median for the state (as determined by the IRS and Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS) and who can afford to pay at least $6,000 or 25% of their unsecured debt (whichever is greater) over five years. This will affect many middle-income individuals or families who earn above their state's median, but are forced into bankruptcy after accruing large debts, often because of divorce or medical emergencies, Elias says. 2. Chapter 13 repayment schedules become unaffordable for many Under the existing law, when a consumer files Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the court determines his or her repayment schedule based on their monthly income and basic living expenses. If, for example, you earn $3,000 a month and your basic living expenses (including rent, utilities, food, clothing and transportation) are $2,000, the remaining $1,000 will be distributed to your creditors. Under the new law and by applying the Means test the courts will determine the amount to be repaid to creditors based on the basic living expenses in your state or county as determined by the IRS and BLS. The catch here is that your actual expenses are often higher than what the IRS says they should be in its Collection Financial Standards (national, state and county schedules are available here), says Jay Fleischman, a bankruptcy attorney with Fleischman Law in New York. It's Not Too Late If you've been considering bankruptcy recently, now is the time to make up your mind. You still have a little more than six months to file under the old, more generous rules. Click here for the basics. \|\|\|\|\| Article Options I was 9 years old, and the phone in our house had a weird problem: It kept ringing with calls from people I didn’t know. They’d ask for “Mom or Dad” in a stern voice. And when I told them Mom and Dad weren’t home (as was usually the case), the voices would leave ominous messages: “This is so-and-so from Macy’s (or Visa or MasterCard or Discover or San Ramon Bank). We’re calling about the overdue invoice from May (or April or March or November). Please send payment as soon as possible.” I could always sense irritation when I took their message, as if they thought I was the reason their money never showed up. I wasn’t. Like many American divorces, my parents came with the added bonus of severe financial hardship. At the time, I didn’t get why we had to drop off my dad’s new car at some random parking lot in Martinez with the keys inside. I didn’t understand why we had to move out of our house and into a different one farther from where I went to school. Or why, even after the bank repossessed a car and a home, the “creditors” — what my parents called those angry telephone voices — didn’t stop calling. What I did get was that their calls were not as important as they sounded. What was important then was whether or not one of my parents would stick around long enough to cook dinner — or even talk, for that matter. Usually their “talking” started out OK, but more and more often it would devolve into fights that would last for hours, with both of them screaming at each other from different sides of the living room in the same malicious tone. And when they would see a note that one of the “creditors” called, the screaming only got louder, until one of them would shut themselves up in their room (they slept in separate rooms after we moved). Then the talk was over, and soon after, one of them would leave. Our family’s downward spiral ended in two drastic legal measures: divorce and bankruptcy. When you’re pulling coins out of the sofa to buy groceries and not talking to your spouse except to lacerate him or her with more blame and/or hurt — when there ain’t no way things are getting better on their own — all you can do is wipe the slate clean and move on. But this week President George W. Bush signed off on a piece of legislation that makes it harder for families to do just that. The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 makes it so that even after filing for bankruptcy, many debtors will have to devise a way to pay back some of those angry telephone voices. The credit industry (and the Republican legislative majority that passed the bill) claim that it will put a stop to “abusive” bankruptcy filings, which they say have been escalating. Too many people living the high life, and forcing others to pay for it, they say. The new laws will make credit cheaper for everyone, they say. Uh huh. Filing for bankruptcy, by the way, makes the next 10 years of life for the filer absolute hell. Being poor sucks now, but try living in the real world with the worst credit rating possible. You can’t get a credit card (so you can’t buy anything online or by mail-order, buy a plane ticket or rent a car). You can’t get a loan, so good luck buying a house or a car. In a consumption-driven world, you might as well have your hands tied behind your back. A recent Harvard study found that half of all U.S. bankruptcies are related to illness or medical bills. I bet the other half are related to divorce. Or they are from people who got tricked into acquiring a huge amount of credit debt — lord knows it’s hard with all these credit card applications clogging our mailboxes every day — and eventually can’t pay anymore. But in any of these circumstances, what occurs that entitles the debtor to be stripped of his or her right to a clean slate? In a society that depends on its members buying commodities with terminal voracity, don’t we at least owe our fellow consumer the chance to start over, with no grudge? That is how it’s been since 1898 — but this is a new era of American politics, where The Good Ideas We Had are meaningless. Where the explanation for each increasingly inexplicable action by the body that claims to be our government lies in the intricacies of special-interest lobbying. In other words, follow the money, and you’ll find yourself looking at a group of interests — Credit, Retail, Evil — that’ve been clamoring for the first major bankruptcy change in 27 years. That don’t seem to care that their advertising trickery and dauntless persistence have created an overuse of and dependence on credit that’s now regarded nonchalantly as the American Way. Or that the states hardest hit by the new law, where bankruptcy filings are most common — Utah, Texas, Indiana, Ohio — are all generally Republican. While it’s getting harder to overstate the horror of current congressional reality, the benefits of a fresh-start bankruptcy law are crystal-clear. More than 10 years after their double-whammy of bankruptcy then divorce, both my parents have happily remarried and restarted their financial lives. I haven’t picked up the phone from an angry creditor since. But with a government of con men who manipulate the system exclusively for the benefit of big business, who notice the less fortunate only when they owe money, I guess it shouldn’t surprise us that future generations won’t be so lucky. Class warfare’s apparently been declared — so who’ll blame me for asking: When begins the revolution? ... As soon as you turn off the television and report to iport@ucsd.edu. Back to Top ^^ \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON A crucial deadline looms a half-year away for thousands of anxious Americans weighed down by credit card and other debt following congressional passage of a measure making it tougher to erase obligations in bankruptcy. The most sweeping rewrite of U.S. bankruptcy laws (search) in a quarter-century, pushed for eight years by banks and credit card companies, will take effect six months after President Bush signs a bill that Congress sent to him Thursday. The 30,000 to 210,000 people the American Bankruptcy Institute (search) estimates will be affected can escape its impact if they file for bankruptcy before then. Bankruptcy attorneys anticipate a rush to the courthouse. The bill marks the second major change in law to benefit business since Republicans fattened their House and Senate majorities in last fall's elections. In February, a new law placed most large multistate class-action lawsuits under federal court jurisdiction, making it more difficult for plaintiffs to join and win multimillion-dollar judgments in state courts. The bankruptcy measure requires people with incomes above a certain level to pay credit card charges, medical bills and other obligations under a court-ordered bankruptcy plan. It passed the House on a 302-126 vote on Thursday, a month after the Senate voted 74-25 following two weeks of fierce partisan debate. (Story continues below) Advertise Here Advertisements Advertisements Its backers in Congress and the financial services industry insist that bankruptcy frequently is the last refuge of gamblers, impulsive shoppers, divorced or separated fathers avoiding child support, and multimillionaires — often celebrities — who buy mansions in states with liberal homestead exemptions to shelter assets from creditors. "Those who abuse the system make getting credit more expensive for everyone," House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said as he and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., signed the bill to speed it to the president. "Bankruptcy is for those who need help, not those who want to shift costs to other hardworking Americans." During debate Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., pegged those costs, in the form of higher interest rates, at an average $400 a year per family. Bush said he was eager to sign the bill to curb abuses of the bankruptcy system. "These common-sense reforms will make the system stronger and better so that more Americans — especially lower-income Americans — have greater access to credit," he said. Opponents say the change would fall especially hard on low-income working people, single mothers, minorities and the elderly and would remove a safety net for those who have lost their jobs or face mounting medical bills. At the same time, they say, the bill fails to restrain aggressive marketing and high rates charged by credit card issuers. The legislation "protects the credit industry at the expense of the consumer," Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., declared in House debate. "It will drive more Americans deeper into financial crisis and weaken the nation's economy and social structure." In a bitter scene on the House floor, Democrats — most of whom opposed the legislation — used an array of parliamentary maneuvers to delay the final vote, forcing an unsuccessful roll call vote (search) on adjourning the session and lining up one by one to register their objections in brief, biting statements. Democrats were furious that the GOP leadership allowed no vote on any of the 35 amendments they had proposed. They particularly wanted provisions that would exempt from the new bankruptcy requirements military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and people whose indebtedness is the result of financial identity theft. Between 30,000 and 210,000 people — from 3.5 percent to 20 percent of those who dissolve their debts in bankruptcy each year in exchange for forfeiting some assets — would be disqualified from doing so under the legislation, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. The bankruptcy measure would set up an income-based test for measuring a debtor's ability to repay debts. Those with insufficient assets or income could still file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which, if approved by a judge, erases debts entirely after certain assets are forfeited. Those with income above the state's median income who can pay at least $6,000 over five years — $100 a month — would be forced into Chapter 13, where a judge would then order a repayment plan. The legislation also would require people in bankruptcy to pay for credit counseling. New personal bankruptcy filings (search) edged down from 1,613,097 in the year ending June 30, 2003, to 1,599,986 in the year ending last June 30, breaking an upward trend of recent years. Under the current system, a federal bankruptcy judge determines whether individuals must repay some or all of their debt.	US President George W. BushU.S. President George W. Bush signed into law Wednesday a major bankruptcy reform bill, making the most sweeping changes to the laws of personal bankruptcy in the past two decades. Bill S.256 is predicted to reduce the chances of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy for 30,000 to 210,000 families per year, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. The legislation was strongly opposed by some consumer advocates and by some Democrats in Congress, who complained about the lack of debate on exemptions they attempted to introduce and tried to derail the passage of the bill. Those who are unable to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy will then be forced to file under Chapter 13, which requires payment of some debts by order of a judge based on the financial resources of the debtor. Opponents said the bill will end a chance for a fresh start in the financial lives of the American people by keeping them in debt to collection agencies, as well as credit card companies and banks who have made it easy to obtain high credit limits amid mounting consumer debt. In his remarks before signing the bill, which he supported, Bush said, "The bipartisan bill I'm about to sign makes common-sense reforms to our bankruptcy laws. By restoring integrity to the bankruptcy process, this law will make our financial system stronger and better. By making the system fairer for creditors and debtors, we will ensure that more Americans can get access to affordable credit." The bankruptcy bill received a 302-126 approval in the house, after receiving a 74-25 vote in the Senate last month following strong, mostly partisan debate. The US bankruptcy system was established in 1898. It allowed judges and debtors to come to terms with the costly medical bills that can follow a relative's death, or a family illness. Such cases form nearly half of all bankruptcies filed in the USA, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. Now many of those people will have to work out repayment plans suitable to creditors instead of having debts erased by a judge, according to the new law, which takes effect in six months. In the past, a judge or court representative would calculate an individual's income and subtract necessities of life to come up with a practical repayment plan of some debt. The new law stipulates that a graph, showing the poverty level in whichever state the consumer is living will be the criteria. It assumes that if people can subsist at that poverty level, then everything over that can be used to repay creditors. Additionally, a provision that allowed debtors to file their own Chapter 7 fresh start bankruptcy has been changed to require a lawyer, paid by the debtor, to do the filing. The new law also erased "usury" provisions in lending laws, with some lawmakers saying that paying 30 percent interest was not too much when a debtor was behind on payments. But Bush said that credit will "be more affordable because when bankruptcy is less common, credit can be extended to more people at better rates," meeting demands of the credit card companies which they have been pressing for the last eight years. "The big winners under the new law will be the special interests that literally wrote it, particularly the credit card industry," said Travis B. Plunkett, legislative director of the Consumer Federation of America. "This is particularly ironic because reckless and abusive lending practices by credit card companies have driven many Americans to the brink of bankruptcy." The forces arrayed on the losing side of this bill said it will hurt low-income working people, single mothers, minorities, and elderly and will end a safety net for people who have lost jobs or face major medical bills. People who fail (refuse) to pay or refuse to go to court will punished by a fine and or arrest warrant made out in their name. About fifty thousand Americans will be punished by a fine and or warrant about three thousand Americans every year will go to jail under the new bankruptcy law. For some people this will be a third strike so they will be put in jail for life. But Mallory Duncan, a lawyer for the National Retail Federation, said "Bankruptcy has gone from a stigma to a financial planning tool for many." New personal bankruptcy filings have increased from 172,423 in 1978 to 1,599,986 last year, an increase of 828% during that time; however, it edged down slightly last year. About 2 percent to 13 percent of those who dissolve their debts in Chapter 7 bankruptcy each year in exchange for forfeiting some assets will be disqualified from doing so under the law, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. Bankruptcy lawyers anticipate a rush to the courthouse to beat the six-month window before the new reforms take effect.
Rocket Hits US Consulate in Afghanistan Photo: AP Afghan police say a rocket has hit a building housing the new U.S. consulate office in western Afghanistan. They say three rockets were fired at the building in the city of Herat Friday, but that only one struck it. There were no immediate reports of any casualties, and the Associated Press says no U.S. staff were in the building at the time of the attack. The building is a former hotel that the U.S. government acquired last year to use as a new consulate. Also Friday, the Danish military says one of its soldiers was killed in a roadside bombing in the southern province of Helmand on Friday. At least five other Danish soldiers were wounded when the blast hit their convoy. NATO says an American soldier was killed Thursday when a bomb exploded in eastern Afghanistan. No further details were released. Separately, the alliance said a local Afghan citizen turned over 68 Russian mortar grenades at a Provincial Reconstruction Team base in western Afghanistan. A statement said that about 150 Afghans have received cash rewards for turning in weapons or providing tips that lead to the recovery of weapons. Later on Friday, NATO and Afghan forces seized a truck carrying 10 tons of fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate, a chemical often used in making explosives. NATO said troops destroyed the fertilizer, returned the truck to the owner, and compensated him for the fertilizer. Also in Kandahar, NATO announced Friday that international air and ground forces recovered more than 2,700 kilograms of illegal drugs in the Maiwand district on Wednesday. Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Three rockets were fired on Friday at a building leased as the site of a future U.S. consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat, police said. World One rocket hit the former hotel, shattering windows, and two others landed nearby, said Rahmatullah Sediqi, the deputy provincial police chief in Herat. No one was hurt, but police later fired in the air to disperse crowds, he said. The U.S. government acquired the building in 2009 for a consulate in the city, one of at least two it plans to open outside the capital Kabul to boost its diplomatic presence. No diplomats have yet been stationed at the site but Washington plans to open the consulate this year after renovating the building. Herat, near the Iranian border, is a comparatively prosperous city where there has been little violence, although militants operate in surrounding rural districts. U.S. embassy spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the embassy had heard reports of an attack on the building and was seeking confirmation from the Afghan authorities. Asked if an attack could prompt the United States to review plans to house a mission at the site, she said: "Security is paramount for the embassy and we are continuously reviewing our security posture." (Reporting by Sharafuddin Sharafyar in Herat and Peter Graff and Hamid Shalizi in Kabul; writing by Peter Graff; editing by Andrew Dobbie)	Afghan police have said that a rocket hit a building housing the new US consulate office in western Afghanistan earlier today. Three rockets were reportedly fired at the building in the city of Herat, but only one struck it. There were no immediate reports of any casualties, and the Associated Press reported that no US staff were in the building at the time of the attack. The building is a former hotel that the US government acquired last year to use as a new consulate. Herat is located near Afghanistan's border with Iran; there has not been much violence in the city, although rebel groups are said to be active in the surrounding rural areas.
CYLONE INGRID The eye of Cyclone Ingrid has passed over the remote West Australian community of Kalumburu. It's not yet known what damage the category four system has caused. In the Northern Territory, the damage bill from Ingrid is expected to run into the millions. SKY NEWS POLL Yes No ON AIR TONIGHT Sky Business Report features on Sky News every weekday evening at 8.30pm AEST WEATHER MUSIC Copyright © 2005 Sky News Australia \|\|\|\|\| Cyclone Ingrid is crossing Cape York Peninsula. (Satellite image taken at 12:30pm on March 10.) (Bureau of Meteorology) Communities on Cape York's west coast face an anxious afternoon as tropical cyclone Ingrid continues moving across the area. At 2:00pm AEST the cyclone was about 110 kilometre north-west of Coen and 75 kilometres east of Aurukun, and moving west at 20 kilometres per hour. The weather bureau says Cyclone Ingrid still poses a major threat with destructive winds of up to 140 kilometres-per-hour likely to continue near the centre. The cyclone is expected to cross the coast into the Gulf of Carpentaria near Aurukun later today and strengthen as it moves west. Gales over inland areas are likely to extend on to the coast between Mapoon and Cape Keerweer this afternoon and higher than normal tides are expected in the area. Very heavy rain and localised flooding can be expected over northern Cape York Peninsula. Close watch Far northern disaster coordinator Michael Keating says local police stations have reported little damage and surprisingly little rain as the severe storm moves towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. Superintendent Keating says a close watch is being maintained. "We have got a number of communities in the area's we still have some concerns," he said. "[The cyclone] is still a severe tropical cyclone and it's essential that people in the watch area continue to listen to the media and continue to respond to the advice that they are given." Aurukun Shire Council chief executive Gary Kleidon says the rain has intensified but residents are ready. "The community is basically locked down at the moment," he said. "The people have all returned to their homes and are just waiting. We're basically finalising, closing up some of our premises and that."	Queensland The cyclone "Ingrid" will hit the coast of Queensland, Australia later today. "Ingrid" is the strongest cyclone that strike Australia since 1974 when cyclone "Tracy" devastated huge areas, including the city of Darwin on the north coast. Though "Ingrid" has lost momentum during the last few days and now ranks 4 instead of 5, several communities in north-western Australia have been evacuated, daycare centers have closed and flights and ships are grounded or in port. Even more people might be evacuated to nearby airbases if the situation worsens.
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves after speaking during the 60th session of the U.N. General Assembly Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the United Nations General Assembly Saturday his government is not seeking nuclear weapons, and is prepared to open its uranium enrichment program to additional international scrutiny. His address followed a call by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for Iran to return to nuclear talks with Britain, France and Germany. The Iranian leader struck a defiant tone in the U.N. speech, saying his country has an inalienable right to pursue a full nuclear cycle, while accusing Iran's critics of practicing what he termed "nuclear apartheid" - allowing some countries to enrich fuel, but not others. Iranian officials had said in advance of the message that Mr. Ahmadinejad would offer new ideas to ease international concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions. While repeatedly insisting that his country's nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the Iranian president said that as a confidence-building measure Iran is ready to engage in what he described as a "serious partnership" with foreign companies and governments in its enrichment program. He provided no details of the idea, but heard through an interpreter, he lashed out at the United States and others who say Iran has a covert nuclear weapons program. "This is nothing but a pure propaganda ploy. The Islamic Republic of Iran is presenting in good faith its proposal and constructive inter-action and a just dialogue. However, if some try to impose their will on the Iranian people through resort to a language of force and threat with Iran, we will reconsider our entire approach to the nuclear issue," he said. Mr. Ahmadinejad proposed that the U.N. General Assembly set up an ad hoc committee to pursue global nuclear disarmament and abolish double-standards with regard to possession of nuclear technology. In the half-hour speech and a subsequent news conference, he suggested that other countries, South Africa in particular, should join the nuclear talks Iran has had over the last two years with Britain, France and Germany. Iran broke off those talks in August and resumed uranium conversion work, in violation of the November 2004 agreement it had reached with the EU-Three , to suspend sensitive nuclear activity. Condoleezza Rice addresses U.N. General Assembly, Saturday Addressing the General Assembly earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Tehran to return to the talks with the Europeans or face punitive action by the U.N. Security Council. "When diplomacy has been exhausted, the Security Council must become involved. Questions about Iran's nuclear activities remain unanswered despite repeated efforts by the IAEA And after agreeing to negotiate with Europe, Iran has unilaterally walked away from the talks and restarted its nuclear programs. Iran should return to the negotiations with the EU-Three, and abandon forever its plans for a nuclear weapons capability," she said. The Europeans have offered Iran economic and political incentives in return for an end to uranium enrichment and related projects. The governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency opens a critical meeting on the Iranian nuclear program in Vienna Monday. The United States has been sounding out member countries of the 35-nation board about a referral of the matter to the Security Council. U.S. officials say most members are prepared to do so, though there are some key holdouts, including Russia, which says diplomatic options have not been exhausted. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said there is still time for diplomacy but it is up to Iran to seize the opportunity. Mr. Ahmadinejad, an Islamic hardliner who took office in August, warned in a U.S. television interview Saturday that Iran might engineer a run-up in world oil prices if western powers dragged it before the Security Council. \|\|\|\|\| Iran-UN-President Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday offered proposal on nuclear program. The following is full text of President Ahmadinejad before the Sixtieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly: "In the Name of the God of Mercy, Compassion, Peace, Freedom and Justice "Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, "Today we have gathered here to exchange views about the world, its future and our common responsibilities towards it. It is evident that the future of the world is intertwined with its current state and the prevailing trends ,which exhibit signs of hope and despair. "On the one hand certain hopes and opportunities exist, and this august Assembly is convened on such hopes. Today human thought reflects outstanding commonalities which provide appropriate grounds to build upon. With the passing of the era of agnostic philosophies, today humanity is once again joined in celebrating monotheism and belief in the Creator as the originator of existence. This is the common thread which binds us all. "Faith will prove to be the solution to many of today's problems. The Truth will shine the light of faith and ethics on the life of human beings and prevent them from aggression, coercion and injustice and will guide them towards care and compassion for fellow beings. "Another hope is the common global appreciation of the sources of knowledge. Although reason, experience and science are among valuable sources of knowledge, the darkness of the Middle Ages deprived major portions of the Western world of appreciating. This reactionary tendency deprived many of access to various scientific findings and knowledge and led to the exclusion of other sources of knowledge namely God and knowledge based on revelation from the life of human beings in the West; Divine knowledge that was carried and disseminated by such prophets as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad (peace be upon them). "Today, agnostic thinking is on the decline and presently humanity is equally enamored with religion knowledge and spirituality. This is an auspicious beginning. Divine prophets teach us about proper regard for the exalted state of human beings on earth. "The human being is blessed with dignity, most importantly manifested in being the viceroy of the Almighty on earth. The Almighty placed humans on earth to develop it, institutionalize justice, overcome their egoistic tendencies and praise no lord but the Almighty. "Faith and good deeds can bring deliverance and the good life even in this world. Attaining this depends on human will, that is the will of each and every one of us. We must heed the call of our common primordial nature and achieve the realization of this good life. "On the other hand, the prevalence of military domination, increasing poverty, the growing gap between rich and poor countries, violence as a means to solve crises, spread of terrorism, specially state terrorism, existence and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the pervasive lack of honesty in interstate relations, and disregard for the equal rights of peoples and nations in international relations constitute some of the challenges and threats. "Although these challenges are very real, we believe we are not predestined to experience them. Our common will not only can change this course but in fact can lead us to a life filled with hope and prosperity. Divine revelation teaches us that "The Almighty changes the fate of no people unless they themselves show a will for change" (Holy Quran, 13:11). "How can we influence the future of the world? When and how will peace, tranquility and well-being for all come about? These are the fundamental questions before us. "We believe that a sustainable order, nurturing and flourishing peace and tranquility, can only be realized on the two pillars of justice and spirituality. The more human society departs from justice and spirituality, the greater insecurity it will face, so much so that a relatively small crisis, such as a natural disaster, leads to various abnormalities and inhuman behavior. "Unfortunately, the world is rife with discrimination and poverty. Discrimination produces hatred, war and terrorism. They all share the common root of lack of spirituality coupled with injustice. Justice is about equal rights, the correct distribution of resources in the territories of different states, the equality of all before the law and respect for international agreements. "Justice recognizes the right of every one to tranquility, peace and a dignified life. Justice rejects intimidation and double standards. As the eminent daughter of the Prophet of Islam has said, "justice brings tranquility and harmony to our hearts." "Today, the world is longing for the establishment of such justice. If humanity heeds the call of its primordial nature with firm resolve, justice will emerge. This is what the Almighty has promised and all people of good will from all religions are waiting for. If the prevailing discourse of global relations becomes one of justice and spirituality, then durable peace will be guaranteed. "Conversely, if international relations are defined without justice and spirituality and void of moral considerations, then the mechanisms for promoting confidence and peace will remain insufficient and ineffective. "If some, relying on their superior military and economic might, attempt to expand their rights and privileges, they will be performing a great disservice to the cause of peace and in fact will fuel the arms race and spread insecurity, fear and deception. If global trends continue to serve the interests of small influential groups, even the interests of the citizens of powerful countries will be jeopardized, as was seen in the recent crises and the even natural disaster such as the recent tragic hurricane. "Today, my nation calls on other nations and governments to "move forward to a durable tranquility and peace based on justice and spirituality." "Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is born out of a movement, based on the pure primordial nature of a people who rose up to regain their dignity esteem and human rights. The Islamic Revolution toppled a regime, which had been put in place through a coup, and supported by those who claim to be advocates of democracy and human rights, thwarted the aspirations of the nation for development and progress for 25 years through intimidation and torture of the populace and submission and subservience to outsiders. More \|\|\|\|\| AQDAM AHMADI, THE SUSPECT OF THE MURDER OF ZAHRA KAZEMI ACQUITTED. Mohammad Reza Aqdam Ahmadi, the officer of the Intelligence Ministry accused of “semi-intentional manslaughter” in the case of the Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi was acquitted on Saturday 24 July. slots	The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced Saturday the resolve of his country to proceed with the development of . He stated that Iran would not pursue . Mr. Ahmadinejad also noted that he was willing to allow international inspection of his program, and reaffirmed his claim of its peaceful nature. At the UN conference, Mr. Ahmadinejad made clear that he felt that Iran had a right to nuclear energy, and that the nations of world practiced "nuclear apartheid" by refusing to let Iran pursue this course. "We're not going to cave in to the excessive demands of certain powers," he said, refusing to yield to international pressure to halt his country's nuclear course. He said that talks should be restarted, this time including other nations such as South Africa. The speech was not in line with what the US and others want for Iran; Condoleezza Rice warned the UN that Iran's nuclear ambitions were dangerous. One British official was quoted as saying "This was an unhelpful speech on which we will now want to consult our partners on the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors." The IAEA is slated to begin a discussion on Iran's nuclear program in on Monday.
The partnership marks the first time that Warner Bros has launched branded programming online. "As one of the premier television production studios, the fact that Warner Bros has chosen to create its first online channels on the Joost platform shows that we are creating a unique, communal television experience for viewers," said Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, executive vice president at Joost. The deal will give Joost exclusive access to sci-fi and celebrity programming on WBTV branded channels. The WBTV: Sci-Fi Fix channel will feature shows such as The Adventures of Briscoe County Junior, Aquaman, Babylon 5, Crusade, Human Target, Invasion, Max Headroom, My Favorite Martian, Prey, Time Trax and V. WBTV: Before They Were Mega Stars will show big name actors appearing in shows early on in their carers, including guest appearances on Growing Pains, Kung Fu, Sisters and Spenser: For Hire. "We believe that the advertiser-supported model for classic, current and original programming is a significant and critical segment of the long-term future of digital distribution," said Bruce Rosenblum, president of WBTV. The deal with Warner follows Joost's other recent tie-ups with Joost features more than 150 channels with programming across all genres, including cartoons and animation, entertainment and film, sports, comedy, lifestyle, documentaries and sci-fi. However, the channels and programmes available on Joost vary by geographic region based on copyright ownership. Video website Joost has signed a deal with the television arm of Warner Bros to show its content online.The partnership marks the first time that Warner Bros has launched branded programming online."As one of the premier television production studios, the fact that Warner Bros has chosen to create its first online channels on the Joost platform shows that we are creating a unique, communal television experience for viewers," said Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, executive vice president at Joost.The deal will give Joost exclusive access to sci-fi and celebrity programming on WBTV branded channels.The WBTV: Sci-Fi Fix channel will feature shows such as The Adventures of Briscoe County Junior, Aquaman, Babylon 5, Crusade, Human Target, Invasion, Max Headroom, My Favorite Martian, Prey, Time Trax and V.WBTV: Before They Were Mega Stars will show big name actors appearing in shows early on in their carers, including guest appearances on Growing Pains, Kung Fu, Sisters and Spenser: For Hire."We believe that the advertiser-supported model for classic, current and original programming is a significant and critical segment of the long-term future of digital distribution," said Bruce Rosenblum, president of WBTV.The deal with Warner follows Joost's other recent tie-ups with Time Warner Sony Pictures Television and Hasbro Joost features more than 150 channels with programming across all genres, including cartoons and animation, entertainment and film, sports, comedy, lifestyle, documentaries and sci-fi.However, the channels and programmes available on Joost vary by geographic region based on copyright ownership. Copyright © 2007 vnunet.com >> Submit this story to Digg \|\|\|\|\| By Steven Levy Newsweek May 14, 2007 issue - Disruption isn't what it used to be. Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis are known for marching into an industry and turning its business model into chopped meat. They made deadbeats of the music business with tune-sharing Kazaa and rendered telcos speechless with call-for-free Skype. Then a funny thing happened. After selling Skype to eBay for $2.6 billion, the pair paid more than $100 million to the record labels for Kazaa reparations. "That litigation meant we have a huge amount of understanding for [a big industry's] issues," says Friis, a 30-year-old Dane. This set the stage for a different approach in their next venture—a kinder, gentler sort of disruption. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement The current target? Television. Their new project is Joost (pronounced like "juiced"), and the point is "to change the way people consume TV," says Swedish native Zennström, 41. This time around, it's more lovefest than war. Joost wants to be safe as milk for studios, an ace sales tool for advertisers and a permanent addiction for anyone with a broadband connection. Let YouTube fight off Viacom in a copyright lawsuit; Joost has signed Viacom as a content partner. Load the free service, which went public last week, and your screen fills with video, essentially making your computer into a TV. It's not DVD quality, but it's watchable. The reason it looks better than similar ventures is that, like Kazaa and Skype, it makes the most of peer-to-peer technology, a fast and economical way to distribute bits. Everything on Joost is on-demand: no worrying about schedules. Since it's on the Internet, Joost has interactive features like chatting with friends while watching. Related Content Q&A: Joost Founders Aim to Transform TV But the key to Joost's future is programming, and that's where the founders' newfound respectability is making a difference. The 100-plus channels that Joost carries include the mundane (MTV's "Laguna Beach"), the retro (The Lassie Channel), the brutal (Fight Network) and the cutting edge (Indie Flix). And better stuff is coming. New deals include the Turner Network (Adult Swim cartoons, CNN stalwarts like "Larry King Live") and Sony Pictures Television (library gems like "Charlie's Angels"). NEWSWEEK has also learned that Warner Brothers Television is the next bigfoot shoe to fall; WB president Bruce Rosenblum says he's starting a Joost science-fiction channel (with choices from "Babylon 5" to "My Favorite Martian") and a "Before They Were Megastars" channel (example: "Growing Pains" with a then unknown Brad Pitt). \|\|\|\|\| First came Kazaa, which changed the way we bought music. Or didn’t buy it, to be strictly accurate. Then came Skype, which changed the way we made calls and allowed us to tear up our phone bills for good. Now we have Joost, the newly-unveiled name for The Venice Project from Skype/Kazaa founders Niklas and Janus, and it looks set to do for our TV viewing what Skype did for our phone habit: allow us to do a lot more of it for a lot less money. The new web TV service offers broadcast-quality full-screen content and full copyright guarantees – and, unbelievably, it’s free. Or maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised, judging by Niklas and Janus’ track record. Joost was launched as The Venice Project in November as a limited beta test. The secure peer-to-peer platform allows content owners to post broadcast-quality content online and viewers to access it for free. It is based on a community-driven website that can be accessed by anyone with a broadband connection. Chief exec Fredrik de Wahl claimed that the service gives viewers free content without compromising rights. “People are looking for increased choice and flexibility in their TV experience, while the entertainment industry needs to retain control over their content,” he said. “We’ve married that consumer desire with the industry’s interests.” Head over to Joost.com for more info and to sign up for the beta.	160px Internet TV came one step closer to reality as startup web broadcaster Joost recently announced that it signed a deal with Warner Brothers to host some of its WBTV-branded content. This deal, along with content deals with other television providers, lately Time Warner and Sony Pictures Television, makes Joost (pronounced "juiced") the sweetheart aggregator and provider in the coming on-demand, freely distributed online TV broadcasts. Joost bills itself as an online community where viewers, "can watch what you want, when you want, in full-screen eye-quality proper TV." The service currently provides about 150 channels, although the availability of some channels varies by country or region due to copyright restrictions. Viewers can navigate screen menus to make programming choices, and then use “widgets” from drop-down menus that allow users to interact with the programming. "Widgets include a clock, integration of instant messaging, RSS/News feeds and a chat room for the particular channel being viewed on the screen. Users have the ability to opt out of the widgets during viewing or can easily access them from the mouse-activated menus," according to John P. Gamboa of ''the Dailey Aztec''. The development efforts at Joost are backed by technology-savvy web entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis. The two used Internet peer-to-peer networking to create Kazaa, and then later Skype. The cutting-edge music file sharing and telephony implementations of these two applications, some say bleeding edge, appear to have had an affect on the approach being used now by the two at Joost along with co-developers. The copyright infringement-plagued Kazaa was sold to Sharman Networks in 2002. Skype was sold to eBay in October 2005 for $2.6 billion. In July last year, Kazaa settled with music record labels by making a $100 million payment as reparations for illegal file sharing activities employed by users of the application that enabled the distribution of copyright-infringed music files. Kazaa became a copyright bust. Skype became a jaw-dropping hit, and a hit in the jaw of telcom carriers whose management of voice transmission became undermined by the sub-set of Internet users with broadband connectivity and peer-to-peer web awareness. The evolution is distinctively one-way. Online broadband peer-to-peer connectivity is here to stay after a nasty birth. "People are looking for increased choice and flexibility in their TV experience, while the entertainment industry needs to retain control over their content," said Joost chief executive officer Fredrik de Wahl. "We’ve married that consumer desire with the industry’s interests." The "marriage" of TV content to "consumer desire" is the hot-spot that media conglomerates are still seemingly trying to figure out as they dispense their less valuable content for Internet consumption. Joost has managed to secure some rights to webcast programming, but the content is not the highest quality broadcasted TV programming currently available through established subscription cable and satellite distribution channels, or even free airwave TV. Underlying the concept of Internet TV is the distribution of content in a way that is more efficient than the existing model. Peer-to-peer networking over the Internet makes programming available when a user asks for it. The 'on-demand' feature of this approach frees up space in the distribution pipeline and provides feedback to the aggregator to know exactly what is in demand. It gives a middle-man the leverage to negotiate with media conglomerates and then manage a pipeline flooded with unviewed content, thereby conserving bandwidth. It also lets viewers opt for free online TV programming through content arrangements made by the web broadcaster, who acts as a gateway to the programs. However, it is not an advertising-free service. The Joost hoopla is partly spurred on by its expansionist decision on May 1 to allow users of the Beta version to distribute 99 invitations to other people who could become Beta users.
September 9, 2006 - 2:34AM Premier Peter Beattie said Queensland voters had given him "one more chance" despite clinching a fourth term in government with a third successive landslide state election victory. In another disastrous result for the coalition, Labor looked set to possibly increase its current tally of 60 seats in the 89-seat parliament. Coalition leader Lawrence Springborg conceded defeat just after 8pm (AEST) and said the government had "a strong mandate" for the next term. He said Mr Beattie had a big responsibility to fix problems such as the long running troubles with the state's health system. "This responsibility should in no way be squandered," he said. Mr Beattie is the first Queensland Labor leader to win a fourth term as premier since William Forgan Smith in 1941. But claiming victory he said he was not interested in "history" and his celebrations would be short-lived. "Tonight we're going to have a few drinks but tomorrow we're back to work," said Mr Beattie, flanked by his wife Heather and three children in the electoral tally room in Brisbane. Mr Beattie acknowledged the government had endured crises but he was determined to fix them. "We knew we have had some problems with health ... we plan to resolve those," he said. He said the voters of Queensland had given him and his government "one more chance". "We're on notice," he said. "We have to take that ... we can't betray (them)." Mr Beattie commiserated with Information Technology Minister Chris Cummins, who was expected to lose his Sunshine Coast seat of Kawana to the Liberals. But Labor even looked like holding the seat of Bundaberg, the centre of the Dr Death scandal that engulfed the government last year. And in another indication of the coalition's woes, Labor appears to have won the three seats it lost to the coalition in recent by-elections, according to early poll figures. Labor lost the seats of Chatsworth in Brisbane's east and Redcliffe north of the city to the Liberals last year, as well as the Gold Coast seat of Gaven to the Nationals in April this year. But the three seats looked certain to go to Labor with a major coalition casualty being Liberal frontbencher Michael Caltabiano's seat of Chatsworth, which was set to be won by Labor's Chris Bombolas, a high profile sports broadcaster. Despite crises in its last term over health and the water supply in the state's south-east, voters have shown confidence in Labor and Mr Beattie. The coalition's chances had been setback by a failed bid by Mr Springborg to merge the Queensland Nationals and Liberals into a new conservative party. The decision by Liberal MPs to dump leader Bob Quinn in favour of Bruce Flegg just before the election also seriously backfired. Mr Springborg said it was disappointing the coalition had not capitalised on a possible protest vote. "The protest vote which was obviously out there did not feel comfortable in coming to the Queensland coalition and that would indicate to me that we need to do much more to connect to the hearts and lives of the people in Queensland," he said. He said he was determined to press on as coalition leader despite the devastating result. "I will be working with my colleagues now to indicate quite clearly that we position ourselves in a better way in Queensland in the future," Mr Springborg said. He thanked coalition voters "during this most difficult state election campaign". "As we know it has been full of some challenges and with any state election campaign you could probably always say there's some things you would have liked to have gone a little better but that's what happens in the game of politics," Mr Springborg said. He also thanked Dr Flegg, who was bombarded with negative media coverage during the election campaign. Federal Labor treasury spokesman Wayne Swan said the election result showed voters had faith in Mr Beattie and did not trust the coalition. "People have decided they'll trust Peter Beattie to fix their problems and not the coalition," he said. Nationals matriarch Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen, the wife of the late Sir Joh, Queensland's longest serving premier, said the coalition had to work harder to make voters understand Labor was untrustworthy. "It just shows that we have to keep working and working hard to try and persuade the people of Queensland that the Labor Party isn't a party that you can really rely on," she said. "They make promises, they don't keep them, so we've got to sort of try and let people know that that's the way they act." Federal Nationals MP De-Anne Kelly said the election result showed "that the spin has won over the substance". "And it will be a Beattie victory substantially." \|\|\|\|\| Bud Selig Speaks Out On A-ROID Scandal Bud Selig says Alex Rodriguez has "shamed the game," though the baseball commissioner indicated no plans to punish the three-time AL MVP. Tour Winner Eric Monti Dies Eric Monti, who helped shape the golf swings of some of Hollywood's biggest stars and won three PGA Tour events, has died. He was 91. \|\|\|\|\| POSTED: 12:48 pm EDT September 10, 2006 Seismologists said there could be aftershocks from the strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked parts of Florida, Sunday. The quake was centered about 300 miles southwest of Orlando. There were no damage reports, but many people, including some Orange County firefighters, said they felt the tremor. The crew at a local fire station was just getting done with breakfast when the shaking all started. Within the walls of Orange County Fire Station number 20, the talk is usually about football or fire and rescues, but since Sunday it's all been about the quake. "We definitely felt it, definitely heard it," said Dan McCarthy. The firefighters probably felt the shaking a little more then everyone else. Their station, after all, is in a mobile home. "I thought somebody had fallen in the backroom. I had no idea it was en earthquake," McCarthy said. There was no damage to the station or anywhere else for that matter, but 911 dispatchers around Central Florida got all kinds of calls as people wondered why the earth was shaking. The magnitude 6.0 earthquake rattled rooms and shook beds across the southeast U.S. It was centered 250 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Fla. UCF professor Dan Britt said Florida tremors are rare but not unheard of. "It's something you wouldn't expect every year, every 10 years, maybe in multiple decades, so if you felt it, feel lucky," said Britt. This certainly won't be remembered as a great quake, but for Floridians, it'll take a long time to forget. The quake also came as a surprise to many people in Lake County. In Clermont, Maureen Moore said she rushed to protect her delicate china when she felt the tremors. "It scared the bloody hell outta me," Moore said. "If it wasn't for the collection, I was ready to run." Maureen's husband, James, went outside to see if the tremors left any cracks in the home, since the outside had been recently painted. He didn't find any damage. Copyright 2007 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Only 27 earthquakes have ever been felt in Florida, according to records stretching all the way back to 1727. Scientists said Sunday's quake was not centered on a known fault line, however geologists did record an earthquake in the same place seven months ago. It was a 5.2 magnitude quake on February 10.	===Queensland: Beattie's labor government returned to power=== '''September 9, 2006''' The Queensland state election has been won by the Peter Beattie led labor government. After a colourful campaign featuring disunity between the liberal-national coalition and a forecasted protest vote that failed to eventuate against labor, Beattie maintained his considerable margin in the 89 seat legislative assembly winning a predicted 60 seats with approximately 70% of votes counted. The nationals and liberals are predicted to pick up 16 and nine seats respectively. ===Paes and Damm win men's doubles title=== '''September 10, 2006''' and crowned their first year as a pair on Saturday as they beat and 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 to win the men's doubles title at the tennis tournament. Paes and Damm had lost the first set and their serve broken in the second set managed to win their first title of the year. Paes said communication had been the key to his success with Damm. "I don't think there are enough words to express how much fun and how much learning I've actually had playing with Martin, because we're actually opposites on the court," Paes said. "Martin is strong and plays more solid. I'm more flashy and a bit more quick. We really complement each other. "It's been a fantastic year playing with him. I've really enjoyed it. I'd like to thank him for a wonderful year." ===Malegaon blasts: ATS arrives to probe blasts=== '''September 10, 2006''' The situation in Malegaon is calm, two days after multiple blasts killed 38 people and left 200 others injured. The police are investigating cautiously and are yet to find definite clues or detain suspects. A special ten-member team of Mahrasthra's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) is in Malegaon to probe blasts. National Security Guards (NSG) is inspecting the site as well. Investigators admit that cracking the Malegaon mystery will be tough one and so for there have been no arrests or detentions. '''Related news:''' * * ===Aerobatics champ dies in tragedy at Aero GP season opener=== '''September 10, 2006''' A mid-air collision has taken the life of Swedish aerobatics champion . Shortly after the in-flight tangle, the two planes crashed into the sea as co-competitor Eddie Goggins of Ireland parachuted into the sea where Maltese Armed Forces rescued him. The incident comes only days after Aero GP announced a sponsorship deal with Betfair, giving the Malta Aero GP the official title, ''Aero GP Betfair Grand Prix of Malta''. The competition in the Aero GP involves a variety of skill tests for the pilots, testing their racing, dogfighting and target-bombing abilities. ===Strong earthquake in Gulf of Mexico causes rare tremor in Florida=== '''September 10, 2006''' An earthquake struck in the Gulf of Mexico with a magnitude of 6.0, a strength very rare for that region of the world, at 10:56am EDT (14:56 UTC) on September 10. Although no damage has been reported, it has been reported that tremors were felt in Orlando and in the state of Florida. According to the , the quake's epicenter was 260 miles (418 km) WSW (240°) of , Florida, and 329 miles (529 km) southeast (145°) of New Orleans, Louisiana, at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km). USGS officials stated that the quake was not strong enough to trigger a . Tremor intensities as high as Force IV on the scale were felt throughout Florida.
Lesbian couple weds in Portugal's 1st gay marriage LISBON, Portugal — A lesbian couple wed Monday in Portugal's first same-sex ceremony since the predominantly Catholic country introduced a law allowing gay marriage last month. Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced Portuguese mothers in their 30s who have been together since 2003, married in a 15-minute ceremony at a Lisbon registry office. "This is a great victory, a dream come true," Pires said as the couple kissed and hugged. "Now we're a family, that's the important thing," Pires said, adding they would continue to fight for equal rights for homosexuals, including adoption. The ceremony came less than a month after Portugal's conservative president ratified a gay marriage law passed by Parliament in January. His approval made Portugal the sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples wed. The center-left Socialist government said the law is part of its effort to modernize Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Three years ago the same government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition. Pires and Paixao, the lesbian couple, had campaigned for a change in the law since a registry office turned them away when they first tried to marry in 2006. Officials argued the law stipulated that marriage was between people of different sexes. The women appealed to Portugal's Constitutional Court because the constitution forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation. The court rejected their appeal, but left-of-center parties in Parliament supported the government bill which removed the reference to marriage being between different sexes. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| The first same-sex marriage has taken place in Portugal, a month after a law allowing gay marriage came into effect. Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, both divorced mothers in their 30s who have been together since 2003, married at a Lisbon registry office. The couple - who had campaigned for a change to the law - described it as a "great victory, a dream come true". The Socialist government had faced fierce opposition to the law in what is a mainly Catholic country. But a petition against the change failed to gain enough support for a referendum. The bill was passed by parliament in January and ratified by President Anibal Cavaco Silva in May - making Portugal the sixth European country to recognise same-sex marriages.	The six-colour version of the . A lesbian couple, Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, married in a Lisbon on Monday. As they kissed and hugged Pires said, "This is a great victory, a dream come true," and that they would continue to fight for equal rights for homosexuals, including . The couple had campaigned for a change in the law since 2006, when they were turned away from a registry office. Officials said the law stipulated that marriage was between people of different sexes. They appealed to , saying that the constitution forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation, but the Court rejected their appeal. Afterwards the government of introduced a bill removing the reference to marriage being between different sexes. The bill was passed by parliament in January and ratified by conservative President in May. The government said the law is part of its effort to modernize Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Portugal is a predominantly Catholic country and is the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex couples marriages, after Belgium, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
From Encyclopedia Dramatica Hey! This article isn't lulz just yet, but its coverage can spark a lollercoaster. You can help by reverting people who delete shit, and vandalizing their user pages. See this article on google? Want to add something? Cussing Club Join us! /b/ tries the No Cussing Challenge FLAVA FLAAAAV ain't got nothing on these gangstas Scientologist. No, rly. Sheriff Lee Baca gives young McKay a surprise . (Note: According to the smartasses at Wikipedia, Lee Baca is a fucking The Nigger-shitting Cockmasters Club is a dangerous rap gang formed by this motherfucker: McKay Hatch (MOAR LIEK "McGay Latch" amirite?), a 14-year old nigger hater from California, with a first name that is usually used as a middle and a last that can be related to a fuckin' fanny. What's worse, he's also against slang, so he uses fucking politically correct phrases only such as excretion instead of shitting all over the town. According to his own piece of shit biography, he was the fag that started the clusterfuck of faggotry called the No Cussing Club at his faggot-fueled middle school, in the hazardous nigger-infested ghetto of California. This shithole place was called South Pasadena, after what the window-licking 'tards perceived as a shitload of people talking about shit that FUCKING PISSED THEM OFF, AKA cussing. This shit-talking has existed years before he was pushed out of his whore-mother's pungent-odored cunt, yet he felt it needed to come to a stop. When the itty-bitty asstard realized many of his faggotry-infested fellow students were addicted to swearing, he took it upon his self to start his piece of shit club to reform these criminalized pansy-ass youths from running amok. If he notices a group of stupid cunts swearing about shit, the gang of twats will steal their goddamn basketball and proceed to rap pure bullshit about how if you wanna hang with us you gotta watch that filthy piehole of yours. The asstard and his fucking asstarded friends were then taken into the showers, got their anal rings greased, then fucked until they were crying for their mommies. What a fucking illiterate wannabe nigger. Holy fucking shitcocks they made cussing illegal in their town. Who the shit lets kids dictate the fucking law? *Note that they are violating the first amendment of the United States Constitution, as of December 15, 1791. But that document is old and therefore totally inaccurate! :)* *HOLY SHIT ITS ALL A SCAM TO MAKE MONEY* "Mckays fee is 800.00 plus travel expense let us know, Brent Hatch, mckays father could also speak to the parents he wrote the book raising a g rated family in an x rated world...""Cary the postcards are done can you check into the company that has labels and find the best price 4000 schools and 1000 churchs thanks this is going to be great I will talk to cecily when she gets back and make sure she is on track for the book to be finished mid sept talk to you soon 2.5 million dollars is our goal thanks..." excerpt from Brent Hatch's email Welcome to the Machine On the 26th of October, 2007, the notorious cockgoblins of Ebaumsworld, discovered the ass-wank shit-for-brains of The No Cussing Club and fired up the ass-raping INTERNET HAET MACHINE. McKay was the son of a bitch that started the motherfucking club, then the fatherfucking website and because he is such an asshole, all of the fucking Lusernames and all of the cocksucking passwords are all the same goddamn thing, like the stupid fucker he is. Username:member Password:welcome Please troll this COCK SUCKER until his candy ass bleeds!!! His e-mail is used to spread faggotry, therefore we must /i/nvestigate this niggershitting atrocity against humanity. brhatch@earthlink.net (which happens to be his father's email). Troll for fucking great justice bitches. His dad, Brent Hatch, also seems to have a site - http://www.brenthatch.com/, which advertises some shit nobody cares about. Stupid Shit Note that he's just a chubby fat-ass who thinks the word "pee-pee" is funny. Drew Pickles's Reaction Drew Pickles himself is against this club, which isn't really all that surprising. The Pledge "I won't cuss, swear, use bad language, or tell dirty jokes. Clean language is the sign of intelligence and always demands respect. I will use my language to uplift, encourage and motivate. I will Leave People Better Than I Found Them!" HAHAHAHA DISREGARD THAT I SUCK COCKS!!!! Their motto is as follows: DON'T FUCKING CUSS, 'CUZ THAT SHIT AIN'T COOL. The Original Their No Cussing Club flyer straight out of the 90s. Totally tubular. FUCK CUSSING. But here are pictures of our loli members for all the pedos on the interwebs to fap to. A dictionary definition of hypocrisy. Freeze Muthafucka! I'm a member of NCC! Click to view the original ass-raping video. At 1:15 a little bitch shows up and throws a motherfucking rock and hits the fucking slutbag whores in the back of the group. Way to go, bitch! Also notice at 1:22 that Faggot gets that fucking-bad-ass IN YOUR FACE ATTITUDE FUCK YEAH MCKAY YOU RACIST BALL GOBBLING FUCKFACE A Common God Damned Mother Fucking Response Here's the old man, he tries to cover his pedo behavior with Jesus. "People who hate kids don't have the love of Jesus Christ in them" (AT 6:10 in the movie) If you don't love the NCC you're trying to sell coffee cups. Yeah. You betcha. You dickless 90-year-old communist ballguzzler. HE purposely made this video for the NCC knowing the word (CUNT) was on his hat... pedophile Another video that sucks sweet sugary balls. Possibly the same video, it looks the same. BUT WHO FUCKING CARES LOLOL The Video Response that Took Down the NCC Re Upped During the ass-rape of the NCC it was discovered that the Faggots fucked up, and that their videos would automatically approve any video responses. This fucking idiocy of course led to many lulz as the Free Speech video was soon a response to every fucking video in their shit-fest arsenal. Unfortunately as a result these faggots no longer allow responses of any sort and have even gone so far as to strip away video embedding completely. The video a while up their shitty page is from another user, so the NCC is still being fucked by big black cocks the size of baseball bats UP THE ASS Partyvan'd /i/, being quite done with drama, has started pissing gasoline onto the Internet Hate Machine. A recent alliance with the g00ns, who are more familiar with outright hacking as opposed to vamping, let Anonymous on #insurgency and 711chan /i/ compromise the domain. When the NCC vice president told Anon to BACK THE FUCK UP, /i/ immediately switched to OH-SHIT-OH-SHIT mode and proceeded to DELETE FUCKING EVERYTHING and kill it with fire. This was pretty easy though as the NCC site looks like it was birthed bleeding from the festering cunt of a 90's crack-whore. It suffers from major cancer because of its neon colors right next to white. What fucking disgusting webdesign. Today, it looks like it crawled out from the lowest depths of the musky jungle of wiggling the plump pink clit of the Intarwebs as it squeezed creamy white sour gel from the vagina of /b/ and /i/. The Great Raid of 1/1/09 "McKay, a 15-year-old high school student from South Pasadena, Calif., has found himself the victim of a massive online attack, with people sending offensive e-mails and trying to crash the group's Web site. Strangers ordered pizzas sent anonymously to the family home in the middle of the night. The Hatches found their mail box clogged with porn magazines." -ABC News But then came messages such as this: "i am going to find you And mutilate you with a scalple" [sic] Or this: "Every time I see your stupid [expletive] braces on those stupid [expletive] teeth of yours on that stupid [expletive] face of yours I just want to kill you with my bear fists." [sic] Another message said, "Now, please, pack up your [expletive], and leave. You all are nothing more than [expletive], and should be treated nothing more than such." OF COURSE EPIC WIN ENSUED: "On the outside, he seems to be doing fine," Mr. Hatch told ABC News, "but last night he came home from soccer practice, and for the first time he started crying. We went out to grab a bite, just to get him out of the house." http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=6665969&page=1 http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11453777? http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/720115/no-cussing-teen-faces-net-hate-campaign FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF No Cussing Club goes on tour That's right, fags and fagettes! Now YOU can call up the NCC and ask them (pretty please) to come to your school or college campus and rescue your precious fucking virgin ears from the swearycunts. DADS EMAIL HACKED On the 21st of cocklicking January, '09 the creators of the no cussing club, McKay and Brent "cunt" Hatch got their email haxx0rd and via this astonishing development paswords were got and a certain website got its shit ruined. As a side note to this wonderfull event, it also became clear that the club was not all that it seemed. Their material promotes the organization as the brainchild of their 14 year old son, when actually the material is written by his parents, who also manage his profitable career while using his speaking events to plug their own material. The ruination of No Cussing Club's site is greatly considered epic win, being the first lulzy thing Anon has done in a long fucking time. SHITTY REMIX Holy shit this shits fucking awesome! HAHAHA DISREGARD THAT I SUCK COCKS. REALLY I DO. Gallery SHITBALLS UP MY ASS SHITBALLS UP MY ASS SHITBALLS UP MY ASS SHITBALLS UP MY ASS SHITBALLS UP MY ASS SHITBALLS UP MY ASS SHITBALLS UP MY ASS \|\|\|\|\| "On the outside, he seems to be doing fine," Mr. Hatch told ABC News, "but last night he came home from soccer practice, and for the first time he started crying. We went out to grab a bite, just to get him out of the house." McKay Hatch has received a barrage of threatening e-mails after forming the "No Cussing Club." (www.nocussing.com /ABC News Photo Illustration) (www.nocussing.com /ABC News Photo Illustration) McKay said, "At first it was kind of scary, but then I realized they're just bullies, and they wanted me to be scared." McKay's parents have encouraged him in his quest. They themselves published a book a few years ago, "Raising a G-Rated Family in an X-Rated World." But they say they never expected their son to have to endure more than a few taunts. "I always give him the option to stop," Brent Hatch said, "but he says, 'No, this is my mission.'" The Hatches say they called the local police for help, and then the FBI, after death threats turned up on the home answering machine. (The FBI says, as a matter of policy, that it does not confirm or deny whether it is working on a case.) A Los Angeles law firm has offered help too, threatening to sue the Internet service providers whose systems have been used to attack McKay's effort. Amid all the abusive messages, there have been encouraging ones as well. "I just want to tell you that I think you are an amazing kid!!" wrote a woman from Canada. "It's a great thing you are doing here. And I am also going to try to cut out my cussing also. Thank you for that!!" Another person wrote, "You are our future and it is up to you to determine the course of our nation with good morals, values and standards. Thank you for standing up for what you believe in. Keep up the good work!" Brent Hatch says he's grateful how friends and schoolmates have come to his son's support. "Good is coming out of it, trust me," he said, "though it's sometimes hard to believe it when something like this happens." \|\|\|\|\| SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. What the @$%#? This community on the edge of Los Angeles has become a cuss-free zone. So if you're headed to South Pasadena this week, be sure to turn down the volume on that Snoop Dogg CD, and, if the little old lady from Pasadena cuts you off in traffic, don't even think about flipping her the bird. Not that police will slap cuffs on you and haul your sorry, er, butt off to jail in light of the proclamation passed Wednesday by the City Council. But you could be shamed into better behavior by the unsettling glares of residents who take their reputation for civility seriously. "That's one of the purposes of this," Mayor Michael Cacciotti said of his city's proclamation designating the first week of March as No Cussing Week. "It provides us a reminder to be more civil, to elevate the level of discourse." The proclamation will be in effect until Friday, and then the first week of every March hereafter. South Pasadena, a tranquil city of tree-shaded cottages at the base of a mountain range eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles, isn't the first to try to rein in potty mouths. Earlier this year, the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Mo., proposed banning swearing in bars. Last year, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons called for an industrywide ban on racially and sexually charged epithets. But what's different about the latest push to stop saying in public the words that Jane Fonda and Diane Keaton recently discovered we still can't say on television is that it was proposed by a 14-year-old boy. "My mom and dad always taught me good morals, good values, and not cussing was one of them," said McKay Hatch, the founder of South Pasadena High School's No Cussing Club, during a recent break between study hall and tennis practice. "I've cussed before, I'm not gonna lie to you," Hatch quickly added. "But I try not to cuss any more." He was in junior high school when he became fed up with all the blue language around him. He understood why his friends use foul language: "They just want to fit in like everybody else and they don't know how. They figure if they cuss maybe it's an easy way to do that." But it wasn't for him. "I finally told my friends, 'I don't cuss.' And I said, 'If you want to hang out with me, you don't cuss."' It took a couple of years, but enough friends finally came around that Hatch formed a 50-member club, handed out fliers and called the group's first meeting, held June 1. Nine months later, the No Cussing Club has a website, claims a membership of 10,000 and boasts chapters in several states and countries. Hatch considers his greatest achievement, though, to be getting his hometown of 25,000 to become a cuss-free zone. Cacciotti, the mayor, isn't surprised that South Pasadena started the movement. He noted that the city broke off from its much bigger neighbor 120 years ago when residents unhappy with the saloon trade in downtown Pasadena voted 85-25 to go their own way. By midweek, however, it was unclear just how many people in South Pasadena knew about the no-cussing edict. A clerk behind the counter at Buster's Ice Cream & Coffee Shop just laughed and said, "That sounds pretty funny." David Salcedo, who manages High Life Burgers, a popular hangout near the high school, hadn't heard of it either. But, come to think of it, he said, the language among the after-school crowd has been pretty clean lately. The biggest problem these days, Salcedo said, is kids talking too loudly. "But they're good kids," he added. "They just eat their chili fries and go home." For his part, Hatch hopes his No Cussing Club will lead to cuss-free zones in other cities. He believes it could be a quality-of-life issue, and that there may be less violence if people behave better. "You have to start with the little things," he said. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Enlarge By Nick Ut, AP McKay Hatch, 14, the founder of a 10,000 member-strong No Cussing movement, jokes with his father, Brent Hatch, right, at his dad's restaurant, Wednesday. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.	EST). Wikinews has learned that the internet group known only as "Anonymous" has hacked the website of the No Cussing Club (NCC), nocussing.com, for at least two days in a row. On day one, the group hacked into the website, replacing the content with links to images of alleged e-mail conversations. The e-mails appear to be from the founder's e-mail account, accusing organization members of forgery and using the site for their own personal financial gains. The website was also replaced with Anonymous's logo and a message. On January 22, they again attacked the website, by means of a Distributed Denial-of-service attack (DDoS), bringing it offline periodically throughout the day. Anonymous attacked the Scientology website in 2008 with a DDoS attack, taking it off-line for at least two days. "It has come to our attention that the creators of the no cussing club, McKay and Brent Hatch have done so at great personal gain. Their material promotes the organization as the brainchild of their 14-year-old son, when actually the material is written by his parents, who also manage his profitable career while using his speaking events to plug their own material," said Anonymous on the hacked website. On Encyclopedia Dramatica, a satire Wiki, they claim further responsibility for the hack and exposition saying they managed to break into McKay and Brent Hatch's email accounts. "the accounts got haxx0rd and via this astonishing development passwords were got and a certain website got its shit ruined." According to the NCC's website, it has 20,000 members worldwide, was founded in 2007 by McKay Hatch, a 14-year-old boy, and aims at discouraging swearing in public places such as schools. In 2008, McKay even succeeded in making cussing illegal in his hometown of South Pasadena, California and has appeared on various talk shows such as that of Doctor Phil. However, according to e-mails leaked to Wikinews, allegedly written by the boy's father Brent, a motivational speaker also owning Dawson Publishing, the parents are allegedly using the site and their son's material for their own personal financial gain. Anonymous also claims that the parents have forged some of their son's writings and claim it to be his. The e-mails allege that Brent along with his publishing company, the name which "nocussing.com" is also registered under, were trying to set up assemblies in the No Cussing Club's name at schools across the United States for US$1,500.00 per show and would then pocket the money, doing the same for postcards they created for churches and schools. "McKay spoke last night to a group of 40 people, and at the end of his presentation, there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd. I know this is going to work because the message is so important. Thanks for all you do and I hope we can work together for a long time, and of course make money in the process," said Brent in an alleged e-mail conversation on November 25, 2008. Earlier in August 2008, Brent spoke about hoping to reach a "goal" of "2.5 million dollars" by selling thousands of postcards to "schools and churches". On January 19, 2009, ABC News.com reported that McKay claimed Anonymous was sending him and his family hate e-mail and death threats, nearly 50,000 per day, "almost all of them filled with obscenities" and spam. On the NCC's website, McKay calls himself the "most cyberbullied kid on the planet" because of Anonymous's attacks. NCC logo. "A lot of people were saying I was taking away their freedom of speech," said McKay to ABC News on January 16. "All I was trying to do was raise awareness." He says he formed the club because his schoolmates were sick of hearing people swear in public. Wikinews contacted the NCC to confirm or deny the reports, but would only say that "the FBI is working on it the case" including "our attorney and we will press charges" against those who are responsible for the crimes. Anonymous is known to prank and hack websites and e-mail accounts. In September 2008, the group hacked into BillOreilly.com, the official website of Fox News Channel commentator Bill O'Reilly, exposing personal information of the site's users in a document posted on the internet. The NCC is located in South Pasadena. According to the California Penal Code §502 part C of the computer hacking laws, depending on the offense if caught, punishments could be a "fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, or two or three years, or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment". On October 20, 2008, Dmitriy Guzner, aged 18 from New Jersey, admitted to the charges related to carrying out the DDoS attack on Scientology's website. He was subsequently charged with computer hacking crimes and faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.
Cuba to move from Windows to open source software Microsoft's war on piracy and illegal use of Windows has led to many disputes. Today the idea of moving from Windows to open-source software is running in many countries the governments of which are analyzing the advantages of such alternatives like Linux. There was no exception for the communist country Cuba. Cuban government looks forward to move from Microsoft's Windows to open-source software. This step is going to expand the gap between Cuba and the U.S.-based corporation. Several ministers backed the idea of moving to open-source software. Ramiro Valdes, communication minister, gave at a technology conference a keynote in which he stood for open source. At the same time the head of the Free Software Foundation, Richard Stallman, mentioned that proprietary software is currently quite insecure. Another person to support the migration to open source is Hector Rodriguez, the head of a developing program withing one of Cuba's universities. Rodriguez mentioned at the conference that the customs service in Cuba has already migrated to Linux. The ministries of culture, higher education and communication are to do so later. The migration to Linux might take some time but Rodriguez, being quoted by the Associated Press, declined to answer how long will the government of Cuba be moving its systems to open source. However, the number of computers that have already moved to Linux is growing fast. The governments of other countries, including Venezuela, China, Brazil and Norway are still evaluating the possibilities of partial or total migration. There are several project running in different cities. Thus the administrations of Bristol, Amsterdam and Munich are looking forward to moving to open source rather than Microsoft's Windows. \|\|\|\|\| The Cuban government is to migrate thousands of its computers to open-source software, a change that would further distance the communist nation from U.S.-based Microsoft. Several Cuban government ministers backed the move at a technology conference held late last week. Communications minister Ramiro Valdes gave a opening keynote that advocated open source, while Richard Stallman, head of the Free Software Foundation, also told the conference that proprietary software is inherently insecure. A Cuban academic, Hector Rodriguez, is supporting the migration to open source by heading up a development program within one of the largest Cuban universities. Cuba's customs service has already migrated to Linux, while the ministries of culture, higher education and communications are planning to do so, Rodriguez told the conference. But Rodriguez, quoted by the Associated Press, declined to say how long it would take for the Cuban government to migrate most of its systems to Linux. "It would be tough for me to say that we would migrate half the public administration in three years," he told the conference. The number of Cuban open-source users is growing fast, with around 3,000 in a country that struggles with outdated PCs and slow Internet links. Other governments, including Venezuela, China, Brazil and Norway, are evaluating a partial or total migration from Windows to open source. Many city administrations are also running projects. In Europe, programs in Bristol, England, as well as Amsterdam and Munich, are well underway. Richard Thurston of ZDNet UK reported from London.	right right The government of Cuba decided to change the OS on thousands of its computers. These will run on GNU/Linux instead of Windows. This step made by the Cuban government raises tensions between the country and the U.S. - based company Microsoft. The idea was welcomed by several Cuban ministers. This includes Ramiro Valdez, communication minister, who at a technology conference stated his position towards moving to free software. Richard Stallman, heading the Free Software Foundation, criticized the proprietary software saying that today it is rather insecure, and that unlike proprietary software, free software develops democratically under the control of its users. Heading one of the largest universities in Cuba, Hector Rodriguez also showed his positive attitude towards the migration of the country to free software. He outlined that Cuban customs service has already moved to Linux and several ministries are still to migrate. Among them are the ministries of culture, of higher education and of communication. Although it will take some time for Cuba to move to free software, Rodriguez, as quoted by the Associated Press, declined to state the time it will take for the government of Cuba to move entirely to GNU/Linux. The pace of migrating to free software and open source software is very fast in Cuba. GNU/Linux has been adopted as an operating system by millions of computer enthusiasts around the world, and a number of local, regional and national governments have also advocated its adoption.
Sarah Kemp Brady, who became an activist for gun control after her husband was shot in the head in the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, has died. Brady, 73, died in a retirement community in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday after battling pneumonia, family members said in an email. Brady’s husband, former White House press secretary James Brady, died on 4 August, also at the age of 73. The 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan by John Hinckley Jr left James Brady partially paralyzed. Four years later, Sarah Brady became involved in gun control. She chaired Handgun Control Inc, which was renamed the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence as a tribute to the Bradys. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was signed into law in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. “Sarah courageously stepped up after Jim was shot to prevent others from enduring what our family has gone through, and her work has saved countless lives,” the family’s statement said. “Sarah was a voice of strength, love and encouragement, and she inspired others, showing that one person could make a difference and change the world — which she did.” Dan Gross, president of Brady Campaign, called Sarah Brady “its guiding light”. “There are countless people walking around today who would not be were it not for Sarah Brady’s remarkable resilience, compassion,” Gross said. Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan’s widow, recalled the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt. In a statement emailed by the Reagan Foundation, she wrote: “Just over 34 years ago, we shared an experience that bonded us for life, as we comforted each other in a tiny, windowless office at the George Washington University hospital emergency room, while awaiting word about whether our husbands would survive the horrific gunshots that had brought them there.” \|\|\|\|\| After the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, nearly everyone knew that White House spokesman James Brady had been shot in the head and partially paralyzed in the attack by a mentally deranged assailant, John W. Hinckley Jr. But that wasn't why his wife, Sarah, became a warrior in a daunting political fight. During a visit to her husband's hometown in Illinois in the summer of 1985, a friend gave Brady and her then-6-year-old son, Scott, a ride in his truck. On the seat Scott found what he thought was a toy gun and waved it around. "Except it wasn't a toy gun," Brady grimly recalled. She carefully removed from his hand a loaded .22-caliber pistol, a cheap Saturday night special much like the one Hinckley had used to shoot her husband. Her friend was blasé about the incident and said he needed the gun for protection, but Brady was enraged by his carelessness. Notable Deaths Caption Dr. George Fischbeck Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times The science teacher turned weatherman who joined KABC-TV in 1972 and spent nearly two decades exuberantly delivering the local forecast was 92. Full obituary. The science teacher turned weatherman who joined KABC-TV in 1972 and spent nearly two decades exuberantly delivering the local forecast was 92. Full obituary. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) See more galleries Caption Lee Kuan Yew Wong Maye-E / Associated Press While presiding over a government that squelched dissent and characterizing opponents as "mediocrities and opportunists," he transformed the backwater city-state of Singapore into one of the world's most efficient and prosperous international business centers. Full obituary. While presiding over a government that squelched dissent and characterizing opponents as "mediocrities and opportunists," he transformed the backwater city-state of Singapore into one of the world's most efficient and prosperous international business centers. Full obituary. (Wong Maye-E / Associated Press) (Wong Maye-E / Associated Press) See more galleries Caption Jack Peltason Dwayne Newton / Associated Press The constitutional scholar with a modest manner and a homespun sense of humor was a former chancellor of UC Irvine and president of the UC system for three years in the 1990s. He was 91. Full obituary. The constitutional scholar with a modest manner and a homespun sense of humor was a former chancellor of UC Irvine and president of the UC system for three years in the 1990s. He was 91. Full obituary. (Dwayne Newton / Associated Press) (Dwayne Newton / Associated Press) See more galleries Caption Chuck Bednarik Rick Smith / Associated Press The Pro Football Hall of Famer was one of the last great two-way NFL players. He was 89. Full obituary. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was one of the last great two-way NFL players. He was 89. Full obituary. (Rick Smith / Associated Press) (Rick Smith / Associated Press) See more galleries Caption Al "Flip" Rosen © Bettmann/CORBIS The baseball slugger and front office executive was the only person to win both the most valuable player and executive of the year awards. He was 91. Full obituary. The baseball slugger and front office executive was the only person to win both the most valuable player and executive of the year awards. He was 91. Full obituary. (© Bettmann/CORBIS) (© Bettmann/CORBIS) See more galleries Notable deaths of 2015 Photos of leaders, stars and other notable figures who died in 2015. Notable deaths of 2015 Photos of leaders, stars and other notable figures who died in 2015. That evening, she called the National Rifle Assn. "Hi, you don't know me," she told the person at the other end of the line, "but my name's Sarah Brady and I'm going to make it my life's ambition to put you out of business." Brady, who became the nation's most prominent citizens' advocate for tighter handgun regulation and successfully pushed for passage of a historic bill aimed at keeping guns away from unqualified buyers, died Friday at a retirement home in Alexandria, Va., after a bout of pneumonia, her family said in a statement. She was 73. A self-professed cigarette addict, she had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in early 2000. She underwent several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and experimental treatments and defied the prognosis that had given her no more than a 30% chance of surviving five years. Brady was chairwoman of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly Handgun Control Inc.), the nation's largest citizens' lobby for tougher handgun regulation. Her husband became a potent symbol of the struggle and was by her side in 1993 when President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which imposed background checks and a seven-day waiting period on prospective gun buyers. The most significant change in federal firearms regulation in a generation, the Brady law has blocked more than 2 million sales to felons and others who do not meet the requirements of gun ownership, according to the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics. The impact of the changes on gun crime, however, is harder to gauge. The law only restricts sales by licensed firearms dealers and not secondary sales by individuals online or at gun shows, the route researchers say is favored by many criminals seeking firearms. Efforts in Washington to expand the background checks have repeatedly failed. The NRA, which battled the Brady bill for years, found its match in the blunt and irreverent former schoolteacher whose life was transformed by tragedy. "Before Sarah Brady it's safe to say that the National Rifle Assn. ran this town," Sen. Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy (D-Mass.) once said. He called her efforts to change the nation's gun laws "an extraordinary national service." "The gun lobby likes to say that Jim and I are trying to take guns away from hunters and sportsmen," Brady said some years ago. "The gun lobby is wrong. To the hunters and sportsmen of America, we say: Keep your guns. But just give us the laws that we need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and out of the hands of children." Those pleas were unimagined in Brady's life on March 30, 1981. On that rainy Monday in Washington, Jim Brady was in Reagan's entourage as the president made a midday speech at the Washington Hilton. Sarah Brady was at home with their then-2-year-old son. Around 2 p.m., she was watching a favorite soap opera when a bulletin broke in: Shots had been fired at the president. Before she could hear the rest of the news, her phone rang. A friend who had heard a fuller report was crying and offering to come stay with Scott. Brady was confused: Why would her friend want to take care of Scott? Then it hit her: Jim was hurt, too. Soon she was standing on the sidewalk outside their home, waiting for a White House car to speed her to George Washington University Hospital. But before she left, she saw her husband on television, face down on the pavement in a growing pool of blood. Of the six shots Hinckley fired, four had struck targets. One hit Reagan in the chest, piercing his lung and causing massive internal bleeding. Also injured were a Secret Service agent and a Washington patrolman. Jim Brady was shot just above the left brow. The bullet tore through his brain and lodged on the right side. At the hospital, doctors saw gray matter seep from the wound, a sign that his condition could be beyond hope. A neurosurgeon told Sarah Brady that only 1 in 10 survived the surgery her husband needed to repair the damage to his brain. Although his health was severely compromised, he lived 33 more years. After he died last year at age 73, the coroner ruled his death a homicide resulting from the wounds sustained in the shooting. Sarah Brady learned about guns as a girl. Born Feb. 6, 1942, in Kirksville, Mo., and raised in Alexandria, Va., she saw her FBI agent father carry a .38 to work and sometimes accompanied him to an FBI shooting range. The men in her family all hunted for sport, and she knew how to shoot a Tommy gun. "I grew up with a deep respect for guns," she once told The Times. "I can still remember my father saying … you pick up a gun only in the event that you're prepared to shoot to kill." She dreamed of following her father's path to the FBI but was discouraged by the lack of female agents. At the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., she studied to become a teacher but was politicized by the Vietnam War and in 1968 went to work instead for the Republican Congressional Committee in Washington. She met her future husband in the late 1960s when he was running campaigns in Illinois and she was a finance liaison for the Republican Party. She nicknamed him Bear because he was built like one. He called her Raccoon because of the circles under her eyes when she was tired. They married in 1973 and Sarah Brady stopped working five years later when they started a family. After Reagan won the White House in 1980, the Bradys' lives took a glamorous turn, only to be shattered on the 70th day of his presidency. The press secretary was hospitalized for nine months, nearly dying several times from blood clots. He had to relearn how to walk and speak, had severe short-term memory problems and howled or blanked out from pain. Brady devoted herself to his care while struggling to raise their son. \|\|\|\|\| Sarah Brady, the widow of former White House Press Secretary James Brady, has died, the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence announced Friday. She was 73. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said in a post: "We are heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Brady, our dear friend and Chairperson of the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Sarah was a champion for gun violence prevention and her commitment and fiery compassion will live on." The organization did not specify a cause of death. We are heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Brady, our dear friend and Chairperson of the Brady Campaign and Center to... Posted by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence on Friday, April 3, 2015 Jim Brady was seriously injured by the assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan and confined to a wheelchair after the incident. He and his wife, Sarah, went on to become dedicated advocates for gun control, and he became the namesake for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Jim Brady died in August 2014. "All of us at the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence are heartbroken over the passing of Sarah Brady. Together with her husband Jim 'Bear’ Brady, Sarah was the heart and soul of this organization and the successful movement it has become today. In the history of our nation, there are few people, if any, who are directly responsible for saving as many lives as Sarah and Jim," said Brady Campaign and Center President Dan Gross in a statement. "There are countless people walking around today who would not be were it not for Sarah Brady’s remarkable resilience, compassion and – what she always said she enjoyed the most -- her hard work in the trenches with this organization, which she continued right up to the very end." Former First Lady Nancy Reagan said Friday she was "deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my dear friend." "Just over 34 years ago, we shared an experience that bonded us for life, as we comforted each other in a tiny, windowless office at the George Washington University Hospital Emergency Room, while awaiting word about whether our husbands would survive the horrific gunshots that had brought them there," Reagan said. "Sarah and Jim’s path from that day on was, of course, much more difficult than Ronnie’s and mine, but Sarah never complained," Reagan added. "Over the years, I found her to be a woman of immense courage, strength and optimism. I will miss Sarah very much, but take comfort in knowing that she joined Jim on Good Friday and is now at peace." Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically injured when she was shot in the head in January 2011, also expressed her condolences. "We know Sarah will be missed by all those whose lives she touched and who were so inspired by her commitment to her late husband Jim and to the cause of reducing gun violence in our country," Giffords said in a joint statement with her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly -- co-founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions. "Sarah Brady showed us not only what a tireless fight for common sense looks like, but also what it means to be a loving spouse and caretaker in the wake of a senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with her son Scott, her daughter Missy, and the entire Brady Campaign family as they mourn this devastating loss," they added in their statement. Brady is survived by her and Jim’s son, James “Scott” Brady, Jr., and her stepdaughter, Melissa “Missy” Brady Camins.	Sarah Brady, pictured far right in 2006 , gun control campaigner and widow of former US , has died at the age of 73. Her death was announced by the . Brady died on Friday after a battle with according to e-mails sent by her family. A statement by the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence was posted on Facebook. It said "We are heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Brady, our dear friend and Chairperson of the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Sarah was a champion for gun violence prevention and her commitment and fiery compassion will live on." On March 30, 1981 , Sarah Brady's husband, James, was injured in a shooting attempted assassination of US President . A bullet entered his head and lodged in his brain. He suffered severe injuries and was partially paralyzed for the remainder of his life. The attack by . also injured three more people, including President Reagan. In the years after the shooting, Sarah Brady became an advocate for gun control laws, and in 1989 vice chair of Handgun Control, Inc. In 2001 Handgun Control, Inc. became known as the Brady Campaign in tribute of both Sarah and James' efforts in fighting for tougher gun control. Brady said "the proudest moment of our lives" was in 1993 when President Bill Clinton signed into effect the , tightening gun law legislation. Former First Lady released a statement regarding the death of her "dear friend" Sarah Brady. She said "Over the years, I found her to be a woman of immense courage, strength and optimism. I will miss Sarah very much, but take comfort in knowing that she joined Jim on Good Friday and is now at peace." Another tribute came from former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords, who was was shot in the head and nearly killed in 2011, said "We know Sarah will be missed by all those whose lives she touched and who were so inspired by her commitment to her late husband Jim and to the cause of reducing gun violence in our country... Sarah Brady showed us not only what a tireless fight for common sense looks like, but also what it means to be a loving spouse and caretaker in the wake of a senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with her son Scott, her daughter Missy, and the entire Brady Campaign family as they mourn this devastating loss". Brady's death has come less than a year after the death of her husband. James Brady also died at the age of 73 last August. She is survived by son James and stepdaughter Melissa.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Musician Bo Diddley has died at the age of 79. The Grammy-winning singer-guitarist died of heart failure in Florida, his spokeswoman said. He had suffered a heart attack in August 2007, three months after suffering a stroke which affected his ability to speak. He rose to fame in 1955 when he topped the R&B; charts with Bo Diddley. His other hits include Who Do You Love, Before You Accuse Me, and Mona. The legendary singer and performer was known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat. His so-called "Bo Diddley beat" influenced rockers from Buddy Holly, to Bruce Springsteen and U2. \|\|\|\|\| Rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley dead at 79 MIAMI (AFP) — Guitarist and songwriter Bo Diddley, who died of heart failure Monday at age 79, was an innovative R&B; pioneer who forged rock and roll's signature beat but rarely got the credit -- or the riches -- heaped on his fellow musical icons. He died at his home in Archer, Florida where he had been convalescing since last year after suffering a stroke and later heart attack. A contemporary of early rock icons Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Diddley earned a reputation as a legendary performer and "The Originator" of rock and roll after he created a raw and grinding rhumba-style beat that became known as "Shave and a haircut, two bits." The syncopated groove turned early rock music on its head and spawned countless immitators, including a young Elvis Presley. "Boom da boom da boom, boom boom. That was basically an Indian chant," Diddley told National Public Radio in a March 2007 interview, looking back to the tremolo-drenched guitar line that turned on American record-buyers in the mid-1950s at the dawn of rock and roll. "Just picture their dancing around a doggone big fire with their spears," he added. In mourning Diddley's passing, another American guitar legend, BB King, praised him as "a music pioneer and legend with a unique style. "We always had a good time when we played together. He will truly be missed, but his legacy will live on forever," King, 82, said through his publicist. Diddley's improvisational on-stage chatter and word play in his songs -- sometimes childish, often sexually charged -- prefigured hip-hop by several decades. His signature dark glasses, black hat and homemade rectangular guitars became icons in the music industry after he topped the rhythm and blues charts in 1955 with "Bo Diddley," the first of several hit singles to include his own name in the title. Some of his all-time hits include "Who Do You Love," "Before You Accuse Me," "Mona," "Road Runner" and "I'm a Man." The Diddley beat can clearly be heard on dozens of chart-toppers by other acts, including Buddy Holly on his biggest hit, "Not Fade Away," the Who's "Magic Bus," U2's "Desire" and George Michael's "Faith." Diddley was born December 30, 1928 in McComb, Mississippi as Otha Ella Bates. He later changed his name to Ellas McDaniel Diddley. At a young age he moved with his family to the Midwestern city of Chicago -- a home-away-from-home for countless blues musicians from the Mississippi Delta -- and began playing the clubs there. But not before trying his hand at the violin as a child. "I didn't see too many black dudes with a violin playing in the big orchestras," Diddley said in the NPR interview. Instead he saw African Americans such as John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters revolutionizing music through their rhythm and blues, and they inspired him to pick up the guitar. By the mid-1950s his freight-train-like guitar groove incorporating Afro-Caribbean rhythms helped create a style years ahead of his time. In 1956 a Harlem newspaper, the Amsterdam News, upon first seeing Elvis perform, claimed he had "copied Bo Diddley's style to the letter". Keith Richards said he experienced a sense of shock, Rolling Stone magazine reported in 2005, when he first heard the Diddley beat. "Muddy (Waters) and Chuck (Berry) were close to the straight electric blues," Richards was quoted as saying. "But Bo was fascinatingly on the edge. There was something African going on in there. His style was outrageous, suggesting that the kind of music we loved didn't just come from Mississippi. It was coming from somewhere else." But while Elvis and others went on to fame and fortune, Diddley's influence on other bands failed to translate into great wealth -- an outcome he lamented on to NPR. "A lot of bands covered my stuff but where's the money? Where did it go, it didn't come to me," he said. Diddley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His popularity had sagged by the 1980s but it returned with a vengeance when he starred in a series of Nike commercials which featured him sneering, "You don't know Diddley." Tributes in his honor poured in from around the entertainment world Monday. "He was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music and was a big influence on The Rolling Stones," said rock legend Mick Jagger, in a statement. "He was very generous to us in our early years and we learned a lot from him. We will never see his like again." In May 2007, Diddley suffered a heart attack that left him with slurry speech and unable to fully identify people around him, sources close to him said at the time. Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	Bo Diddley in 2005. Bo Diddley, influential American blues/rock and roll singer, songwriter, and guitarist has died today at his home in Archer, Florida from heart failure. He was 79 years old. He was born Ellas Otha Bates on December 30, 1928 in McComb, Mississippi, USA. He rose to fame in 1955. His hits included "Pretty Thing", "Say Man" and "You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover". He also appeared as an opening act for The Clash and as a guest of The Rolling Stones. On March 25, 1972, he played with The Grateful Dead at the Academy of Music in New York City. Diddley is survived by Tammi Deanne and Terri Lynne McDaniel, his daughters.
Afghan police say the two NATO soldiers reported missing in Afghanistan are Americans believed to have drowned in a river in the western province of Badghis. The province's deputy police chief, Abdul Jabar, said the two soldiers were swept away Wednesday while trying to save supply boxes that fell into the water after being air-dropped. The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said earlier that two service members disappeared Wednesday while on a routine supply mission, but did not identify their nationalities. A NATO spokeswoman said troops were conducting a massive search and rescue operation to locate the missing soldiers. In a separate statement, NATO said two U.S. soldiers were killed Thursday in a roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan. This year has been the deadliest for international troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban-led government in 2001. On Thursday, angry Afghan villagers chanted slogans against foreign troops, protesting an overnight air strike by international forces that they say killed at least nine civilians. The villagers paraded the bodies of the victims in the streets of Lashkar Gah, capital of restive southern Helmand province. Local authorities said only Taliban insurgents died in the attack. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| Nato troops are facing rising violence in western Afghanistan Two US soldiers missing in western Afghanistan after failing to return from a routine resupply mission are thought to have drowned, officials say. Afghan officials say the men died two days ago in what appears to have been an accident. They died trying to recover supplies dropped by Nato aircraft which had fallen into a river, police said. A Taliban spokesman told Reuters news agency that they recovered the bodies in Badghis province. Provincial police chief Abdul Jabar said that the two servicemen were Americans who drowned after arriving in the area during a gun battle on Wednesday. Police said that the incident happened after Nato aircraft "dropped some logistical packages for a Nato base in [Badghis] province and a number of these packages went into the river nearby". "Two NATO soldiers went to take these packages from the river and drowned," Badghis deputy police chief Abdul Jabar, told the AFP news agency. In a statement released earlier on Friday, Nato did not give the soldiers' nationalities or say which province they had been in when they went missing Military officials said the families of the two soldiers had been informed. Rising violence Nato added that three of its troops were killed in two separate roadside bomb attacks on Thursday. Two of the soldiers were American, but the nationality of the third was not given. "The families of these service members have been notified about their loved ones' status and we will continue to keep them informed as information becomes available," a Nato spokeswoman said. Soldiers from more than 40 countries are taking part in Nato's force of nearly 110,000 troops in Afghanistan, two-thirds of them from the US. The biggest contingents operating in the west of the country are from the United States and Italy. Western Afghanistan has recently seen a rise in violence, with Taliban insurgents planting roadside bombs to maximise fatalities. This year more than 400 troops have been killed, most of them Americans. US President Barack Obama is currently considering a request from the military to increase troop numbers by up to 40,000, a decision that is not likely to be made imminently. The senior Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, has warned that without an increase on the ground, the war could be lost. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	The NATO-led force in Afghanistan issued a statement on Friday saying that that two of its troops went missing on Wednesday while on a routine supply mission. The statement said a search operation is under way, but did not give many details. A NATO press officer said that "We continue exhaustive search and rescue operations to locate our missing service members. We are doing everything we can to find them." Local police said that the soldiers were likely swept away by a river in Badghis, a western province, while they were trying to get to an airdropped food parcel that had fallen into the river. Officials said it was not likely that they were taken captive. "The families of these service members have been notified about their loved ones' status and we will continue to keep them informed as information becomes available," a press officer said.
Mr Abdallahi was overthrown in August Mauritania's deposed President, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, has been released from house arrest by security forces who overthrew him in August. He was taken from his home town of Lemden, where he had been under house arrest, to his house in the capital, Nouakchott, where he was freed. The government says Mr Abdallahi is now free to travel and make speeches. There has been intense international pressure on the coup leaders to return the country to democracy. France and the US had cancelled their aid, pending Mr Abdallahi's release. The African Union also suspended the country following the 6 August coup. Mauritania's communications minister, Abdulrahman Ould Mein, told the BBC's Focus on Africa that the former president is now a free man. "He is free, he can travel, he can call, he can give speeches, like any citizen of this country," he said. Mr Abdallahi became Mauritania's first democratically elected leader in 2007 after a coup two years earlier, partly instigated by General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. On 6 August, Mr Abdallahi, as president, tried to dismiss four senior army officers, including Gen Abdelaziz, the head of the presidential guard, who responded by launching the coup. It came after a fortnight of political crisis following a vote of no confidence in the cabinet. Gen Abdelaziz appointed a transitional government to stay in power until new elections, to be organised in late 2009. Mauritania has a long history of coups, with the military involved in nearly every government since its independence from France in 1960. \|\|\|\|\| (Recasts with Abdallahi interview, daughter, EU comment) By Hachem Sidi Salem and Vincent Fertey NOUAKCHOTT, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Mauritania's military junta on Sunday freed from house arrest ousted President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who vowed to fight to return to the office he lost in a bloodless coup in August. The generals who overthrew Abdallahi, the first democratically elected president of the west Saharan Islamic state, had said this month they would release him as part of negotiations to head off threatened European Union sanctions. Former colonial power France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, welcomed the release but recalled its demand that the ousted president be restored to office. "The solution to the current crisis is a return to constitutional order," it said in a statement. Mauritania's coup leaders have refused to reinstall Abdallahi, who won multi-party elections last year. The ousted president was told by authorities in Nouakchott he was being freed after he was driven to the coastal capital by security officers from his home town of Lemden, some 200 km (125 miles) to the south. He later returned to Lemden with friends, supporters said. In an interview published on Sunday by the French newspaper Le Monde, Abdallahi said he considered himself "the legitimate, democratically-elected president". "I'll push my freedom to the limits the coup leaders put on it. I am firmly resolved to fight to make this coup d'etat fail," he said in the interview, which was conducted shortly before he was freed from house arrest. Abdallahi told Le Monde he would make political contacts at home and abroad and could try to attend the next summit of African Union leaders at the end of January in Addis Ababa. But while his supporters celebrated, his daughter Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi said his release "was not a real freedom". "I doubt he'll be allowed to leave the country, for example, if he's invited to a heads of state summit," she told Reuters. There was no immediate comment from the ruling military High Council of State headed by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led the Aug. 6 coup in Mauritania, the world's seventh biggest iron ore exporter which became a modest oil producer in 2006. TARGETED SANCTIONS The European Union and United States, which view Mauritania as a valuable ally in the war against Islamist militant groups in the Sahara, have strongly condemned Abdallahi's overthrow and are pushing for his return. On Nov. 21, the EU threatened individually targeted sanctions against Abdel Aziz and members of his military administration if they did not restore constitutional rule. The EU says it will avoid sanctions that hurt Mauritania's 3 million people and continues to pay Nouakchott over $100 million a year for fishing rights, underpinning the state budget. On Friday, the United States said it would axe trade benefits for Mauritania as of Jan. 1 in response to the coup. Washington has cut back military and non-humanitarian aid since the coup and banned junta members from entering the country. Junta chief Abdel Aziz has promised to hold presidential elections and has announced a process of national consultations starting Dec. 27 to discuss the transition to the polls. But Abdallahi, though invited, refused to take part. "I'm saying categorically 'No'! If I said yes, that'd be legitimising the coup and accepting the fait accompli," he told Le Monde. Although there have been some pro-Abdallahi demonstrations, a wide section of Mauritania's political establishment supported the coup. Critics said his government was elitist and did little to shield the population from rising fuel and food prices. Abdel Aziz and three other top military commanders overthrew Abdallahi in August hours after he ordered their sacking. "If I have one regret, it's that I waited too long to sack the four of them," Abdallahi told Le Monde. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/) (Additional reporting by James Regan in Paris; Writing by Pascal Fletcher and Dan Magnowski; Editing by Sami Aboudi) \|\|\|\|\| By Vincent Fertey and Ibrahima Sylla NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Soldiers overthrew Mauritania's first democratically elected president in a coup on Wednesday and announced a military junta was taking charge of the northwest African Islamic state. Soldiers seized President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi at his palace after he sacked senior army officers during a political crisis in the country, which straddled black and Arab Africa and is one of the continent's newest oil producers. The African Union, the European Union, the United States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference condemned the coup. But in the largely desert country of 3 million, opinion was divided. A "State Council" led by one of the sacked officers, Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, said Abdallahi was now a "former president" and annulled his previous decree sacking Abdelaziz and the heads of the army and Gendarmerie. The communique, described as the council's "Statement No. 1", was broadcast by Gulf-based Arabic television stations. Abdallahi won Mauritania's first free, fair elections since independence in 1960 last year, taking over from a military government which ousted President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya in a bloodless 2005 coup. Abdelaziz was also instrumental in Taya's overthrow, the last successful coup in Africa, and was No. 2 in the junta. The president's daughter, Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi, said the presidential guard came to the residence and took away her father at around 9.20 a.m. (0920 GMT) "We are being kept in the house, forbidden to leave. There are guards posted in the kitchen, the bedrooms, even the showers. The phones have been cut," she said. A presidency official who declined to be named said the prime minister and interior minister had also been arrested. The country's main airport was closed and soldiers on jeeps with heavy guns stood guard outside government buildings. Youths in T-shirts or more traditional robes gathered nearby, some waving joyfully to television cameras. But police fired tear gas at around 50 supporters of Abdallahi. "We are against the military and we are deeply against this coup. We support Sidi to the death," said one, Kory Ould Naina. FOREIGN CONDEMNATION The international community, which had widely welcomed last year's democratic elections, broadly condemned Wednesday's coup. The Arab League voiced "deep concern", the African Union demanded the return of "constitutional legality" and West African regional heavyweight Nigeria said it would not recognise a government that came to power through unconstitutional means. The United States and United Nations called for a return to constitutional rule, while EU Aid Commissioner Louis Michel demanded Abdallahi be restored to power, saying the coup could "put into question our policy of cooperation with Mauritania." Abdallahi dismissed his government in May after criticism over its response to soaring food prices and to a series of attacks over the last year by al Qaeda's north African arm. A new government resigned last month in the face of a proposed no-confidence vote, and a replacement cabinet lacked the support of the opposition Union of Forces for Progress (UFP) and Islamist Tawassoul parties included in the previous team. This week most of the members of parliament belonging to Abdallahi's PNDD-ADIL party quit the party en masse. "It's a pity it took a military coup, but I completely support the change it has brought," one of the group, Mohamed Ali Ould Cherif, told Reuters on Wednesday. The opposition RFD party called for a return to constitutional order, but stopped short of condemning the coup. "There were rumours about two weeks ago that might be a coup in the offing. It was a bit of an open secret that two senior military commanders were fanning this split within the ruling party," said Ruairi Patterson, an analyst at Control Risks. Investments in oil and mining are unlikely to be seriously affected, Patterson said. Mauritania's vast territory, nearly twice as big as former colonial ruler France, is rich in iron ore, copper and gold. Miner First Quantum, ArcelorMittal, and Industries Qatar all have mines or projects there. Malaysia's Petronas runs an offshore crude project that started up in 2006 and French oil major Total is prospecting.	Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi. Mauritania's President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi has been freed "without conditions" from house arrest by the military junta on Sunday. Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (Arabic: سيدي محمد ولد الشيخ عبد الله) is a Mauritanian politician who served in the government during the 1970s, and after a long period of absence from politics he won the March 2007 presidential election, taking office on 19 April 2007. He was deposed in a military coup d'etat on August 6, 2008. He was removed from Lemden to his soldiers guarded private residence in Nouakchott (Arabic: نواكشوط or انواكشوط), the Capital and by far the largest city of Mauritania. It is one of the largest cities in the Sahara. The city is the administrative and economic centre of Mauritania. Sidi's release is a result of protracted and intense international pressure on the ruling military High Council of State headed by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, to restore constitutional rule to the nation. France and the US had canceled their aid, while the African Union has also suspended the country due to the 6 August coup d'état. But the leaders still refused to reinstate Sidi, amid the demands of the EU, the United States and other major donors. Nouakchott. Reuters has reported that "the EU says it will avoid sanctions that would hurt Mauritania's 3 million people, and continues to pay Nouakchott over $100 million a year for fishing rights, underpinning the state budget." Further, the United States on Friday announced it would cut trade benefits for Mauritania as of January 1. It is expected that Sidi will be allowed to participate in a "national consultation meeting" on December 27. But in an interview by the French newspaper Le Monde, he said that "participating in the December 27 talks would be to legitimise the coup d'état".
Smoke from the fire could be seen across London Aerial footage More than 75 firefighters tackled the blaze as 50ft (15m) flames engulfed the building in Waterden Road, Hackney Wick at about 1200 GMT on Monday. Black smoke could be seen across the skyline and the Fire Brigade received more than 150 calls from the public. Rail services were suspended between Dalston Kingsland and Stratford but roads in the area remained open. The warehouse is on the western edge of the proposed site of the Olympic Village and was due to be demolished on Monday. Assistant Commissioner Dave Brown, of the London Fire Brigade, said investigations were ongoing but the fire was not thought to be suspicious. Health risks He also confirmed that asbestos had been found on the site. Professor Virginia Murray, of the Health Protection Agency, sought to reassure people over the substance. She said that research showed it was usually long-term exposure to asbestos which causes a significant health risk. The blaze has disrupted rail services in east London Your pictures of the fire "Our advice is not to touch any of the material that may have come from the fire and make sure that they (members of the public) get in touch with their local authority so that an appropriate clean-up can be undertaken," she said. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive David Higgins said it would carry out a full investigation into the fire. He said: "Initial indications would suggest that this was an accident rather than arson. "We are in touch with local residents and are keeping them informed of the situation." He said that work was continuing in the rest of the park. Transport disrupted The blaze was close to the Channel Tunnel high speed rail link but Eurostar said the fire did not have an impact on services. Flights from nearby London City Airport were also unaffected by the fire. A Transport for London spokesman said services on the overground line from Richmond were terminating at Dalston Kingsland. Fire crews were expected to remain at the site overnight to ensure the fire is damped down properly. \|\|\|\|\| MSNBC News Services LONDON - A fire at an east London warehouse on the 2012 Olympics site sent a towering column of black smoke over the British capital Monday, authorities said. There were no reports of injuries. The blaze broke out shortly after noon on the western boundary of the Olympic Park site in Stratford, the Olympic Delivery Authority said. Police said there was nothing to suggest a suspicious cause. “We only know it’s a fire,” a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said. “There’s nothing to suggest anything else at the moment.” Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement In July 2005, suicide bombers killed 52 people on London’s transport system and there have been several unsuccessful attacks since then, keeping Londoners’ nerves on edge. The industrial area, about 5½ miles east of central London, is under extensive reconstruction for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Olympics officials said the fire broke out near the site where the main press center will be located. Building coming down anyway? “We heard this small bang and came rushing out,” said Danny Cherry, a print worker. “What we could see was just so much smoke.” “I think it’s actually an old clothes factory,” Cherry said. ““It’s an old building that they were going to knock down anyway.” Click for related content FirstPerson: Send us images from the fire Printer Paul Izzet was 50 yards from the site when the blaze started. “After 10 minutes, it was like having your face six inches from a coal fire, it was that hot,” he said. “It was really beginning to warm up.” One railway line was closed because of smoke, Network Rail said. Transport for London, the agency that operates bus and subway services, said there were three bus garages in the area but none was involved in the fire. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.	City of London, approximately 5.5 km (3.4 miles) from the fire. A huge fire was reported in Hackney Wick eastern London, England, on part of the 2012 Olympic Games site scheduled to be the location of the handball courts. Flames are visible from Canary Wharf and the smoke plume is visible across the whole of the City of London. The fire, at a disused single-storey warehouse in Waterden Road, Stratford, is said to have been reported around 12:05 GMT. The Associated Press reports say that a "large explosion" preceded the fire; eyewitnesses do not confirm this, though there is flammable material on the site. David Jones of East London Bus company states that the fire started at a disused warehouse adjacent to their Waterden Road depot. Eight fire appliances and 40 fire-fighters were initially deployed. The winds carried the smoke over London and reports suggested that the plume of smoke was visible from Rochester, Kent. By 13:15 GMT the London Fire Brigade reported that there were 15 appliances and around 75 firefighters, and the fire was not yet under control. Police say they have no evidence of a terrorist attack at this time. Charles Buchanan of London City Airport told BBC News that the airport was still operational but had closed one runway whose flight path crosses the smoke plume, though services are unaffected. A short stretch of railway close to Hackney Wick was temporarily closed but suffered no damage. London Ambulance Service confirms that there are no known casualties and their emergency response team has been stood down, though their hazardous area team remains on site. Police are holding back large crowds of bystanders.
Black Eyed Peas have two of the top three most downloaded songs Johnny Cash's Guess Things Happen That Way has become the 10 billionth track to be sold at the ITunes online store. Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling was officially named the site's most downloaded track, with their single Boom Boom Pow the third biggest seller. Lady Gaga's Poker Face took the number two slot, with hits Just Dance and Bad Romance also featuring in the top 25. Louie Sulcer of Woodstock, Georgia bought the 10 billionth track winning a$10,000 (£6,500) iTunes gift card. Flo Rida, Katy Perry and Rihanna are all credited with two tracks apiece in the top 25 most downloaded chart, with British artists Coldplay and Leona Lewis featuring in the top 10. All 25 songs were released in the past five years, with the exception of the Journey's Don't Stop Believin', which has gained popularity after featuring in the hit TV show Glee. \|\|\|\|\| 10,000,000,000 and counting: 10billionth tune downloaded from Apple iTunes... by a 71-year-old man By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 2:59 PM on 26th February 2010 The 10 billionth song has been downloaded from Apple iTunes, just seven years after the online store shook up the flagging music industry. The 10 billionth song - Johnny Cash's 'Guess Things Happen That Way' - was downloaded by 71-year-old Louie Sulcer in Woodstock, Georgia, U.S. Apple has rewarded him with a $10,000 iTunes gift card. An online counter of the popular music website read: '10 billion songs downloaded from iTunes. And counting' on Wednesday. Tunes from The Black Eyed Peas came first and third in a list of the top songs on Apple iTunes. The list was released to mark the 10billionth download ITUNES TOP 20 SONGS 1) I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas 2) Poker Face, Lady GaGa 3) Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas 4) I'm Yours, Jason Mraz 5) Viva la Vida, Coldplay 6) Just Dance, Lady GaGa 7) Low, Flo Rida 8) Love Story, Taylor Swift 9) Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis 10) Tik Tok, Keisha 11) Disturbia, Rihanna 12) So What, Pink 13) I Kissed a Girl, Katy Perry 14) Single Ladies, Beyonce 15) Hot N Cold, Katy Perry 16) Stronger, Kanye West 17) Live Your Life, T.I 18) Hey There Delilah, Plain White T's 19) Right Round, Flo Rida 20) Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus The California company behind the iPhone, iPod and Macbook series have promised a $10,000 iTunes gift card to the lucky customer who downloaded the 10-billionth song. Apple has also provided a list of the all-time top 20 songs on iTunes to mark the occasion. 'I Gotta Feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas, which debuted in May 2009 topped the list, followed by Lady Gaga's electronic-inspired 'Poker Face.' The iTunes Music Store had dominated the music download industry ever since its launch in 2003. This is because of the enormous popularity of Apple music devices such as iPods that automatically synced with the iTunes store. Many iPod owners still do not realise they can buy cheaper music on websites other than iTunes, as most providers now don't use DRM (Digital Rights Management) to protect their tracks. For instance Apple's top download from the Black Eyed Peas is 99p in the UK, but can be bought for 65p from play.com and 50p from 7digital. iTunes has expanded over the years and now offers television shows, movies, audio books and podcasts. \|\|\|\|\| APPLE'S ITUNES STORE claimed its 10 billionth song sale today, making it the undisputed king of the e-tail music hill despite the store's recent slowdown in music sales. Johnny Cash, wherever he may be, became the artiste du jour when his "Guess Things Happen That Way" became another landmark victory for Apple's online store. Louie Sulcer, a resident of Woodstock, Georgia bought song #10,000,000,000 and was awarded a $10,000 Itunes gift card for his good fortune. Mr Sulcer can now use it to help Apple reach the 100 billion tracks sales mark. Helping the race to reach the 10 billion song download Apple had launched on February 11th a competition imaginatively called the "Countdown to 10 Billion Song Downloads", waving said $10,000 carrot in front of its customers. Itunes customers could participate in one of two ways - by actually paying and downloading songs, or just by inserting their personal data on an entry form up to 25 times a day, up to 350 non-paid entries per person over the course of a fortnight. The sweepstake would then actually be won when the first paid or non-paid "entry" was made after the 9,999,999,999th song download. This happened to be someone who actually bought something on Itunes, but it could have equally been someone who did not. You can read them yourself, here and see the form here. In its seventh year of business, the Itunes store has been fighting off a slowdown in sales since the introduction of the tiered pricing system. Still, the landmark number is there, 10 billion songs downloaded. µ	Ten billion songs have been downloaded from the iTunes Store, an online digital media store which is owned by Apple Incorporated. Louie Sulcer, of Woodstock in Georgia, downloaded "Guess Things Happen That Way" by American musician, Johnny Cash, which became the ten billionth song downloaded from iTunes. Sulcer won an iTunes gift card worth US$10,000 (approximately £6,550 or €7,380), after purchasing a song on the iTunes Store to win the prize. Beforehand, Apple had launched a competition entitled "Countdown to 10 Billion Song Downloads", where the person to make the ten billionth "entry" of a song from the iTunes Store would win the gift card. An "entry" could be created by either downloading a song from the iTunes store, or by filling in a form on the Apple website. The rules of the competition stated that "the downloading of the 10 billionth song is considered to be either the downloading of the 10 billionth song from iTunes or the receipt of the non-purchase entry after the download of the 9,999,999,999th song, whichever comes first." Below is a table of the twenty most downloaded songs of all time from Apple's iTunes Store. The list was initially placed on the website. Rank Song Artist 1 "I Gotta Feeling" Black Eyed Peas 2 "Poker Face" Lady Gaga 3 "Boom Boom Pow" Black Eyed Peas 4 "I'm Yours" Jason Mraz 5 "Viva la Vida" Coldplay 6 "Just Dance" (feat. Colby O'Donis) Lady Gaga 7 "Low" (feat. T-Pain) Flo Rida 8 "Love Story" Taylor Swift 9 "Bleeding Love" Leona Lewis 10 "TiK ToK" Ke$ha 11 "Disturbia" Rihanna 12 "So What" P!nk 13 "I Kissed a Girl" Katy Perry 14 "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" Beyoncé 15 "Hot N Cold" Katy Perry 16 "Stronger" Kanye West 17 "Live Your Life" (feat. Rihanna) T.I. 18 "Hey There Delilah" Plain White T's 19 "Right Round" (feat. Ke$ha) Flo Rida 20 "Party in the U.S.A." Miley Cyrus
30/05/2005 - 17h25 Gil diz que deixou de fumar maconha aos 50 anos Publicidade FABIANA FUTEMA GUILHERME GORGULHO ROSE ANE SILVEIRA da Folha Online Ao defender a descriminalização das drogas, o ministro da Cultura, Gilberto Gil, que foi preso na década de 70 com maconha, disse que deixou de fumar aos 50 anos. "Não fumo mais. Deixei [a maconha] quando fiz 50 anos." Gil, 62 anos, disse nesta segunda-feira, durante sabatina promovida pela Folha, que é a favor da descriminalização das drogas. Ele afirmou que a questão precisa ser tratada como um problema de saúde pública e não como um crime. "Por que tem que ser proibido? Para se ter tráfico, traficante e toda uma cadeia que existe só para manter o que é ilegal? A gestão desse problema precisa ser uma questão de saúde pública, pois é mais tranqüila", disse. Para Gil, a transferência do problema das drogas para a saúde pública seria compensada pela agregação da sociedade e resgate de jovens talentos. Discriminação racial O ministro defendeu a utilização das cotas raciais para permitir a inclusão dos negros no ensino superior. "É a discriminação positiva que vem sendo usada. Existe a discriminação negativa e a positiva. As estatísticas estão cansadas de mostrar que os negros não competem em igualdade com os brancos", afirmou ele. Sobre o caso de racismo envolvendo o jogador de futebol brasileiro Grafite, Gil afirmou que ele usou os mecanismos da lei para se defender. "O episódio de São Paulo foi uma tentativa do atingido usar os mecanismos da lei." Para ele, questões como essa estão recebendo o "tratamento adequado". O ministro Gilberto Gil é o terceiro entrevistado da série de dez sabatinas que a Folha promoverá ao longo deste ano. O primeiro entrevistado, em 22 de março, foi o médico e colunista da Folha Drauzio Varella. Severino Cavalcanti (PP-PE), presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, foi o segundo. daAo defender a descriminalização das drogas, o ministro da Cultura, Gilberto Gil, que foi preso na década de 70 com maconha, disse que deixou de fumar aos 50 anos. "Não fumo mais. Deixei [a maconha] quando fiz 50 anos."Gil, 62 anos, disse nesta segunda-feira, durante sabatina promovida pela, que é a favor da descriminalização das drogas. Ele afirmou que a questão precisa ser tratada como um problema de saúde pública e não como um crime."Por que tem que ser proibido? Para se ter tráfico, traficante e toda uma cadeia que existe só para manter o que é ilegal? A gestão desse problema precisa ser uma questão de saúde pública, pois é mais tranqüila", disse.Para Gil, a transferência do problema das drogas para a saúde pública seria compensada pela agregação da sociedade e resgate de jovens talentos.O ministro defendeu a utilização das cotas raciais para permitir a inclusão dos negros no ensino superior. "É a discriminação positiva que vem sendo usada. Existe a discriminação negativa e a positiva. As estatísticas estão cansadas de mostrar que os negros não competem em igualdade com os brancos", afirmou ele.Sobre o caso de racismo envolvendo o jogador de futebol brasileiro Grafite, Gil afirmou que ele usou os mecanismos da lei para se defender. "O episódio de São Paulo foi uma tentativa do atingido usar os mecanismos da lei."Para ele, questões como essa estão recebendo o "tratamento adequado".O ministro Gilberto Gil é o terceiro entrevistado da série de dez sabatinas que a Folha promoverá ao longo deste ano.O primeiro entrevistado, em 22 de março, foi o médico e colunista da Folha Drauzio Varella. Severino Cavalcanti (PP-PE), presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, foi o segundo. DESTAQUES Células-tronco: Costa considera retrocesso ação de Fonteles Tabaco: Ministro entrega carta a Renan pedindo controle Pesquisa CNT: Maioria é favorável à instalação da CPI CPI dos Correios: Base quer presidência e relatoria Comunicar erros Enviar por e-mail Imprimir Grupos de discussão \|\|\|\|\| 24/05/2005 - 16h30 Gil assume Cultura sob vaias, mas é elogiado por divulgar cultura no exterior Publicidade da Folha Online Músico de prestígio internacional, mas com pouca experiência na política, Gilberto Gil coleciona elogios e críticas dentro e fora do governo desde que assumiu o comando do Ministério da Cultura há dois anos e meio. Dono de uma sinceridade desconcertante, Gil causou mal-estar no governo por reclamar de verbas. Arrancou aplausos, porém, por divulgar o país no exterior usando de seu carisma e sensibilidade artística. A indicação de Gil para o ministério foi uma das mais polêmicas e criticadas durante a formação da equipe de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Na ocasião, grupos petistas bombardearam Gil por não ter familiaridade com as idéias petistas para a cultura. Respeitaram, no entanto, a escolha inicialmente tratada como política, pois Gil vinha do PV. À época, ventilou-se a informação de que o presidente havia se irritado com Gil, que aceitou o convite por meio da imprensa. O próprio Gil polemizou quando disse que não poderia se sustentar com o salário de R$ 8.500 de ministro. Para complementar sua renda, o ministro concilia seus horários entre suas obrigações públicas e sua agenda de shows. Mesmo com a saída do PV da base aliada, o ministro decidiu permanecer no cargo. Na época do desligamento da sigla, membros do partido alegaram que a indicação de Gil para a pasta não foi política, mas uma escolha do presidente Lula, que é amigo do cantor. Pelé de Lula A indicação de Gil chegou a ser tratada como puro marketing do governo --muitos disseram que Gil seria o Pelé do governo Lula (Pelé foi ministro dos Esportes de Fernando Henrique Cardoso). Gilberto Gil comprou a briga com a classe artística ao defender proposta de criação da Agência Nacional de Cinema e Audiovisual. Também polemizou por seu um dos principais defensores do software livre. No início do ano, o ministro disse que o governo não tinha um plano fechado para cuidar do país e que a gestão Lula não chegou ao poder com uma visão "fechada" e "verticalizada" sobre as coisas. Grammy Nascido em 26 de junho de 1942 em Salvador, Gil passou a infância em Ituaçu e recebeu os ensinamentos equivalentes aos quatro primeiros anos do ensino fundamental em casa. Aos 9 anos, mudou-se para Salvador com a irmã para terminar o colégio. Nessa época começou a aprender acordeon e a aprofundar-se nos estudos musicais. Aos 18 anos, formou o conjunto Os Desafinados. No fim dos anos 50 Gil começou a tocar violão. Antes de dedicar-se somente à carreira musical, Gil trabalhou na empresa Gessy-Lever. Nessa época, o ministro conheceu Chico Buarque, Torquato Neto e Capinam e participou do programa "O Fino da Bossa", comandado por Elis Regina. Em 1999, Gil ganhou o Grammy de World Music e, em 2001, levou o Grammy Latino. Tropicalista Integrante do movimento tropicalista, Gil foi preso em 1968, depois da decretação do AI-5. No ano seguinte, o cantor viajou para Londres, onde ficou exilado até 1972. Em 1976, já de volta ao Brasil, Gil e o baterista Chiquinho Azevedo foram presos por porte de maconha em Florianópolis, durante a passagem do show "Doces Bárbaros" em Santa Catarina. Dois dias depois da prisão, a Justiça determinou a internação dos dois no Instituto Psiquiátrico São José. Vereador Gil tentou disputar a prefeitura de Salvador em 1988 pelo PMDB, mas não conseguiu viabilizar a candidatura. Acabou se conformando com uma vaga de vereador. No ano anterior, o ministro havia ocupado a presidência da Fundação Gregório de Matos. daMúsico de prestígio internacional, mas com pouca experiência na política, Gilberto Gil coleciona elogios e críticas dentro e fora do governo desde que assumiu o comando do Ministério da Cultura há dois anos e meio.Dono de uma sinceridade desconcertante, Gil causou mal-estar no governo por reclamar de verbas. Arrancou aplausos, porém, por divulgar o país no exterior usando de seu carisma e sensibilidade artística.A indicação de Gil para o ministério foi uma das mais polêmicas e criticadas durante a formação da equipe de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Na ocasião, grupos petistas bombardearam Gil por não ter familiaridade com as idéias petistas para a cultura.Respeitaram, no entanto, a escolha inicialmente tratada como política, pois Gil vinha do PV. À época, ventilou-se a informação de que o presidente havia se irritado com Gil, que aceitou o convite por meio da imprensa.O próprio Gil polemizou quando disse que não poderia se sustentar com o salário de R$ 8.500 de ministro. Para complementar sua renda, o ministro concilia seus horários entre suas obrigações públicas e sua agenda de shows.Mesmo com a saída do PV da base aliada, o ministro decidiu permanecer no cargo. Na época do desligamento da sigla, membros do partido alegaram que a indicação de Gil para a pasta não foi política, mas uma escolha do presidente Lula, que é amigo do cantor.A indicação de Gil chegou a ser tratada como puro marketing do governo --muitos disseram que Gil seria o Pelé do governo Lula (Pelé foi ministro dos Esportes de Fernando Henrique Cardoso).Gilberto Gil comprou a briga com a classe artística ao defender proposta de criação da Agência Nacional de Cinema e Audiovisual. Também polemizou por seu um dos principais defensores do software livre.No início do ano, o ministro disse que o governo não tinha um plano fechado para cuidar do país e que a gestão Lula não chegou ao poder com uma visão "fechada" e "verticalizada" sobre as coisas.Nascido em 26 de junho de 1942 em Salvador, Gil passou a infância em Ituaçu e recebeu os ensinamentos equivalentes aos quatro primeiros anos do ensino fundamental em casa.Aos 9 anos, mudou-se para Salvador com a irmã para terminar o colégio. Nessa época começou a aprender acordeon e a aprofundar-se nos estudos musicais. Aos 18 anos, formou o conjunto Os Desafinados. No fim dos anos 50 Gil começou a tocar violão.Antes de dedicar-se somente à carreira musical, Gil trabalhou na empresa Gessy-Lever. Nessa época, o ministro conheceu Chico Buarque, Torquato Neto e Capinam e participou do programa "O Fino da Bossa", comandado por Elis Regina.Em 1999, Gil ganhou o Grammy de World Music e, em 2001, levou o Grammy Latino.Integrante do movimento tropicalista, Gil foi preso em 1968, depois da decretação do AI-5. No ano seguinte, o cantor viajou para Londres, onde ficou exilado até 1972.Em 1976, já de volta ao Brasil, Gil e o baterista Chiquinho Azevedo foram presos por porte de maconha em Florianópolis, durante a passagem do show "Doces Bárbaros" em Santa Catarina.Dois dias depois da prisão, a Justiça determinou a internação dos dois no Instituto Psiquiátrico São José.Gil tentou disputar a prefeitura de Salvador em 1988 pelo PMDB, mas não conseguiu viabilizar a candidatura. Acabou se conformando com uma vaga de vereador.No ano anterior, o ministro havia ocupado a presidência da Fundação Gregório de Matos. DESTAQUES PSDB: Executiva do PT defende cassação de Azeredo José Dirceu: Petistas contradizem versão de deputado Pretensões: Nos bastidores, Dirceu repensa carreira Recursos de Cuba: Oposição prepara ação para minar o PT Comunicar erros Enviar por e-mail Imprimir Grupos de discussão \|\|\|\|\| Brazil Culture Minister Gilberto Gil: "Legalize Marijuana" Posted on Tue Feb 22nd, 2005 at 06:06:57 PM EST By Al Giordano Posted on Tue Feb 22nd, 2005 at 06:06:57 PM EST Veja (subscriber access only), the musician-turned-cabinet-member Gilberto Gil voiced his support for decriminalizing marijuana: In an interview with the Brazilian national news magazine(subscriber access only), the musician-turned-cabinet-member Gilberto Gil voiced his support for decriminalizing marijuana: "I believe that drugs should be treated like pharmaceuticals, legalized, although under the same regulations and monitoring as medicines... The Spaniard EFE news agency reports: Gil said that he has discussed the matter with other cabinet members and congressmen from the Workers Party (PT, in its Portuguese initials) that is led by (Brazilian President Lula da Silva)... Attorney General Marcio Thomaz Bastos has said that he shares the idea and that "the horizon of liberation (of marijuana consumption) is what we have ahead of us." Narco News Authentic Journalism Scholar Natalia Viana, in Sao Paulo, is preparing a report on the status of drug policy reforms promised by the Brazilian government last November but not yet delivered. Developing... Return to The Narcosphere Homepage \|\|\|\|\| You need Windows Media Player 6.4 or higher to hear the audio clips You need Windows Media Player 6.4 or higher to hear the audio clips	The Brazilian Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil, aged 62, said that he smoked marijuana until he was 50. In addition he defended the decriminalization of drug's consumption. Gil took part in a press conference with journalists of ''Folha de São Paulo'' on Monday (May, 30). During the interview the Brazilian minister asked:"Why should drugs be forbidden?" He added that the drugs problem should be handled as a matter of public health. Gil had already defended the idea of decriminalization during a interview with Brazilian magazine Veja. Gilberto Gil, and the drummer Chiquinho Azevedo, were arrested in 1976 in Florianópolis because they were carrying marijuana. There is no consensus on decriminalization among Brazilians. Some people, like this Brazilian Anti-drugs website, believe that psychoactive drugs are dangerous and can lead to health problems, including chemical dependence.
Team USA Upsets Canada in Olympic Ice Hockey Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS The U.S. men's ice hockey team upset host country Canada, 5-3, in a preliminary round game at the Vancouver Olympics. It is being called the Americans' biggest Olympic win since the 1980s "Miracle on Ice" victory over the former Soviet Union. The game was only 41 seconds old when Brian Rafalski of Team USA fired a slap shot that deflected off Canadian star Sidney Crosby's stick and bounced past Canadian goalkeeper Martin Brodeur. The Canadians evened the game on a goal nearly nine minutes into the contest on Eric Staal's shot. The capacity crowd roared its approval and the stadium announcer was still giving the details of Staal's goal when Rafalski scored again. Canada evened the game in the second period, but American Chris Drury put Team USA ahead again, 3-2. The Americans took a 4-2 lead on Jamie Langenbrunner's shot with just under 13 minutes left in the game. Crosby cut the U.S. lead to 4-3 with about three minutes left. Canada pulled goalie Brodeur, adding an extra attacker in a desperate attempt to tie the contest. The hosts had clearly outplayed the Americans, with a shot advantage of 45-23. But U.S. goalie Ryan Miller, frustrated the Canadians all night, including their last-ditch attack. Then with just 45 seconds left in the contest, American Ryan Kesler reached around his opponent to slap the final U.S. goal into the empty Canadian net, making it 5-3. The game was just a preliminary round match, but in hockey-mad Canada, it was more than that. To lose to the United States in the Olympics on home soil was devastating. After the game, Canada fans - many in replicas of the team's red and white Maple Leaf jerseys - seemed stunned as they filed out of the Canada Hockey Place. Some Americans chanted "U-S-A, U-S-A!" But many Canadians, including Melissa Mazeman of Winnipeg, Manitoba, were still trying to realize what had happened. "As soon as that first goal was scored within in the first minute, that did hurt, it was kind of crushing," she said. "But every U.S. player - or every U.S. fan I have seen on the street - I have said congratulations [to]." Team USA fan David Loring of Colorado Springs, Colorado, one of a vastly outnumbered corps of fans wearing USA Hockey gear, gave goalkeeper Ryan Miller the credit for preserving the win. "[Team USA] played really well tonight. I have to tell you, they got outplayed by Canada. We had some really good goalie work this evening. Brodeur made some nice saves, but Miller really played well tonight. That was the difference I thought." The win is the United States' first Olympic win over Canada since 1960. It also came one day short of the 30th anniversary of the U.S. hockey win over the former Soviet Union in the 1980 Miracle on Ice in Lake Placid. The victory assures the Americans an automatic quarterfinal berth. Canada could still make the round of eight, but must beat Germany in a play-in game Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals. In this hockey-obsessed nation, not advancing would be even more stunning than Sunday's loss. \|\|\|\|\| VANCOUVER, British Columbia The Americans skated onto the Canada Hockey Place ice on Sunday with a sense of purpose. They wore 1960 replica sweaters, commemorating the United States’ first gold medal in Olympic hockey, 50 years ago at Squaw Valley. They knew where they stood and what might come to be. When the Americans skated off the ice after an improbable 5-3 victory over Team Canada, they had claimed a spot in hockey lore. The last time the United States beat Canada in Olympic competition was in 1960. And Monday was the 30th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. Good karma? For the United States, perhaps. For the Canadians, crises abound. On Monday, Canada Coach Mike Babcock announced that Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks would replace Martin Brodeur, who allowed four American goals on 22 shots, for the remainder of the tournament. It was the first time Brodeur had been demoted since he became a regular with the Devils 16 seasons ago. Babcock said there was poor coordination between Brodeur and his defensemen that led to turnovers particularly in the first period and a lack of big stops that prompted his decision. “We’re in the winning business,” Babcock said. “And to win at any level you need momentum-changing saves.” He said Luongo, unlike Brodeur, was a “great, big butterfly goalie,” who could provide important saves on screened shots. As Babcock shook up his team, the United States General Manager, Brian Burke, was in no mood for basking in the buzz that had roared across the United States. “I’m not happy with the way we’ve played to this point,” Burke said. “We have to play significantly better. We’re playing with about 10 guys carrying us. They don’t hand out any medals for finishing first in the preliminary round. Our center-ice play, we’ve made some glaring turnovers that have resulted in scoring chances. And our overall intensity for 60 minutes for the first 10 minutes in the second period, I thought we were nonexistent.” By finishing No. 1 in the 12-team field, the Americans helped themselves immensely. Their next opponent, on Wednesday, will be the winner of the Switzerland-Belarus qualifying match on Tuesday. The Canadians are forced to play a qualifying game on Tuesday against Germany. Should they win, they will face a daunting task against Russia, a game many believed would be the gold medal final. “I’d still say we would be the underdogs on our lack of experience, certainly now that the tournament takes on a whole new meaning with single elimination,” Chris Drury said Monday. Drury scored his second goal of the Olympics against Canada and seems happier playing on this squad than with the Rangers. But, he conceded, “We do need to get a lot better.” One of the Canadians’ problems is the age-old North American philosophy that you need to hit an opponent, anytime, anywhere despite statistical evidence that shows teams that hit a lot lose as often as they win. The edict of ”finishing your check” is what fueled Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash and several other Canadians to run at Americans after those players had passed the puck. They certainly hit the Americans hard, but by finishing their checks, they put themselves out of the play. That physicality, so full of sound and fury, signified nothing. The Russians do not engage in that kind of random pummeling. Their body checks are thrown with purpose: to dislodge the puck as Alex Ovechkin did when he flattened Jaromir Jagr on Sunday in what will go down as one of the most effective hits in Olympic play. It led to the third Russian goal in a 4-2 victory. Babcock will also have to do something about Sidney Crosby’s line. Crosby was dynamic, scoring once, but he was also minus 3. His linemate Nash spent a lot of time running down irrelevant Americans behind the play. The experiment of using Mike Richards on left wing did not yield results, and once again Babcock is casting about for a wing. One cannot help noticing that Crosby looks diminished. He does not have his Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin with him, on the same line or waiting on the bench to provide the second half of that club’s one-two punch. Malkin looks powerful and dangerous for Russia, where he is paired with Ovechkin. But Crosby seems to be alone, and manageable. But perhaps the perfect distillation of the Americans’ success so far is the image of goaltender Ryan Miller repeatedly thwarting Canadian shooters especially his lunging glove save that robbed Jarome Iginla of what would have been the tying goal in the third period. “That’s why we brought him,” Burke said. “We got outchanced, 2-1, last night. Our goaltender stole us a game. People can say that Canada didn’t play well. I don’t agree with that. They outchanced us. Except for the goaltending position, we didn’t deserve to win that game last night.”	The United States men's ice hockey team upset host country Canada, 5-3, in a preliminary round game on Sunday at the Winter Olympics. It is being called the Americans' biggest Olympic win since the 1980s "Miracle on Ice" victory over the former Soviet Union. The game was only 41 seconds in when Brian Rafalski of Team USA fired a slap shot that deflected off Canadian star Sidney Crosby's stick and bounced past Canadian goalkeeper Martin Brodeur. The Canadians evened the game on a goal nearly nine minutes into the contest on Eric Staal's shot. The capacity crowd roared its approval and the stadium announcer was still giving the details of Staal's goal when Rafalski scored again. Canada evened the game in the second period, but American Chris Drury put Team USA ahead again, 3-2. The Americans took a 4-2 lead on Jamie Langenbrunner's shot with just under 13 minutes left in the game. Crosby cut the U.S. lead to 4-3 with about three minutes left. Canada pulled goalie Brodeur, adding an extra attacker in a desperate attempt to tie the contest. The hosts had clearly outplayed the Americans, with a shot advantage of 45-23. But U.S. goalie Ryan Miller, frustrated the Canadians all night, including their last-ditch attack. Then with just 45 seconds left in the contest, American Ryan Kesler reached around his opponent to slap the final U.S. goal into the empty Canadian net, making it 5-3. The game was just a preliminary round match, but in hockey-mad Canada, where the sport first originated, it was more than that. To lose to the United States in the Olympics on home soil was devastating. After the game, Canada fans — many in replicas of the team's red and white Maple Leaf jerseys — seemed stunned as they filed out of the Canada Hockey Place. Some Americans chanted "U-S-A, U-S-A!" But many Canadians, including Melissa Mazeman of Winnipeg, Manitoba, were still trying to realize what had happened. "As soon as that first goal was scored within in the first minute, that did hurt, it was kind of crushing," she said. "But every U.S. player — or every U.S. fan I have seen on the street — I have said congratulations to." Meanwhile, Canadian coach Mike Babcock has replaced Brodeur in the lineup, with Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks. Babcock said Brodeur's coordination with his defensemen that led to turnovers and four goals out of 22 American shot attempts. He also noted that Brodeur did not make many big saves. Babcock said, "We’re in the winning business. And to win at any level you need momentum-changing saves." Team USA fan David Loring of Colorado Springs, Colorado, one of a vastly outnumbered corps of fans wearing USA Hockey gear, gave goalkeeper Ryan Miller the credit for preserving the win. "Team USA played really well tonight. I have to tell you, they got outplayed by Canada. We had some really good goalie work this evening. Brodeur made some nice saves, but Miller really played well tonight. That was the difference I thought." However, not all Americans are happy. The general manager of the U.S. men's team, Brian Burke, feels the team isn't playing at it's best. "I’m not happy with the way we’ve played to this point. We have to play significantly better. We’re playing with about 10 guys carrying us. They don’t hand out any medals for finishing first in the preliminary round," Burke said. He continued saying, "Our center-ice play, we’ve made some glaring turnovers that have resulted in scoring chances. And our overall intensity for 60 minutes — for the first 10 minutes in the second period, I thought we were nonexistent." Chris Drury agreed saying, "I’d still say we would be the underdogs on our lack of experience, certainly now that the tournament takes on a whole new meaning with single elimination. We do need to get a lot better." The win is the United States' first Olympic win over Canada since the 1960 Winter Olympics. It also came one day short of the 30th anniversary of the U.S. hockey win over the former Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics' Miracle on Ice in Lake Placid. The victory assures the Americans an automatic quarterfinal berth. Canada could still make the round of eight, but must beat Germany in a play-in game Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals.
GNR não pode intervir nas zonas sob controlo australiano. Acordo provisório acontece depois do contingente português ter sido impedido de entregar dois detidos. As forças internacionais em actuação no território timorense chegaram hoje, quinta-feira, a entendimento provisório sobre a coordenação dos efectivos policiais dos quatro países. Segundo o acordo, negociado pelo ministro da Defesa de Timor-Leste, Ramos Horta, a GNR não poderá intervir nas áreas que estão sobre o controlo dos militares australianos e neozelandeses, a não ser que seja chamada a fazê-lo pelos efectivos dessas forças internacionais. A GNR vai actuar "de imediato", mas apenas numa zona exclusiva de operações, no bairro de Comoro, na zona ocidental de Díli, disse Ramos Horta. A decisão, que aguarda agora aprovação no plano político, foi aceite pelas autoridades timorenses e por todos os representantes dos quatro países que destacaram forças em Timor-Leste - Portugal, Nova Zelândia, Austrália e Malásia. GNR impedida de entregar detidos Ontem, a descoordenação entre as várias forças policiais no terreno provocou um incidente que ocorreu quando efectivos da GNR tentaram entregar no Centro de Detenção, gerido pelos australianos, dois timorenses detidos em Díli pela equipa de Operações Especiais do Subagrupamento Bravo das forças portuguesas. Os dois jovens foram detidos por pilharem um armazém de equipamentos do Governo timorense num bairro de Díli, Balide. A GNR foi impedida de entrar na zona gerida pelos policiais australianos e foi avisada de que só poderia entregar os dois detidos se entrasse no Centro de Detenção desarmada e sob escolta de efectivos australianos. O contingente australiano questionou ainda a legitimidade da GNR para proceder às detenções. A situação foi gerida através de um intermediário ao telefone, sem que tenha havido "qualquer contacto físico entre elementos da GNR e militares australianos", disse fonte envolvida nas negociações à Agência Lusa. O contingente português acabou por ter de entregar os dois detidos aos serviços prisionais timorenses em Díli. Na sequência do incidente, o porta-voz do ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Carneiro Jacinto, confirmou à Rádio Renascença que os efectivos portugueses em Timor-Leste estavam confinados ao quartel português improvisado em Díli. No entanto, horas depois em declarações à Agência Lusa, o ministro da Administração Interna, António Costa, desmentiu que tivesse sido dada qualquer ordem de acantonamento ao contingente da GNR. Inês Castanheira \|\|\|\|\| AP O acordo deverá desbloquear a actuação da força portuguesa no terreno Timor-Leste Forças internacionais acordam actuação As forças militares e policiais no terreno conseguiram esta quinta-feira chegar a um acordo «provisório» de coordenação. O entedimento permite desbloquear a actuação da GNR em Díli VISAOONLINE 8 Jun. 2006 O acordo alcançado esta manhã, negociado pelo ministro da Defesa timorense, José Ramos-Horta, pretende clarificar os «graves problemas de coordenação» que se têm sentido entre as forç as internacionais em Timor-Leste, nomeadamente a exigência da Austrália e da Nov a Zelândia de não permitirem que os efectivos policiais portugueses e malaios actuem armados nas zonas controladas pelos seus militares. Com base neste acordo, que depende ainda de avaliação política final por parte dos quatro países com forças em Timor-Leste, a GNR mantém, para já, a impossibilidade de actuar em áreas que estejam sob controlo das forças militares australianas e neozelandesas. O acordo define que a GNR «só pode intervir se for chamada a fazê-lo pelos efectivos militares» australianos e neozelandeses, explicou fonte próxima do governo à Lusa, referindo que o acordo foi unanimemente aceite pelos responsáveis timorenses e pelos representantes dos quatro países que destacaram forças em Timor-Leste - Portugal, Malásia, Austrália e Nova Zelândia. «A partir do momento em que as forças da GNR estejam em condições de operar [nesta altura ainda à espera de viaturas e equipamento], e que a Malásia tenha no terreno toda a sua força policial, devidamente equipada, as forças militares deixarão de ocupar posições em Díli que actualmente ocupam e a polícia assume as suas funções com normalidade», explicou a mesma fonte. Durante esta manhã, efectivos da GNR saíram do seu quartel temporário para realizarem «acções administrativas» relacionadas, entre outras, com a instalação do novo quartel, que funcionará no Centro de Estudos Aduaneiros, no centro de Díli. A descoordenação entre as forças evidenciou-se quarta-feira num incidente que ocorreu quando efectivos da GNR pretenderam entregar dois timorenses detidos em acções em Díli, ao Centro de Detenção gerido pelos australianos no antigo comando distrital da Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL). Os soldados australianos recusaram-se a aceitar a entrada dos efectivos da GNR na zona, explicando que só poderiam entregar os presos se entrassem no local desarmados e sob escolta de efectivos militares australianos. O incidente foi gerido ao telefone, através de um intermediário, e sem que tenha havido «qualquer contacto físico entre elementos da GNR e militares australianos». Houve, confirmou a Lusa junto de fonte envolvida nessa negociação, «um comentário desagradável» por parte do comando australiano, que avisou não se responsabilizar pelo que podia acontecer caso aparecessem no local efectivos da GN armados. Fontes próximas do governo timorense confirmaram à Agência Lusa que «a GNR recebeu indicações para se manter confinada» ao seu quartel improvisado , em Díli, desde o final do dia de quarta-feira, até à manhã desta quinta-feira, na sequência desse incidente. Em declarações à Rádio Renascença, na noite de quarta-feira, o porta-voz do ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Carneiro Jacinto, confirmou que os efe ctivos da GNR estavam confinados ao seu aquartelamento, mas, horas depois, o ministro da Administração Interna, António Costa, desmentiu em declarações à Lusa que tivesse sido dada ordem de acantonamento à companhia da GN \|\|\|\|\| Ramos Horta emitiu um comunicado onde anuncia que a zona que ficará sob a responsabilidade da GNR será o bairro de Comoro, na parte ocidental de Díli. A agência Lusa adianta que, a pedido da Presidência da República e do Governo timorense, os militares vão entrar em acção “de imediato”. "O objectivo a longo prazo é que a GNR opere como uma força de intervenção táctica em toda a cidade de Díli", lê-se no comunicado citado pela Lusa. Esta situação, explicou a mesma fonte, "poderá durar cerca de uma semana", até que as forças policiais presentes em Díli, nomeadamente a GNR, "estejam em condições de operacionalidade total". Díli dividida por sectores Os comandos da GNR, tropas australianas, neozelandesas, e malaias chegaram a um acordo que pretende evitar atropelos na actuação em Timor. Na reunião ficou decidido que cada força internacional terá uma zona de responsabilidade própria. Numa fase inicial, de transição, a cidade de Díli vai ser dividida por sectores, sendo que cada área ficará sob a alçada de um país, que terá um poder autónomo e sem restrições. Fora dessa zona, os militares só poderão intervir se a sua acção for solicitada pelas outras forças internacionais. Este acordo vai agora ser apresentado ao Governo português. Acordo pretende resolver conflito diplomático A reunião desta manhã surge na sequência de incidentes entre a GNR e as tropas australianas, ontem, quando os militares portugueses transportaram dois detidos para um novo centro de detenção temporária. À chegada, os militares australianos responsáveis pela vigilância do local negaram-se a receber os detidos e questionaram a legitimidade da GNR para fazer detenções. Ontem surgiu a notícia de que os militares portugueses teriam recebido ordem de acantonamento. Esta informação foi entretanto desmentida pelo ministro da Administração Interna. Em declarações à agência Lusa, António Costa garante que não houve ordens nesse sentido e desvalorizou os incidentes ocorridos. Com Lusa \|\|\|\|\| O acordo alcançado esta madrugada entre Portugal, Austrália, Nova Zelândia e Malásia prevê a autonomia operacional entre os quatro comandos presentes em Timor-Leste. Deste modo, a Austrália aceita que a GNR não se subordine a qualquer outra força no terreno. Este entendimento já foi aprovado pelo Governo português, com o ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Freitas do Amaral, a considerar que se trata de um bom acordo. «Há condições, a partir de agora, para que tudo passe a decorrer com plena normalidade na colaboração entre as quatro forças militares ou policiais que se encontram, a pedido das autoridades timorenses, no território de Timor-Leste», disse o ministro, em conferência de imprensa. Freitas do Amaral esclareceu ainda que, neste acordo, «não há qualquer referência a subordinação de umas forças a outras», sublinhando que «as palavras mais utiizadas são cooperação, colaboração e coordenação». Também o ministro da Administração Interna reforçou a ideia de que fica assim garantida a autonomia do comando da GNR no terreno. Este acordo provisório atribui à GNR o restabelecimento da ordem pública no bairro de Comoro, considerado o mais problemático de Díli. O titular da pasta dos NE disse ainda que a intervenção da GNR vai ser alargada «de forma gradual». «A GNR vai começar pela zona mais problemática da cidade de Díli e, posteriormente, à medida que chegarem os equipamentos, irá alargar-se segundo decisões definidas pelo sr. Presidente da República e pelo sr. primeiro-ministro», sublinhou. O acordo agora alcançado é provisório, mas não tem qualquer prazo de vigência definido. O Governo diz que este entendimento é válido durante o tempo que for necessário, para que as quatro forças no terreno se adaptem ao trabalho em conjunto. \|\|\|\|\| Mark Baker/AP Ramos Horta disse que a GNR começará a actuar "de imediato", a pedido da Presidência e do Governo Ramos Horta disse que a GNR começará a actuar "de imediato", a pedido da Presidência e do Governo textos relacionados Actuação da GNR em Timor-Leste confinada a um bairro de Díli Se os veteranos continuarem no Exército, haverá mais problemas GNR e militares australianos vão ensaiar coordenação em Timor-Leste A GNR e os elementos das restantes forças internacionais presentes em Timor-Leste vão realizar "ensaios de coordenação" nos próximos dias para consolidar os métodos e formas de actuação no terreno, anunciou hoje o ministro da Defesa e dos Negócios Estrangeiros timorense, José Ramos Horta. Ramos Horta referiu que esse foi um dos acordos obtidos hoje, em Díli, num encontro com embaixadores e responsáveis das forças internacionais em Timor-Leste. "Nos próximos dias, talvez já amanhã, [a GNR e as restantes forças, da Austrália, Nova Zelândia e Malásia] vão fazer alguns ensaios de coordenação, de forma a assegurar que as quatro forças sabem exactamente o que cada uma vai fazer", explicou à Lusa. Além disso, segundo Ramos Horta, a GNR e a força australiana nomearam oficiais de ligação. O governante disse que a GNR começará a actuar "de imediato", a pedido da Presidência da República e do Governo timorenses, na "zona exclusiva de operações de Comoro", na parte ocidental de Díli. As alterações foram definidas no encontro de hoje, que José Ramos Horta disse ter decorrido "sob uma nova modalidade de trabalho". "Convidei diplomatas e políticos a abandonar a sala para deixar que os militares e operacionais conversem. Eles apresentaram a solução operacional que foi depois transmitida aos respectivos países", contou. "Falei com [o ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros português] Freitas do Amaral que não indicou qualquer desacordo com a opção escolhida, explicando que ia falar com o primeiro-ministro, José Sócrates, e com o ministro da Administraç ão Interna", António Costa", acrescentou. Os ensaios acordados hoje representam uma mudança significativa na forma como as forças têm actuado no terreno, com os últimos dias marcados por incidentes entre efectivos de Portugal, da Malásia e da Austrália, devido à falta de coordenação. GNR actuará "com dureza, com firmeza" O governante timorense reiterou declarações feitas à Lusa na segunda-feira de que a GNR actuará "com dureza, com firmeza, de forma autónoma e sem restrições em toda a cidade de Díli", admitindo porém que isso "não acontecerá de imediato, por razões práticas". Entre essas razões práticas, destacou o facto de a GNR não ter ainda todo o seu equipamento em Timor-Leste e a necessidade de garantir "uma cuidadosa preparação" para que as forças no terreno "estejam absolutamente coordenadas". "Como uns são Exército e eles [GNR] são polícia especializada e nunca trabalharam em conjunto, é útil realizar alguns exercícios de prática. Quando tudo estiver bem coordenado, a pouco e pouco a GNR assume o controlo da cidade [de Díli], sempre em sintonia com as restantes forças", afirmou. O chefe da diplomacia timorense garantiu nunca "ter ouvido da parte dos australianos uma única palavra negativa, menos positiva em relação a Portugal ou à GNR". Ramos Horta frisou que a GNR tem uma especialidade única, sendo essencial "saber maximizar a operacionalidade" da força portuguesa de 120 homens com "a máxima coordenação entre todos". "Não está em questão a autonomia operacional de cada força. Os malaios não cederam a sua autonomia operacional, nem a Nova Zelândia, aceitando a coordenação", comentou. Soldados australianos estão "a conter" major Reinado em Gleno Noutro âmbito, Ramos Horta explicou que os militares australianos que se encontram em Maubisse, próximo do grupo liderado pelo major Reinado, e em Gleno, Ermera, próximo do grupo de "militares dissidentes", estão no local "a conter esses elementos". "Esses elementos não são equiparáveis aos bandoleiros que estão aqui em Díli e que devem ser desarmados. Estamos a falar [no caso dos contestatários] em elementos que estão contidos nas suas áreas", afirmou. "A presença australiana em Maubisse e Gleno visa conter esses elementos nas suas áreas, observar o seu movimento, até chegar o momento em que o Presidente da República decida que é altura de também o senhor Alfredo [Reinado] e os outros deporem as armas", disse. "Isto não e tão urgente porque não estão a causar problemas a ninguém", justificou. O governante timorense afirmou ainda que o "calendário ou quadro político, não está solucionado", com a liderança do país a apostar em "passos pequenos para promover o diálogo". Como objectivo final, para as próximas semanas, está a realização de um "diálogo inclusivo abrangente que envolva desde a chefia da FDTL [forças armadas], o Governo, elementos do Parlamento e os militares dissidentes, sob o alto patrocínio do Presidente [Xanana Gusmão] e da Igreja", disse. "Ate lá, continuamos com diálogos entre dois ou três elementos para criar um clima de confiança entre esses elementos antes do diálogo final", concluiu . Forças militares e policiais da Austrália, Portugal, Nova Zelândia e Malásia encontram-se em Timor-Leste a pedido das autoridades timorenses para tentar pôr termo à onda de violência que afecta o país desde há mais de um mês. Anúncio de Ramos Horta08.06.2006 - 13h48 Lusa, PUBLICO.PT Envie a um amigo O seu nome O seu email Nome do destinatário E-mail do destinatário Alêm da notícia, pode enviar aqui tambêm o seu comentário Escreva-nos Titulo Texto Assinatura Email Esta mensagem vai ser enviada para José Vítor Malheiros	New Zealand troops from 2nd/1st Infantry Company RNZIR arriving at Dili airport, 31 May 2006.At the moment, there are more than 2,700 soldiers in the country, and more are expected to arrive in the next weeks. The international forces in East Timor have reached an agreement about the coordination of the military and police forces in the field. Representatives of the four countries reached the agreement during an urgent meeting after an incident between Australian and Portuguese soldiers yesterday. In the agreement reached between Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Portugal and the Timorese government, operational autonomy is given to the international forces, which will operate in cooperation and coordination with each other. The agreement also stated that in an initial phase Dili will be divided into sectors, and each area will be under the control of an international force. Outside of its area of responsibility, the military or police force will only be able to operate if other international forces request their actions. Also was agreed that the police forces will assume total control of the city after the military forces leave their current occupied positions. A situation that is expected after the arrival of the remaining equipment, mainly vehicles, for the Portuguese Republican National Guard (GNR) and the arrival of the remaining Malaysian police officers and their equipment. In an official notice, the Timorese Foreign Minister, José Ramos Horta stated that "the objective on a long run is for the GNR to operate has a tactical intervention force in all the city of Dili". Ramos Horta explained that "in the next days, maybe already tomorrow morning, they the Australian, Malaysian, New Zealand and Portuguese forces will do some coordination training, in way to assure that the four forces know exactly what each one will do". "Since some are from the Army and the others Portuguese Republican National Guard are a specialized police and that they never worked together, its useful to carry out some practical exercises", he added. In another subject, Ramos Horta explained that the Australian soldiers that are in Maubisse, next to a rebel group lead by major Reinado, and in Gleno, Ermera, next to another group of "military opponents", are there "containing those elements". "Those groups are not comparable with other people that are here in Dili and that must be disarmed", Ramos Horta said. "The Australian presence in Maubisse and Gleno aims in containing those groups on their areas, until arrives the moment in which the President decides that is time for also mister Alfredo Reinado and the others to put down their weapons", he said. "This is not urgent because they are not causing problems to anyone", he justified. The urgency of the resolution and clarification of the command and cooperation of the international forces was originated after an incident between Australian and Portuguese soldiers. When yesterday a Portuguese GNR patrol transported three people to a temporary detention center managed by Australian soldiers. The detainees were arrested by a GNR Special Operations team, after being caught looting a governmental warehouse, in Balide, Dili. The Australian soldiers then refused to receive the detained men, questioning the legitimacy of the Portuguese soldiers to make arrests. The Portuguese contingent transported the detainees to the Timorese prison services in Dili.
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. \|\|\|\|\| Versíon en Español Earthquake Summary Earthquake Summary Poster The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred about 145 km (90 miles) west-northwest of Fukui or 460 km (285 miles) west-northwest of Tokyo at 8:17 AM MDT, Jul 16, 2007 (11:17 PM local time in Japan). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. There have been no reports of damage. Tectonic Summary The recent magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred 140 km off the west coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 350 km below the Sea of Japan. This oblique thrust event was likely caused by the release of stress built by the internal deformation of the Pacific plate as it subducts beneath the Okhotsk plate. The Okhotsk plate is a thin plate that lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Eurasian landmass. The north-south trending Japan Trench lies 700 km to the east of this earthquake, and is the surface expression of the boundary between the plates. This deep-focus earthquake was preceded 13 hours earlier by a shallow crustal magnitude 6.6 quake roughly 330 km to the east. The two earthquakes were generated by different mechanisms. The shallow-focus earthquake was caused by deformation within the crust of the Okhotsk plate and the deep-focus quake was likely caused by the internal deformation of the Pacific plate. Given their different mechanisms and physical separation of at about 10 rupture lengths, the deep-focus earthquake is not considered an aftershock of the first. Intermediate- and deep-focus earthquakes generally cause less damage than shallow-focus earthquakes since the energy generated by the deep events is released further from the surface and therefore produces less shaking than by quakes that are closer to the surface. Deadly earthquakes have occurred in this region: In 2004, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the Niigata Prefecture, 360 km to the northeast of the recent quake, killing 40 people and injuring about 3,000. In June, 1964, a M7.5 earthquake occurred about 425 km to the northeast of the recent quake killing 37 people; and in April, 1995 a M5.4 earthquake 380 km to the northeast, injured at least 39 people. During the 20th century Japan has suffered nine devastating earthquakes that killed more that 1000 people each. Among these are the 1923 M7.9 earthquake that triggered the great Tokyo fire that killed 143,000 people and the more recent 1995 M6.9 Kobe earthquake that killed about 5,500 people. Tsunami Information \|\|\|\|\| Japan quake victims take shelter By George Nishiyama KASHIWAZAKI, Japan (Reuters) - More than 12,000 people huddled in evacuation centres in northwest Japan on Tuesday after an earthquake flattened homes, killing nine elderly people, injuring around 1,000 and triggering a leak of contaminated water from a nuclear plant. As aftershocks continued, forecasts for wet weather raised fears of mudslides that could add to the devastation. "I am worried about the aftershocks," said 80-year-old Toshiko Kojima, who said she had spent a mostly sleepless night in a crowded elementary school gymnasium in the worst-hit city of Kashiwazaki, too afraid to go home. A small fire and a leak of contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power Co's (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant -- the world's largest -- reignited fears about nuclear safety in a country that relies on atomic power for about one third of its electricity. Water, gas and electricity supplies were cut by the 6.8 magnitude quake that hit Niigata prefecture at 10:13 a.m. (0113 GMT) on Monday, which also caused a small radiation leak and fire at the world's biggest nuclear plant. With more than 300 homes totally destroyed in Kashiwazaki alone, it was unclear when people could go home and worries were mounting about the health of evacuees, many of whom are elderly. "The damage was worse than anticipated," Mayor Hiroshi Kaeda told reporters. "If we can restore water service, more people can go home to live, so that is what we want to do first." In Kashiwazaki, people lined up with plastic bottles for fresh water, which was trucked in by local officials and a contingent of about 500 members of the armed forces. The navy shipped in emergency rations, convenience stores and supermarkets gave out rice balls and bottled water, and smiling soldiers in camouflage uniforms and helmets made rice balls and distributed them at schools and other evacuation centres. POWER CUTS The quake halted gas service to about 35,000 homes and disrupted the water supply to all of Kashiwazaki, a city with a population of around 95,000 whose economy relies on nuclear power generation and fishing. More than 25,000 homes and other places TEPCO said water containing radioactive materials had leaked from a unit at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. The contaminated water was also released into the ocean, but had had no effect on the environment. The quake was stronger than those its reactors had been designed to withstand, the company added. A fire in an electrical transformer at the plant was quickly extinguished but it was unclear when TEPCO could restart three power units there. Media as well as local residents urged the nuclear power industry to take heed of the threat. "Nuclear power companies must not only keep in mind the quake resistance of buildings and facilities, but must take full precautions so that people in the vicinity and all citizens will trust that if there is a quake, nuclear reactors will be safe," the Nikkei newspaper said. Retired taxi driver Tomiji Okura, 72, said the nuclear industry had boosted his business, but reactors had to be able to withstand earthquakes. "When you have something like this, it's scary. I want them to be made safe," he said. FACTORIES AFFECTED Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cut short campaigning for the July 29 parliamentary elections to inspect damage on Monday. It was unclear when production would re-start at some factories in the area, including a Fuji Xerox printer factory. Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every five minutes. Houses, many wooden with traditional heavy tile roofs, collapsed and roads cracked in Monday's quake, centred in the same northwestern area as a tremor three years ago. Niigata was hit in October 2004 by a quake with a matching magnitude of 6.8 that killed 65 people and injured more than 3,000. It was the deadliest quake in Japan since a magnitude 7.3 tremor hit Kobe city in 1995, killing more than 6,400. "My house is still standing, but inside it's a complete mess. The tiles have fallen off the walls," said Shigeru Yokota, 27, an electrical repair worker. "This happened three years ago as well. It is rubbing salt in the wound." (Additional reporting by Isabel Reynolds, Elaine Lies, Chisa Fujioka, Teruaki Ueno and Linda Sieg) \|\|\|\|\| Versíon en Español Earthquake Summary The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred NEAR THE WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN, about 70 km (45 miles) WSW of Niigata or 245 km (155 miles) NNW of TOKYO at 7:13 PM MDT, Jul 15, 2007 (Jul 16 at 10:13 AM local time in Japan). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. Felt Reports At least 150 people injured. Buildings collapsed, roads and bridges damaged at Kashiwazaki. 50-cm waves were reported on coastal areas close to epicenter. Felt (IV) at Niigata and (III) at Tokyo. Tectonic Summary This recent magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred near the west coast of Honshu, Japan in the crust of the Okhotsk plate. This plate lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Eurasian landmass. This thrust event was caused by the release of compressional stress built within the crust of the Okhotsk plate as the Pacific plate subducts beneath it at a rate of 9 cm per year. The subduction initiates at the north-south trending Japan trench which lies 450 km to the east of the quake. This shallow crustal earthquake was followed 13 hours later by a deep focus magnitude 6.8 quake roughly 330 km to the west, 350 km below the Sea of Japan. The two earthquakes were generated by different mechanisms. The first earthquake was caused by deformation within the crust of the Okhotsk plate and the second quake was likely caused by faulting resulting from internal deformation of the subducted Pacific plate. Given their different mechanisms and physical separation of at least 10 rupture lengths, the second earthquake is not considered an aftershock of the first. Shallow earthquakes cause more damage than intermediate- and deep-focus ones since the energy generated by the shallow events is released closer to the surface and therefore produces stronger shaking than by quakes that are deeper within the Earth. Other deadly earthquakes have occurred in this region: In 2004, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the Niigata Prefecture, 50 km to the southeast of the recent quake, killing 40 people and injuring about 3,000. In June, 1964, a M7.5 earthquake occurred about 100 km to the west of the recent quake killing 37 people; and in April, 1995 a M5.4 earthquake 80 km to the northeast, injured at least 39 people. During the 20th century Japan has suffered nine devastating earthquakes that killed more that 1000 people each. Among these are the 1923 M7.9 earthquake that triggered the great Tokyo fire that killed 143,000 people and the more recent 1995 M6.9 Kobe earthquake that killed about 5,500 people. Earthquake Information for Asia Earthquake Information for Japan \|\|\|\|\| Versíon en Español Earthquake Summary The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred NEAR THE WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN, about 70 km (45 miles) WSW of Niigata or 245 km (155 miles) NNW of TOKYO at 7:13 PM MDT, Jul 15, 2007 (Jul 16 at 10:13 AM local time in Japan). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. Felt Reports At least 150 people injured. Buildings collapsed, roads and bridges damaged at Kashiwazaki. 50-cm waves were reported on coastal areas close to epicenter. Felt (IV) at Niigata and (III) at Tokyo. Tectonic Summary This recent magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred near the west coast of Honshu, Japan in the crust of the Okhotsk plate. This plate lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Eurasian landmass. This thrust event was caused by the release of compressional stress built within the crust of the Okhotsk plate as the Pacific plate subducts beneath it at a rate of 9 cm per year. The subduction initiates at the north-south trending Japan trench which lies 450 km to the east of the quake. This shallow crustal earthquake was followed 13 hours later by a deep focus magnitude 6.8 quake roughly 330 km to the west, 350 km below the Sea of Japan. The two earthquakes were generated by different mechanisms. The first earthquake was caused by deformation within the crust of the Okhotsk plate and the second quake was likely caused by faulting resulting from internal deformation of the subducted Pacific plate. Given their different mechanisms and physical separation of at least 10 rupture lengths, the second earthquake is not considered an aftershock of the first. Shallow earthquakes cause more damage than intermediate- and deep-focus ones since the energy generated by the shallow events is released closer to the surface and therefore produces stronger shaking than by quakes that are deeper within the Earth. Other deadly earthquakes have occurred in this region: In 2004, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the Niigata Prefecture, 50 km to the southeast of the recent quake, killing 40 people and injuring about 3,000. In June, 1964, a M7.5 earthquake occurred about 100 km to the west of the recent quake killing 37 people; and in April, 1995 a M5.4 earthquake 80 km to the northeast, injured at least 39 people. During the 20th century Japan has suffered nine devastating earthquakes that killed more that 1000 people each. Among these are the 1923 M7.9 earthquake that triggered the great Tokyo fire that killed 143,000 people and the more recent 1995 M6.9 Kobe earthquake that killed about 5,500 people. Earthquake Information for Asia Earthquake Information for Japan \|\|\|\|\| The contents you requested were not found because its Publishing period ended. Only paid members can read them. If the page does not automatically reload, please click here	Shake map showing intensity of the first quake. Star marks the epicenter. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), at least two strong earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.7 and 6.8 rocked the west coast of Honshu, Japan killing 8 people and injuring hundreds. A two hour fire was reported at the Kashiwazaki Nuclear Power Plant number 6 reactor transformer, which is the biggest nuclear power facility in the world, causing radioactive water to leak into the sea. Officials at the plant state that the water will cause no damage to the surrounding environment. The epicenter of the first quake was located 65 km (40 miles) southwest of Niigata city, a major city on the west coast of Honshu, of 55.4 km (34.4 miles). The second quake, a 6.8, was recorded almost 12 hours later approximately 140 km (90 miles) northwest of Fukui Island, Honshu, Japan and had a depth of 350.7 km (217.9 miles). "Many people told me they want to return to their normal lives as quickly as possible. The government will make every effort to help with recovery," said Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says that no major tsunamis are expected, but small waves could impact areas locally close to the epicenter.Small, 50 centimeter tsunamis "were reported on coastal areas close to epicenter," said a statement on the USGS website which also added that in Kashiwazaki, "buildings collapsed, roads and bridges were damaged." The USGS says that damage is "moderate to heavy." "A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami is not expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast. No tsunami warning or watch is in effect for these areas," added the NOAA statement.
THREE major banks today snubbed Treasurer Wayne Swan by lifting their variable loan rates by up to 0.20 percentage points. Signalling more pain for homeowner, Westpac, St George and Bendigo Bank all announced today they would be raising their variable lending rates as a direct result of the sub-prime lending crisis. Westpac, the country’s fourth-largest bank, said it would rate its standard variable home loan by 15 basis points to 8.72 per cent, effective from Monday. The nation’s fifth-largest lender, St George, said it would increase its standard variable home loan rate by 20 basis points to 8.77 per cent, effective from Tuesday. The regional Bendigo Bank said it its variable home loan would rise by rate by 15 basis points to 8.75 per cent from next Thursday. Mr Swan said that while expected, St George and Westpac's rate rises were very bad news for families. He added that the Government would “harshly” judge banks that did not cut their lending rates when the US sub-prime credit crisis subsided. “My views are well known - I consider rate rises as large as those announced by the ANZ at the beginning of the week and St George today to be excessive,” Mr Swan said in a statement. Last week Mr Swan said any increase in lending rates above 12 basis points as a result of the US sub-prime crisis was "excessive". Earlier in the week, Commonwealth Bank increased its standard variable rate on home loans by 0.10 percentage points to 8.67 per cent, effective today, January 11. That came in the wake of ANZ and National Australia Bank last week, both of which increased their variable rates independent of action by the Reserve Bank of Australia. ANZ's increase of 0.20 percentage points is double that of CBA. NAB increased its rate by 0.12 percentage points to 8.69 per cent. The Australian revealed this week that the big four banks collectively have close to a $1 billion direct exposure to the US sub-prime market, despite months of assurances they were immune from the crisis that was the catalyst for the global credit crunch. The credit crunch, which has resulted in a significant rise in the cost to banks of obtaining funds which they in turn lend out, has now seen the big four Australian banks raise their standard variable mortgage rates independent of any action by the Reserve Bank. Also today, ING Direct and Wizard Home Loans lifted their variable rates. “Families and businesses who have endured 10 straight official rate rises certainly won't welcome today's rate rises - particularly St George's rise, and neither do I," Mr Swan said. “I say to all banks, you will be judged very harshly if you try to take advantage of the US sub-prime crisis by lifting rates excessively.” St George’s increase was greater than expected by the markets and is understood to have infuriated the Treasurer. Michael Cameron, St George’s chief financial officer, said the bank had faced the same funding pressures as its larger rivals. “Over the past 5 months we have been absorbing increased funding costs of more than 0.3 per cent and have hoped that conditions would have retuned to normal and we would not have to pass these costs on to our customers,” he said. The current situation is the first time since 1992 that banks have raised rates independently of the Reserve Bank. A senior Westpac executive, Jeremy Dean, said: “Westpac has been absorbing increased funding costs on behalf of customers for several months, but it is now clear that the liquidity issues affecting the global financial markets are likely to persist for some time.” \|\|\|\|\| WITH Australians heading back to work facing soaring petrol prices and the threat of another interest rate rise, the man in charge of the country remains holed up in his plush new Sydney home. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is on leave until Monday, is staying at Kirribilli House where he is "using the time to prepare for the year", according to a spokeswoman. "He's at Kirribilli going through Government briefings, preparing for the year," she told The Daily Telegraph. Gallery: You voted for them - Rudd look-alikes Meanwhile it has been left to Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan to weather the storm about rising petrol prices and the controversial decision by three of the top five banks to lift variable mortgage rates independent of the Reserve Bank. Across Sydney and NSW yesterday the price at the bowser nudged $1.50. In Hillston near Griffith out west, the price broke through the barrier. Is it time for Mr Rudd to get back to work? Vote in our poll and have your say using the comment box below. Today homeowners with a Commonwealth Bank variable home loan will suffer as their home loan rate rises by 0.10 per cent, to 8.67 per cent. The National Australia Bank last week raised its variable rate by 0.12 per cent to 8.69 per cent. More contentious was ANZ's decision to raise its home loan rate 0.2 percentage points to 8.77 per cent. And analysts believe Westpac Bank and St. George Bank customers will suffer similar pain before long. Former treasurer Peter Costello attacked Mr Swan for letting banks take advantage of his inexperience. "They've taken the opportunity of a new treasurer who is not on top of the job to increase their margins, and he came out and on behalf of the Labor Party he approved it," Mr Costello said. Yesterday Mr Swan said the banks' increases were "unavoidable given what is occurring in terms of the fallout from the US subprime crisis". Earlier this week, the Treasurer said he was confident Australia could weather the worst of the subprime storm. Mr Swan spoke to US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson about the problems in the subprime market, which has had a flow-on impact for Australian financial institutions. "We are well placed to ride out the turbulence . . . but we are not immune from it and that is what we are talking about now," Mr Swan said. \|\|\|\|\| He tore strips off the the bank after a meeting in Brisbane with the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank, Ric Battellino, Treasury secretary Ken Henry and the chairman of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Dr John Laker. "On the basis of evidence presented to me by the key economic officials, the increase in the average cost of funds to the major banks is much more in line with the increase announced by the NAB than the increase announced by the ANZ," Mr Swan said. But the ANZ sharply disputed his line, saying its funding costs had risen by more than 0.30 percentage points and that those increased costs were likely to persist in the medium term. "We understand the Treasurer's concerns. However, this is a commercial decision in a competitive market. We are committed to passing on reductions in wholesale interest rates when market conditions ease and more normal conditions return," a spokesman for ANZ, Paul Edwards, said. The controversy over rates came as Mr Swan received some good news on the economy yesterday, with new figures from the Bureau of Statistics showing Australia's home building sector finally in recovery. Building approvals jumped in November to their highest level in more than three years, as developers responded to evidence of a national housing shortage. On a seasonally adjusted basis, total building approvals went up 8.9% in November and were up 14.6% over the year, with houses, apartments and public sector housing all on an upsurge. In Victoria, the trend level of building approvals in November was up 22% from a year earlier. Queensland had a similar story, while in South Australia, trend approvals hit their highest levels since 1985. In the first five months of this financial year, municipal councils across Melbourne approved 20% more new houses and units than in the same months last year, and 37% more than in the same period of 2005. Mr Swan also received a buoyant view of Australia's economic prospects during his meeting with the economic officials, who assured him that whatever happened in the US, Australia was in strong shape. "The Australian economy is perhaps the best placed of all economies in the Western world to deal with the fallout from the US subprime mortgage crisis," Mr Swan said. "Our economy is in a healthy state." However, he warned that inflation was likely to be at or above 3% for the next 18 months. "That is, if you like, the parting gift of Peter Costello and the Liberal Party to the incoming government," Mr Swan said. But Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said the former government could not be blamed. "Having seen Australia through the economic meltdown in South-East Asia and then the US recession in 2001, we built a very strong economy, a finely tuned car," he said. In the US, President George Bush rejected a claim by Democratic aspirant Hillary Clinton that the US economy was "slipping toward recession". But in a marked shift from his usual upbeat economic assessments, Mr Bush conceded that the US faced "economic challenges" due to rising oil prices, the home mortgage crisis and a weakening job market. "We cannot take growth for granted," Mr Bush said in a speech to a group of business leaders in which he acknowledged that "recent economic indicators have become increasingly mixed". But even after a government report on Friday that showed unemployment jumped to 5% last month from 4.7% in November, Mr Bush stopped short of warning that the nation may be about to enter a recession. With NEW YORK TIMES	Treasurer of Australia Wayne Swan. Australia's Opposition Party laid blame for recent interest rate increases at the feet of new federal treasurer Wayne Swan. Swan, in turn, criticised the banks, saying they risk being "judged very harshly" if they "try to take advantage of the U.S. sub-prime crisis by lifting interest rates excessively." Following the National Australia Bank (NAB) lifting its rates 0.12 percent independently of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Swan consulted with Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which monitors bank liquidity, and was advised that rises of around 0.1 percent were reasonable. However, following his moderate response to NAB's rise, ANZ Bank announced a 0.2% rise, prompting Swan's warning. Since then other banks, including Westpac, BankWest and Bendigo Bank, have announced rises between 0.1 and 0.2 percent, while St.George Bank lifted its rates by 0.2 percent. Former Howard government treasurer Peter Costello criticised Swan as inexperienced, saying, "They've taken the opportunity of a new treasurer who is not on top of the job to increase their margins, and he came out and, on behalf of the Labor Party, he approved it." While opposition treasury spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull claimed the treasurer was "all over the shop." HSBC chief economist Dr John Edwards said, "It is all a learning experience for him but it is very difficult to say anything that is less than critical about the banks. The ANZ was the real lesson for Swan because they betrayed his belief, which was probably well informed, the banks would be reasonable and keep any rise to about the level imposed by the NAB."
Attending a Fourth of July fireworks display or flag waving parade as a child slightly increases the likelihood that that kid will grow up to vote Republican, according to a study a team of Harvard University researchers. Even a single July 4 celebration boosts the chance of turning a kid into a Republican, the study claims. "One Fourth of July without rain before age 18 increases the likelihood of identifying as a Republican at age 40 by 2 percent, the share of people voting for the Republican candidate at age 40 by 4 percent, and the share of people turning out to vote at age 40 by 0.9 percent," the study concludes. The findings leave some questions unanswered, a contention that David Yanagizawa-Drott, the assistant professor of public policy of Harvard University's Kennedy School who co-wrote the study with Andreas Madestam of Bocconi University, seems to acknowledge. Getty Images According to a new Harvard University study,... View Full Size Getty Images According to a new Harvard University study, children who participate in Fourth of July festivities are more likely to grow up and vote Republican. Get More Out of Your Vacation With Value Adds Watch Video One thing not addressed in the report is that nearly every kid in America attends Fourth of July celebrations, but the Republican Party is a minority party. Does Fourth of July Celebrations Turn Kids Into Republicans? Calls to Democratic officials were not returned because they had left their offices early to celebrate the Fourth of July. The researchers are sticking by their conclusions. Yanagizawa-Drott told ABCNews.com that they cannot be sure why the trend exists, but said "the celebration of Fourth of July embodies certain ideas or values that are closer to the Republican Party. This in turn affects how children experience the event." "While our study enables us to identify the existence of these effects, it is much more difficult to disentangle which interpretation is more plausible," Yanagizawa-Drott said in an email to ABCNews.com. "There could, of course, be other explanations that are consistent with our findings. This is something that warrants further research." He said they conducted the study because, "We were interested in understanding whether important social events during childhood could form one's identity and political views later in life. Given the popularity and historical importance of Fourth of July celebrations, we thought this was a highly interesting event to study." \|\|\|\|\| Fireworks explode over the Washington Monument in the nation's capital, Sunday, July 4, 2010. (Credit: Cliff Owen) (CBS/What's Trending) - Can celebrating the Fourth of July turn you into a Republican? A recent Harvard University study concludes holiday celebrations have a large impact into what shapes a child culturally, socially and politically. Case in point, the 4th of July. According to the study, there is a direct link between a child's participation in the national holiday and that same child's subsequent voting, party identification and party contribution habits. Here is the breakdown. According to the study, a successful Independence Day, more specifically one without rain, before the age of 18 raises the likelihood of identifying as a Republican by two percent. Mind you that is a single 4th of July. Not to belabor the point, but that means that assuming if, as a child there were ten fourth of July's that you participated in and the day was sunny, then feasibly you would have a 20 percent higher likelihood of joining the Republican Party. That figure is just the beginning. By that same assumption, you are 40 percent more likely to vote Republican. You would have a nine percent boost in whether or not you'll vote at all, and you will be 30 percent more likely to contribute financially to a political campaign. (I wonder if that takes into account the watching of "Independence Day." Will Watching Will Smith battle aliens has to make you more conservative?) The study continues to indicate that the 4th of July celebrations is not a good thing at all for Democrats. The study claims, "There is no evidence of an increased likelihood of identifying as a Democrat, indicating that Fourth of July shifts preferences to the right rather than increasing political polarization." The lack of rain on the 4th of July increasing participation in politics makes sense. There are politically charged events and speeches, and the holiday itself is based on the love of America. As children, and even as adults, it is pounded into our heads that civic duty is the way to love American back. You knowt, he whole "Vote or Die", "Uncle Sam Wants You" bit. But, the declaration that the celebration of the Declaration seeps conservatism into the minds of our youths is a little less on the side of logic. It's hard to tell which side of the aisle the study speaks worse of. In its suggestion that a successful 4th of July forces children and adults alike towards the right is an implication that Democrats don't stand for patriotism, or at least don't make enough of a showing. However, that isn't to say that the Republicans are shown in an entirely pretty light either. The study states, "To the extent that there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and Republican beliefs, celebrations in Republican dominated counties may be more politically biased occasions that socialize children into Republicans." A boy rides a rocket bike during the Fourth of July parade (Credit: Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) This is where things get dicey. This is all based off of several assumptions, and whether or not they are generally regarded as truth is beside the point. Repeated over time, there is no way that the results would read the same or true. This study is a preliminary investigation and while it has its merits in terms of logic and persuasion, it lacks in cold hard irrefutable and repeatable data. Algorithms and rain charts aside, allowing or participating in 4th of July events probably won't be too dangerous in socializing your children or yourself, than what your child's best friend's parents believe or what is taught in school. Just to be on the safe side though, if you're liberal don't feed your child too many hotdogs and cap the fireworks to 15 minutes top. (We kid.) What do you think? Do you agree with the study? Will the 4th of July make you a Republican? Want to know What's Trending? Check out the last episode of the What's Trending live show, featuring Weird Al Yankovic talking about what it takes to make a viral parody hit.	A child holding the American flag. A study conducted by researchers has concluded that children who attend an celebration are more likely to become as adults. Even attending a single fireworks display or flag-waving parade, specifically celebrations without rain, can be predictive of a child's future political leanings and voting habits. "One Fourth of July without rain before age 18 increases the likelihood of identifying as a Republican at age 40 by 2 percent, the share of people voting for the Republican candidate at age 40 by 4 percent, and the share of people turning out to vote at age 40 by 0.9 percent," the researchers claim. Moreover, the data does not suggest that the base is affected at all by the holiday celebrations. "There is no evidence of an increased likelihood of identifying as a Democrat, indicating that Fourth of July shifts preferences to the right rather than increasing political polarization," the study claims. David Yanagizawa-Drott, a public policy professor at Harvard and a co-author of the study, suggests that "the celebration of Fourth of July embodies certain ideas or values that are closer to the Republican Party," but adds that further study is needed to explain this trend. Another explanation offered by the study is that celebrations in Republican-dominated areas may tend to be more politically charged. == Sources == * *
Islamist guerrillas roam freely in many parts of lawless Mogadishu Two French security advisers helping the Somali government have been kidnapped in the capital Mogadishu, French officials have said. Gunmen who were wearing police uniforms entered the hotel where the two were staying and took them away, eyewitnesses said. The abductions took place in a government-held part of Mogadishu. Islamist rebels are battling troops from the UN-backed interim government for control of the city. Rebels repelled The French foreign ministry said the two advisers were in Mogadishu on an official mission to provide help to the government. They were seized at the Sahafi Hotel, which has often accommodated foreign journalists and Somali government ministers. Hotel workers told BBC Somali that the two had checked in as journalists. A Somali official later told Reuters news agency they had done so for their own protection. The kidnappings come two days after government troops forced Islamist militants from positions around the presidential palace. Some of the 4,300 African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu helped push back the insurgents. The radical rebel group al-Shabab and its allies have been trying to topple the fragile interim government, led by moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. \|\|\|\|\| (Adds background) MOGADISHU, July 14 (Reuters) - Somali gunmen stormed a hotel in the capital Mogadishu and kidnapped two French journalists on Tuesday, a hotel worker said. "Several gunmen entered the Sahafi Hotel, pointed guns at the guards and went into the hotel rooms where they took away the two French nationals," the hotel manager, who declined to be named told Reuters. "The two males told me they were journalists," he added. It was not immediately clear which media the two journalists were working for. Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists, both local and foreign, to operate and several have been kidnapped or killed. Fighting in Somalia since Ethiopian troops ousted the Islamic Courts Union in late 2006 has killed at least 18,000 and sent hundreds of thousands more fleeing from their homes. (Reporting by Abdi Guled; Writing by Wangui Kanina)	Location of Somalia Two foreign journalists have reportedly been kidnapped from their hotel by unidentified gunmen in Mogadishu, Somalia. The abduction took place this morning, when men wearing Somalian police uniform arrived at the Sahafi Hotel, which is in an area of the city controlled by pro-government forces. The hotel manager said "Several gunmen entered the Sahafi Hotel, pointed guns at the guards and went into the hotel rooms where they took away the two French nationals. The two males told me they were journalists."
As reported earlier, the LNC is in a deadlock between two resolutions responding the Snubgate. Mary Ruwart’s resolution would apologize to Ron Paul, whereas party Treasurer Aaron Starr’s resolution expresses “disappointment” in Paul, insults the other third-party candidates, and “invites” Paul to endorse Barr/Root. Below is the text of the Starr motion: \|\|\|\|\| Bob Barr Snubs Ron Paul And Other Third Party Candidates The GOP and the Democratic Parties may have a monopoly on mainstream press coverage, but they certainly don’t have one on drama in presidential campaigns. While talk of lipstick and pigs has dominated the airwaves the past couple days, the impudence from the rest of the campaign has gone unnoticed. Yesterday, Ron Paul held a press conference at the National Press Club to discuss third party issues. See our post on this event here. Joining Paul at this event were third party candidates Cynthia McKinney (Green Party), Ralph Nader (Independent) and Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party); Bob Barr was supposed to attend, but he was a no-show. And so the drama begins… Asked about Barr’s apparent no-show, Libertarian Party Media Director issued the following statement: The real question is why Bob, who is a major player in this election, want to be on stage with people like McKinney, who stands against everything the LP does, and Baldwin, who is barely on enough ballots to have a statistical chance of winning. Barr is not a minor party candidate. Barr is a major player this year. He is holding his own press conference right now. According to the AP, Barr’s stated reason for not attending the event was that Paul did not endorse a specific candidate. So, clearly there is a bit of a tension there between the Libertarian Party’s communications and Barr’s. Don Rasmussen, Campaign For Liberty Events Coordinator, tells of being told to “go fck himself” by the Barr campaign when he questioned Barr’s no-show [h/t IPR]: I asked Barr Communications Director Shane Corey after the event why they pulled this stunt and was told to go f** myself. Barr Campaign Manager Russ Verney may have fanned the flames by criticizing Paul’s efforts in his explanation for backing out of the event, saying: It became evident to me after meeting with Ron Paul’s staff that this media event was not about promoting the liberty agenda; it was about promoting a man. That’s not what we’re in this for. After rumors were spread in advance of the news conference that Bob Barr was dropping from the race - just to hype the event - I became even more hesitant to attend. Those tactics were unacceptable and when asked about it, Ron Paul’s staff simply smiled and said it would attract the press. When I was provided a copy of Ron Paul’s prepared remarks just hours before the start of the planned news conference it became clear to me that the message Ron Paul intended to deliver was essentially to scatter the votes for the liberty agenda to the four winds. His remarks not only encouraged anyone listening to support any one of four candidates, he also applauded ‘non-voters’. To me encouraging people not to vote is not principled leadership for the Liberty agenda. I made the decision that attending that news conference was not consistent with Bob Barr’s principled leadership for the Liberty agenda. Once I informed Ron Paul’s staff of my decision I was rudely informed that my decision would have permanent ramifications, I was personally threatened and Bob Barr was politically threatened. That’s a far cry from principled leadership. Obviously, the story is somewhat messy and in part based on sources that cannot fully be corroborated. From a political perspective, I’m not sure I quite understand the Barr Campaign’s rationale for not attending the event. It seems that attracting Paul supporters would benefit them and this would have been one way to do so. I’m also not convinced that the event was all about Ron Paul, given that the candidates spent quite a bit of time speaking as well. With respect to their argument that Barr is a major candidate and thus shouldn’t have attended…Let’s assume for a moment Barr was a major candidate, I’m not sure that alone would be sufficient reasoning to justify not showing up for an event that his campaign already committed to attending, nor, do I think it support hosting a rival press conference. Strange. And for the record, Barr is currently on 48 ballots, Nader is currently on 45, so they aren’t that far off; nor has Barr raised nearly the kind of money or demonstrated that he has the kind of support that Paul had/has. If you’re interested in following this story further, you can do so here.	Former Congressman The (LNC) continues to be in a fierce deadlock today over how to address the growing controversies surrounding their party's U.S. presidential nominee, former Bob Barr. Many libertarians have spoken out against Barr since his last minute refusal to attend former presidential hopeful Ron Paul's third party unity conference at the in last Wednesday. One faction of the 17-member LNC, led by at-large representative — who lost the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination to Barr at the in May by only a few votes — is supporting a resolution to apologize to Paul. Ron Paul This is being countered by another faction led by Treasurer Aaron Starr, who favors a resolution to chastise Paul for not endorsing Bob Barr and “splitting the Freedom Movement.” The motion supported by Starr was made available online Tuesday night. It can be read in its entirety below. ===Starr's Motion=== ''The Libertarian National Committee is disappointed to learn that you have recently urged those'' ''in the freedom movement to vote for the likes of Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney and'' ''Chuck Baldwin, none of whom truly grasp the meaning of Liberty.'' ''More than before, we remain committed to our nominees for President and Vice President, Bob'' ''Barr and Wayne Root. We believe both of them boldly present the ideals of limited government,'' ''lower taxes, lower spending, and more freedom to the American people.'' ''We invite you to restore your commitment to Liberty by supporting the only candidates on the'' ''ballot this year who understand the Constitution and are prepared to restore our republic'' ''to what the Founders believed.'' ''Toward Liberty,'' ''The Libertarian National Committee''
Any national postal strike would be the first since 1996 The Communications Workers Union (CWU) blamed the walkout on Royal Mail bosses not taking negotiations seriously, and said further strikes could follow. Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier said the organisation was "very disappointed" and would do all it could to limit the impact of the walkout. The dispute is over pay and the union's fears of potential job cuts. The strike will be the first nationwide walkout at the Royal Mail since 1996. Both sides have said they would welcome additional talks. 'Refusing to negotiate' "We've tried our hardest to reach a negotiated settlement with the company, but the truth is again that Royal Mail are refusing to negotiate whatsoever on reaching a settlement before strike action takes place," said CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward. "We have also agreed further strike action within two weeks from 29 June that is designed to maximise the impact on Royal Mail but at minimum cost to the CWU members." Mr Ward added that the strike would include Post Office workers as well as Royal Mail delivery staff. In addition to turning down the Royal Mail's 2.5% pay offer, the CWU fears the Royal Mail's ongoing restructuring plans will cause up to 40,000 job cuts. 'Losing business' The Royal Mail counters that it cannot afford to offer any more money and needs to make itself more efficient. "We are losing business because we have failed to change and modernise - and as a result, our costs and therefore our prices are higher than those that rivals are charging in the intensely competitive business mail market, which makes up 90% of all postings," said Mr Crozier. "That's the issue everyone in Royal Mail has to face and why we are so ready to continue talking with the union about the need to modernise." CWU members at the Royal Mail voted for the strike action with a majority of 77% on a turnout of 60%. \|\|\|\|\| News 21 June 2007 Message from Dave Ward, CWU Deputy General Secretary announcing Strike Action in Royal Mail First of all, I want to now put the record straight about the way that Royal Mail have been deliberately misleading the public on what this dispute is about. The Union has never asked for a 27% pay rise and we are not opposed in any shape or form to modernisation. What Royal Mail are doing is not modernisation. The truth is they are intent on cutting services, cutting jobs and cutting pay. We have tried to reach an agreement but Royal Mail are refusing to negotiate. Therefore, we are announcing the first national postal strike in 11 years on Friday 29th June. This will also include all workers in Royal Mail and Post Office Limited which includes people who work on counters and cash services. We have also agreed further strike action within two weeks from the 29th June that is designed to maximise the impact on Royal Mail but at minimum cost to the CWU members. In announcing this strike action, the Union remains committed to reaching an agreement and we have given Royal Mail a further week to conclude a deal before any strike action becomes necessary. I urge Allan Leighton and Adam Crozier to stop sitting on the side lines, get their hands dirty and get involved in serious negotiations. \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login If you are an existing member of The Times and The Sunday Times enjoying the full benefits of thetimes.co.uk, then simply enter your Times+ login details below and press 'Enter' Enter your details to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 30 days or until you logout	Royal Mail postman delivering mail The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has confirmed that Royal Mail workers are to hold a 24 hour strike on June 29, the first national post strike in the United Kingdom in 11 years. In a statement, Dave Ward, CWU Deputy General Secretary, said that Royal Mail are "intent on cutting services, cutting jobs and cutting pay" and that "the Union remains committed to reaching an agreement" to resolve the issue. CWU members voted 77% in favour of taking strike action. Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier said that the organisation was "very disappointed" to hear news of the announcement and explained that "we are losing business because we have failed to change and modernise." Dave Ward of the CWU said that "We have tried to reach an agreement but Royal Mail are refusing to negotiate" and that he wanted to "put the record straight about the way that Royal Mail have been deliberately misleading the public on what this dispute is about. The Union has never asked for a 27% pay rise and we are not opposed in any shape or form to modernisation."
Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Three people were killed Tuesday when a helicopter contracted by Pacific Gas & Electric struck one of the utility’s power lines and crashed into a hillside, igniting a grass fire and knocking out electricity to thousands of customers, officials said. The crash of the Bell 206 helicopter was reported about 1:30 p.m. along Interstate 80, midway between the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville. The aircraft was a third-party helicopter contracted by PG&E, said utility spokeswoman Brandi Merlo. She didn’t say what kind of work the crew was doing. The helicopter came into contact with a transmission line before the crash, Merlo said. Advertisement The Solano County Sheriff’s Office said three people aboard were killed, KCRA-TV reported. They weren’t immediately identified. The helicopter caught fire after crashing, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor. A firetruck responding to the blaze rolled over, sending three firefighters to the hospital with minor injuries, said CalFire spokesman Will Powers. He said the fire burned about 7 acres. Some 38,000 PG&E customers lost power and there was no estimate for when it would be restored, Merlo said. Advertisement The FAA and National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash, Gregor said. \|\|\|\|\| FAIRFIELD (CBS SF) — Authorities are investigating the Tuesday afternoon crash of a helicopter contracted by PG&E in a remote part of Fairfield after the chopper struck a high-voltage line. The three passengers believed to be on the helicopter who were working for PG&E are presumed dead. KPIX 5 has learned that the helicopter was contracted by PG&E to do work for the utility. The three people on board were working on high-voltage lines in the area of the crash. PG&E confirmed that at around 1 p,m, the helicopter struck 115,000-volt power line near Vacaville and crashed. The crash started fire in area. FAA Pacific Division Communications Manager Ian Gregor confirmed that a Bell 206 helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances near the intersection of Lyon Road and Soda Springs Road. The helicopter caught fire after crashing, Gregor said. The FAA said they believe there were three people on board the helicopter. A plume of smoke was visible rising from the crash area for several hours. Cal Fire said a fire caused by the crash spread to about five acres and has since been put out. At around 3 p.m., a power-line serving 38,000 customers was de-energized at request of Cal Fire. According to the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the outage was ongoing. Cal Fire said a water tanker truck responding to the area to help battle the fire rolled, causing minor injuries to the fire personnel on the vehicle. PG&E is working to restore power to customers, but heat in the area is causing delays. There was no word from authorities on the condition of the passengers. While the Solano County Sheriff’s Office has not yet been able to confirm their condition, the passengers are presumed dead. The FAA and NTSB will investigate the incident. Lyon Road is currently closed in both directions with no ETA for reopening. CBS SF is monitoring this developing story and will provide additional updates as information is made available. \|\|\|\|\| In response to your recent editorial (“Coronavirus slowing PG&E’s crucial work to mitigate wildfires,” Mercurynews.com, May 27), we’d like to let our customers and your readers know that neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor our company’s Chapter 11 proceedings have distracted us from our commitment to reduce wildfire risks. Across nearly every component of our Community Wildfire Safety Program, we remain at or ahead of schedule to meet our full-year goals. What does that look like, through mid-May? It’s our crews and contractors installing 100 miles of stronger poles and covered power lines. It’s managing vegetation along 890 miles of our system to reduce wildfire risk. It’s installing 248 devices on distribution lines and 27 switches on transmission lines that will enable us to narrow the focus of Public Safety Power Shutoff events. Related Articles Letter: Unelected Santa Clara County officials abusing their powers Letter: Why I voted to increase Santa Rita Jail staffing Letter: Zuckerberg isn’t helping with misinformation on Facebook Letter: We don’t need county officials’ OK to protest Letter: Housing crisis, virus hit asylum-seekers harder Our website (www.pge.com/wildfiresafety) provides more details. Andy Vesey CEO and President Pacific Gas and Electric Company Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor	A helicopter under contract to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) on Tuesday struck power lines and crashed near , California. Three occupants of the helicopter died and three firefighters were injured when their appliance rolled responding to an ensuing wildfire. A Bell 206 helicopter, from file. The came down near around 13:30 local time, during works to high-voltage power cables in the area. The (CalFire) said several acres of land burned before the flames were extinguished. CalFire requested power line de-energisation during the emergency which cut electric supply to around 38,000 people. CalFire indicated the injuries were minor. The three deceased were reportedly PG&E contract employees. The company said power was restored by 20:21 following delays caused by warm weather at the time. Investigations have been launched by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, with the latter yesterday confirming on Twitter they were "not traveling to the crash scene at this time." ''Wikinews'' approached the NTSB regarding their decision not to visit the site, but as of today the board's press office did not respond. PG&E, currently operating under bankruptcy protections, is currently upgrading its infrastructure to reduce wildfire risks, though as of reports on Tuesday the company had not confirmed what work the helicopter was undertaking. In a letter to '''', published on Monday, PG&E President and CEO Andy Vesey said the firm was working to install "100 miles of stronger poles and covered power lines and manage vegetation along 890 miles of our system to reduce wildfire risk." Vesey also indicated equipment is being added to lines to aid in shutdowns.
Italian ministers and officials were today holding urgent consultations following the discovery of an unmarked wreck that prosecutors believe was used by the mafia to sink radioactive waste. As a ship carrying equipment for detecting marine pollution headed for the site of the sunken vessel, an investigator said up to 41 others may have been used to dump toxic and nuclear material on the seabed. A former top mobster said he had personally shipped other waste to Somalia and that the traffic could have led to the death of a well-known Italian reporter. On Saturday a robot operating 480 metres below sea level sent back murky images of a wreck detected several months earlier by environmental officials. Among other things, they showed two crushed drums protruding from the bows, which appeared to have been blown out in an explosion. The image and the position of the ship – 11 miles off the coast at Cetraro in south-western Italy – coincided exactly with an account given to prosecutors three years ago by Francesco Fonti, a former boss of the 'Ndrangheta, the mafia of Calabria. Fonti said he and others had used explosives acquired in Holland to sink three vessels in the Mediterranean. The one off Cetraro was carrying nuclear waste from Norway, he said. His clan had received the equivalent of almost £100,000 for disposing of it. A prosecutor involved in two investigations in the 1990s said last weekend's discovery had "all the appearances of being a confirmation" that organised criminals had dumped waste at sea. Nicola Pace, now chief prosecutor at Brescia, near Milan, said the inquiries had unearthed evidence of the "deliberate sinking of 42 ships with cargoes of waste, including radioactive waste", but were frustrated by an absence of tangible proof. Bruno Giordano, the prosecutor who ordered the robot search, said: "No one can any longer maintain the ships aren't there." But he added that he would await proof that the wreck was that of the MV Kunski, the vessel identified by Fonti. Marine experts said the sunken ship was about 330 feet long and appeared to have been constructed 40 or 50 years ago. Fonti told the daily Il Manifesto he believed that Ilaria Alpi, a TV journalist, and her cameraman were shot dead in 1994 because they had seen toxic waste unloaded in the Somalian port of Bosaso. \|\|\|\|\| A former mobster, Francesco Fonti, claimed that the 360ft-long ship is just one of dozens sunk by the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta syndicate. He told the authorities the vessel's name is the Cunsky and that he used explosives to sink it about 20 miles off Calabria in the south-west in 1992. A robot submarine has been used to inspect a shipwreck in the Mediterranean which the Mafia turncoat claimed was sunk after being loaded with around 100 barrels of radioactive waste. The authorities have so far been unable to detect a name on its hull, either because it was removed or is obscured by algae. Fonti said he had been involved in sinking three vessels, and that the 'Ndrangheta made millions of pounds illegally dumping radioactive and other toxic waste from businesses in Italy and other parts of Europe. A regional prosecutor, Bruno Giordano, said that if the exploration of the wreck does produce evidence of toxic waste, authorities will start a hunt for more sunken vessels. They believe there could be up to 32 in Italian waters. The introduction of more stringent environmental legislation in the 1980s made illegal waste disposal a lucrative business for organised crime groups in Italy. "The problem of ships loaded with radioactive waste and sunk deliberately is an Italian mystery that should have been resolved years ago," said Ermete Realacci, an opposition MP. The environmental group Legambiente claimed yesterday (wed) that the mafia had also sailed some waste-laden ships to developing countries, including Somalia, disposing of them in exchange for giving automatic weapons to rebel groups. "They were sunk off the coast of Somalia, or buried on land, around 1991 or 1992 in return for weapons from the 'Ndrangheta," said Sebastiano Venneri, the group's vice-president.	The 'Ndrangheta, an Italian mafia syndicate, has been accused by a former member of the gang of sinking dozens of ships loaded with toxic waste, much of it radioactive. He says a journalist and cameraman were killed to keep them from revealing the activity. 'Ndrangheta Italian mafia syndicate is centered in Calabria Turncoat Francesco Fonti has identified a wreck located a few months ago by environmental workers as MV ''Kunsky'' or ''Cunsky'' and says he sunk it himself in 1992, complete with 100 barrels of radioactive waste. The gang received £100,000 ($162,720) for the job. The wreck was scoured last week by a robot, but could not be identified. It lies 480 feet below sea level, and is about 330 to 360 feet long. Its description and location have been found to match an old account Fonti gave authorities three years ago, and environmental detection equipment has been dispatched to the ship, images of which do show barrels in the area. Fonti claims he blew it up with explosives from Holland and it was used to dispose of Norwegian nuclear waste. The damage seen by the team working at the site does appear consistent with this version of events. Prosecutors say it appears the issue is displaying "all the appearances of being a confirmation". Fonti says waste was disposed of for businesses across Europe. Nicola Pace, an Italian prosecutor, said there was evidence of "deliberate sinking of 42 ships with cargoes of waste, including radioactive waste" but there has never been concrete proof. Investigators will seek more shipwrecks if the mystery vessel does indeed have a toxic cargo. Over thirty vessels are believed to be in Italian waters. Both Fonti and environmental group Legambiente have also claimed vessels were sent to Somalia and other developing countries with toxic cargoes, which were either sunk with the ship or buried on land. Legambiente alleges that local rebel groups were given weapons in exchange for receiving the waste ships. Fonti claims that Italian TV journalist Ilaria Alpi's 1994 murder alongside her cameraman was because she had seen toxic waste arrive in Bosaso, Somalia.
Photo A member of a St. Lucia soccer team was shot to death early Monday in Brooklyn, the police said, only hours after he had scored the winning goal in a semifinal of an international tournament. Phillip Tisson, 28, was in the back seat of a parked car on Utica Avenue near Carroll Street about 4:30 a.m. when a gunman shot him in the head, the police said. A 24-year-old woman who was also in the car suffered a graze wound to the shoulder and was taken to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Three other women who were in the car were uninjured. Mr. Tisson had been celebrating the victory of his team, Team St. Lucia USA, with half a dozen teammates at Tropiks Bar and Grill, two blocks south on Utica Avenue. Sheldon Emmanuel, a teammate of Mr. Tisson’s, said that Mr. Tisson left the club around 3:30 a.m., while Mr. Emmanuel and five other teammates remained there, along with Mr. Tisson’s brother. A short while later, Mr. Tisson’s brother received a phone call informing him that Mr. Tisson had been shot. Advertisement Continue reading the main story None of them could believe it, Mr. Emmanuel said, adding that no one had seen Mr. Tisson involved in any argument or confrontation at the bar. He said that he did not know the woman who was with Mr. Tisson. \|\|\|\|\| St. Lucian soccer star Isidore Philip Tisson shot to death outside Brooklyn club during NYC stay Adams IV for News An NYPD officer guards the scene close to where visiting St. Luician soccer player Isidore Phillip Tisson was shot Monday morning. A St. Lucian soccer star in New York for a tournament was shot to death in Brooklyn early Monday, hours after scoring a goal that sent his team to the finals, police sources said. Isidore Philip Tisson, 27, was shot in a car outside a Crown Heights cafe around 4:25 a.m. where he'd stopped after leaving a nightclub where the team celebrated. When Tisson climbed back into the car, an unknown gunman approached from behind, and opened fire. Sources say the bullet passed through Tisson's head and struck a 24-year-old woman who was seated next to him in the chest. She was taken to Brookdale Hospital in stable condition, police said. Two other women who were in the car were unhurt. Investigators were looking at whether Tisson had gotten into an argument with someone at a popular Caribbean club called Tropiks a few blocks from the scene of the shooting, and was followed when he left, sources said. Team officials said Tisson had been out celebrating the team's 1-0 victory Sunday over St. Kitt's which sent them to the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament. Tisson, was a center-forward and a substitute for St. Lucia's National team when it attempted to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. He scored the winning goal in Sunday's game, said team president Martin Daniel. "It was only the second time in 16 years that St. Lucia has made it to the finals [of this tournament]," he said. Relatives said Tisson, who was unmarried and had a 3-year-old daughter, was a driven soccer player well known around his country and had been in New York since May to compete in the tournament. "I feel that my whole world is falling apart," his mother, Rosleyn Tisson, said by phone. "He was very serious about what he was doing." "It's a day of mourning in St. Lucia," said Tisson's cousin, Dani Hippolyte. "Everybody was rooting for him." The match at Thomas Jefferson HS in East New York ended around 5:15 p.m. and the team stayed around to watch Jamaica play Barbados to see who their competition in next week's final would be. Jamaica won. The players then went out to celebrate and Tisson ended up at the club. Daniel said he could not imagine Tisson getting into a fight with anyone. "He is very tall and big and gentle as a teddy bear," he said. "Everyone is surprised."	, a member of the , has been killed by a gunshot wound to the head in New York. Tisson was in New York participating in the Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament. Several members of the team were at Tropiks Bar and Grill in celebrating an earlier victory over Saint Kitts and Nevis. At 4.30am, Tisson entered a parked car outside of Tropiks. While seated in the rear of the car, Tisson was shot in the head. Three women were in the car at the time of the shooting, with one requiring medical attention for a shoulder wound. According to teammate , Tisson left the bar at 3:30 A.M. () with an unknown woman. Tisson's brother remained with his teammates and only found out about the shooting afterwards by phone. Emmanuel also stated that no one witnessed Tission involved an argument with anyone. A police official said that there are no known suspects. Police are waiting for video evidence. Tisson had scored in the Saint Kitts and Nevis game. St. Lucia advanced to the finals with their win over Saint Kitts and Nevis to face Jamaica. The team stated they will still play in the final on Sunday "despite the loss of a friend, a teammate and one of their most powerful players". In St. Lucia, Tisson is survivied by his three year-old daughter.
The Chancellor said the public would gain after the market improved Darling statement The crisis in graphics Neither of the two private proposals to take over the beleaguered bank offered "sufficient value for money to the taxpayer", Mr Darling said. He said the public would gain if the government held on to Northern Rock until market conditions improved. Ron Sandler, nominated by the government to run Northern Rock, said savers' deposits would be secure. 'Dither and delay' But shadow chancellor George Osborne told the BBC that the Conservatives would oppose plans to nationalise Northern Rock. "After months of dither and delay we have ended up with this catastrophic decision," said Mr Osborne. "We now have the situation where the government will be making decisions on whether or not to foreclose on people's loans in a falling housing market," he added. A consortium led by the Virgin group was leading bids to run the beleaguered bank, while a management buyout had also been considered. But ministers have decided that nationalisation - the first such move since the 1970s - was the only option. Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson criticised the government's decision: "We believe we had a very strong proposal, an experienced team and one of Britain's best brands. "We believe nationalisation is not the right answer and that a commercial solution would have been the best way forward." Ill-prepared Explaining the government's decision, Mr Darling said: "It is better for the Government to hold on to Northern Rock for a temporary period and as and when market conditions improve the value of Northern Rock will grow and therefore the taxpayer will gain." "The long-term ownership of this bank must lie in the private sector". Northern Rock got itself into financial difficulties last year because its business model left it ill-prepared for the global credit crunch. It was forced to ask the Bank of England for emergency funding, triggering the first run on a British bank in more than a century. The bank will be run at arm's length and on a commercial basis Alistair Darling Chancellor's statement in full Q&A;: the nationalisation Nationalisation will be pushed though parliament with emergency legislation on Monday. Shares in Northern Rock will be suspended on Monday morning. Under nationalisation rules, shareholders will be offered compensation for their holding, at a level set by a Government-appointed panel. Investors could begin legal action if they are unhappy with the amount offered, with BBC Business Editor Robert Peston saying that it was "inevitable" that the government would be sued by shareholders who felt they had been "fleeced". Job threat UK taxpayers are now subsidising the bank in loans and guarantees to other lenders to the tune of about £55bn. The Treasury now feels that nationalisation offers the most certainty of securing these guarantees, Mr Peston said. It is thought that the business model it proposes will be similar to those put forward by the Virgin Group and the in-house management consortium. These were likely to see a downsizing of the bank, with job cuts among its 4,300 employees likely, observers say. Ron Sandler says it will be "business as usual" at the bank Recovery is new boss's goal The Treasury had already recruited Mr Sandler, the former boss of the Lloyd's of London insurance market, to lead Northern Rock, in case it were nationalised. Mr Sandler is widely regarded as having restored confidence in Lloyd's after its years in financial disarray. He said the changes would have no impact on the guarantees made to lenders, or the government-backed support for savers' deposits. "It is business as usual," he said. Mr Sandler is well known to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and worked for the Treasury in developing the so-called stakeholder pension and investment products that were intended to help those on lower incomes save for retirement. HAVE YOUR SAY It's easy to knock the government but they didn't cause this problem Simon, London Chairman of the Commons Treasury Select Committee John McFall said that he welcomed the Government's decision to nationalise. "They have explored every avenue. At the end of the day the biggest issue is the safeguarding of taxpayers' money. If nationalisation saves that money, that has to be the correct step in the long term." Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said that the right decision had been taken, though "belatedly", and that the government should have walked away from the prospect of a private takeover some time ago. "The important thing now is to do the right thing and the government has got to immediately establish what the problems are with this bank." \|\|\|\|\| Alistair Darling on Sunday announced the first nationalisation of a sizeable British bank in a quarter of a century as he put Northern Rock into public ownership, infuriating shareholders and shocking the two private bidders hoping to take over the stricken mortgage lender. Visibly concerned to avoid queues forming outside branches on Monday, the chancellor and Ron Sandler, Northern Rock’s new executive chairman, insisted it would be “business as usual”. Mr Sandler, who is to be paid £90,000 a month in his new role, insisted branches would open on time, customers would be able to withdraw and deposit money, and the government guarantees to depositors remained in place. News of an emergency loan to Northern Rock from the Bank of England last September triggered the first run on a British bank in more than a century. The government has been trying since then to find a buyer for the bank that would enable the £25bn in Bank of England loans to be repaid. Shares in the bank, which closed at 90p on Friday, will be suspended on Monday morning and shareholders can expect virtually no compensation for their equity. Mr Darling said the legislation to be brought to parliament on Monday would appoint independent arbiters to determine what the shares were worth, but the legislation would propose that the government should not be required to compensate shareholders for any value that is dependent on taxpayers’ support. The government’s move stunned shareholders, who were last night considering action. Jon Wood of the SRM hedge fund, the bank’s biggest shareholder, said: “This is a very sad day for the stock market, banking industry and the reputation of the UK as a financial centre.” Noting that the chancellor insisted the bank was solvent, he added: “We will pursue all avenues to protect that value for shareholders.” Robin Ashby, founder of the Northern Rock small shareholders group, said he was “shocked and appalled” that shareholders “were having the bank stolen away from them”. Mr Darling said that, although he had always preferred a private sector solution, “the numbers did not stack up” in either of two private sector proposals offered – one from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and another from the bank’s management. “I have a duty to the taxpayers of this country to make sure that I do the right thing by them and that is what I have done,” he said. Sir Richard, whose group only found out about the government’s decision just before it was announced, said he was “very disappointed” in the decision and believed he had “a very strong proposal”. Virgin had been asked to pay £200m for a government guarantee and £100m-£200m for equity warrants but it is believed that it found this too difficult. If Northern Rock had been worth £5bn it is understood that the government would only have received £500m in warrants, whereas the Virgin consortium could have made between £1bn and £1.5bn, causing huge embarrassment for the government. Mr Sandler, who will run the bank at arm’s length from the government, said the new strategy for Northern Rock “will require returning the bank to a more sustainable size”. He refused to be drawn on what that meant for jobs in Newcastle upon Tyne, although one person close to the situation suggested that Northern Rock could be reduced to half of its size with up to 3,000 job losses. George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, said: “We will not back nationalisation. We will not help Gordon Brown take this country back to the 1970s.” Additional reporting by Lina Saigol and Peter Thal Larsen	rushed to withdraw their money. Troubled U.K. bank Northern Rock is to be nationalised, the first such move since the 1970s. The Treasury made the decision after a long period of uncertainty which began in September 2007 when it was revealed that the bank had approached the Bank of England, as lender of last resort due to problems raising funds in the money markets. The move means that bids from Virgin Group and a proposal for a management buyout have been rejected. In a statement by Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that "in current market conditions, we do not believe that they deliver sufficient value for money for the tax-payer".
Halifax fire destroys eight homes Rain helped to bring fire, ripping through the forested suburbs of Halifax, under control Ferguson's Cove, N.S. The brush fire came up fast and fierce, leaving shaken residents only moments to grab what they could and go. “I took my husband's ashes and I took my children's pictures and I took a family picture,” Marlene Myles said. The Ryans, who lived on one of two streets in the Ferguson's Cove area 15 minutes from downtown Halifax that bore the brunt of the fire damage, saved their children's pet rats, and father Brett Ryan raced back into the house to retrieve his wedding ring from the kitchen before escaping by truck through the approaching blaze. “Houses can be replaced,” he said Friday in nearby Spryfield, where displaced residents were being assisted. “We literally got out with our lives. Like if I'd been three minutes later, I wouldn't have got up that road.” The smell of smoke hung heavy Friday as hundreds of residents of suburban Halifax returned to homes they had fled a day earlier. Rain Friday had helped bring the fire under control, but it will probably be a few more days before the hardest-hit area is open to the public. And families who had lived there, eight of whom no longer have homes, had to brace themselves before viewing what remained of their properties. “A 6,000-square-foot home reduced to two feet of rubble,” said Mr. Ryan, describing the sight that greeted him. The Ryans have insurance but mourn all the cherished possessions they left behind: several musical instruments, including a 19th-century grand piano, a collection of photo albums and hard drives containing business information. No one was injured in the blaze except for one police officer who was treated for smoke inhalation. Two cats and one dog are presumed dead after being left in evacuated homes that burned. The worst-affected streets were part of upscale developments built in a forested area, the homes spaced widely along bucolic cul-de-sacs. Friday, the area was a stark landscape of trees scorched black, the ground coated with wet soot. But not all the homes that were damaged were hit by the brush fires, and police launched a separate investigation of arson at one home. “There is significant damage to the interior of the home from the fire,” said Halifax Regional Police Staff-Sergeant Don Fox. Investigators believe that fire was lit during the evacuation process Thursday evening. Damage in the area was not uniform. Driven by gusting winds and following an erratic course, the blaze levelled some homes while sparing others. At one property, a hockey net stood intact in the driveway next to a smouldering foundation. At another spot, the charred remnants of a barbecue was one of the few recognizable items left in the ruins of a house, while less than 50 metres away a number of patio chairs sat undisturbed next to a pond. The speed of the fire amazed people. Paul Levy was working Thursday on the peninsula that forms the core of Halifax when he spotted a thick plume of smoke coming from the area of Purcell's Cove, where his wife and daughter were at home. “He called me and my mom around 3 and asked if there was a fire,” 14-year-old Michelle Levy remembered yesterday. “My mom looked out the window and was like, ‘Oh my God, Purcells Cove's on fire.' ” Mr. Levy jumped on his bicycle and raced home. He normally rides at a sedate pace; the bike typically carries a travel mug of coffee in the water-bottle cage, and the route takes him 20 to 30 minutes. He covered it Thursday in 12 minutes but was stopped by a police barricade. “I was scared to death, I couldn't tell if my family was all right,” he said. “They said if I went through I'd be arrested … I probably said some fairly nasty things.” He reached his wife on the phone and she was able to keep him calm. After a nerve-racking wait, his family emerged safely from the smoky haze. They spent the night at a community centre in Spryfield. “I was scared to sleep, I thought I was going to have nightmares,” Michelle said Friday, clutching a stuffed dog that was a gift from her uncle. She had also brought with her a stuffed animal given by an grandmother who died four years ago. “My wife's mom was buried where the fire went through and we don't know if that graveyard was damaged,” Mr. Levy said. “It's been really hard on [my daughter]. She and her grandmother were like this,” he added, crossing his fingers. \|\|\|\|\| Share your story with the Sun! Send us your photos, video or a quick note about something you've seen on the streets of Calgary. Click here for more Your Scoop details \|\|\|\|\| Rain falling over the Halifax region Friday helped crews tame a devastating forest fire in an outlying community, while tears filled the eyes of displaced residents as the reality of losing their homes started to sink in. The Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Service said the blaze that started blowing through the Spryfield area Thursday afternoon was finally under control by about noon hour Friday. “We’re happy that we’re having this rain; we just need more of it,” fire department spokesman Lloyd Currie told reporters inside the Captain William Spry Community Centre on Kidston Road, which has been set up as a temporary shelter for those who have been evacuated. “If we didn’t have the rain this fire may not be under control at this point.” Currie said the Natural Resources Department believes the brush fire was sparked in the “general vicinity” of the McIntosh Run, although investigators hadn’t yet pinpointed a cause. He said the wind-whipped flames and thick clouds of dark smoke spread across an area between 800 and 1200 hectares, burning down eight homes and damaging up to ten others, mostly on Aarons Way and Fortress Drive, both off of Purcell’s Cove Road in Fergusons Cove. “We warned the people as fast as we could,” Currie said. Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly told the media that provincial and city workers were all on the ball “once they knew the severity and speed of this.” Kelly said one police officer suffered from smoke inhalation, but no other injuries from the fire have been reported. Most pets were saved, but he said a dog and two cats are presumed dead. While some angry residents told reporters they should have been alerted earlier, Brett and Lara Ryan said they were impressed by the response of emergency services. “There was just so much flame and smoke and it was just completely overwhelming," said Brett, whose family of five lost their beloved home at 14 Fortress Drive. They returned to see what little was left of their house Friday, which Brett said did “provide a bit of closure.” “If anything, we walk away from this just extremely grateful,” he said of at least having their lives. Lara, her voice cracking, said it’s tough to think about the baby pictures and other sentimental belongings now gone forever. “It’s tough, of course. It’s our home and we loved it.” Currie said about half of the 1,200 people who were forced out more than 400 homes had already returned to their residences by Friday afternoon.	reported that a blaze which started Thursday outside of , Nova Scotia in Canada was brought under control by Friday afternoon with the help of a rainstorm Friday morning. "If we didn't have the rain, this fire may not be under control," Lloyd Currie, a spokesman for the Halifax Regional Fire Service said. "We're happy that we're having this rain. We just need more of it." in 2003 produced downed trees and brush to fuel this year's fire which spread through the area at 36 metres (118 feet) per minute. On Thursday, the fire was settling down, but when high winds fanned the blaze, the fire surged out of control, creating flames high which leapt from treetop to treetop. Between 800 to 1,200 hectares (2,000 to 3,000 acres) of forest were destroyed, as were eight homes. Another ten homes were also damaged as high winds fanned the flames through the district. Police are investigating a possible case of arson during the brushfire when residents were evacuating. Over 100 firefighters and five helicopters were out fighting the fire. People were awakened from their sleep at three a.m. local time to report into the Red Cross evacuation centre. Residents reported driving through flames in their home driveways to escape the brush fire. On Wednesday, firefighters thought a fire in the same district was under control. Currie feels that the Thursday wildfire was a separate fire distinct from the one started on Wednesday. “We warned the people as fast as we could,” said Currie. Altogether about 1,100 persons were displaced because of the fire and about 500 homes were abandoned. , Mayor of Halifax toured the devastation by air. “It's a shock. Where homes used to be they are no longer. It's surreal for me,” he said. On Friday no flames were visible, but hot spots remained. Halifax Regional Municipality, with a population of 282,924 in 2006, is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia.
A cruise ship with about 280 people on board ran into trouble off the Alaskan coast and began taking on water, forcing passengers and crew to evacuate, the US Coast Guard said. Coast Guard craft were sent to the 110-metre-long Empress of the North, about 24 km southwest of Juneau on Alaska's eastern peninsula in an area called Icy Straits, Coast Guard spokesman Christopher McLaughlin said. The ship was listing at about 8 degrees after hitting a rock but Dan Miller, a spokesman for owner Majestic America, told Fox News it was not in danger of sinking. "It is stable and is under its own power and as soon as all the guests and crew are transferred off, she will make her way under her own power over to Juneau where we will assess the damage," Miller said. Coast Guard Commander Jeff Carter told CNN the ship was carrying 281 passengers and crew. McLaughlin said about 30 passengers had been evacuated so far, with nearby commercial vessels helping the Coast Guard, including a cruise ship that was due at the scene shortly to help evacuate remaining passengers. "Several Good Samaritan boats are on the scene and taking passengers off," McLaughlin said. He said it was unclear how much water the boat was taking on. There were no immediate reports of injuries or what caused the ship to run into trouble in 0.9-metre seas in icy waters. "We're not sure what they hit," McLaughlin said. The ship has 112 staterooms and an old-fashioned rear paddle wheel, according to the website of its owner, the Majestic America cruise line. Majestic America is a division of Ambassadors Cruise Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambassadors International. Its decor includes Native American totems and masks, as well as Faberge eggs and other Russian artwork. © 2007 Reuters, Click for Restrictions \|\|\|\|\| View larger image Evacuated passengers are seen in this aerial photo provided by the United States Coast Guard. View larger image Passengers are evacuated from the Empress of the North as seen in this image made available by the United States Coast Guard. Passengers OK after Alaskan cruise ship evacuated CTV.ca News Staff A cruise ship carrying 281 people was successfully evacuated after it ran aground off the coast of Alaska Monday. "All passengers have been transferred to an Alaskan ferry headed back to Juneau," U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Barry Lane told CTV Newsnet. "The Empress of the North itself is in coast guard escort back to Juneau." The riverboat-style ship's 29 crew members remained on board the vessel to assist in its return, and the vessel arrived in Juneau by Monday afternoon. No injuries were reported in the incident. "The Lord really took care of us, the water was calm and there wasn't any wind," said one passenger. "And the staff, although some of them may have been inexperienced, they worked like pros." The accident, which occurred around 2 a.m. local time, happened at the southern end of the Icy Strait, about 25 kilometres southwest of Juneau. Lane said he didn't know what the 109-metre Empress of the North collided with. "It was hard enough that it did penetrate the first level of its hull," he said. "They were taking on some water through that gash in the hull which made the boat list." A commercial tug and barge and about six other vessels -- including fishing boats and other cruise ships -- assisted in rescuing the passengers. The ship, operated by Seattle-based Majestic America Line, has 112 staterooms and a three-storey paddlewheel. It also has galleries featuring artwork from Russia and North America, including Faberge eggs and Native American masks. Dan Miller, a company spokesperson, said the ship was never considered to be in any serious danger by the captain. "While we did take on some water, that was quickly stopped," he said by phone from Seattle. "All of our pumps were engaged and the water pumped out." The grounding occurred on the second day of a seven-day cruise. The American-built ship, which is billed by the company as the only overnight paddlewheel vessel in use on Alaska cruises, is also used on cruises on the Columbia River between Washington state and Oregon. In October 2003, the vessel hit a navigation lock on the Snake River in Washington. It had also run aground at least twice before Monday: once on the Columbia River after struggling with steering problems, and another time on a sandbar near Washougal, Wash., as the crew tried to avoid a barge. With a report by CTV British Columbia's Keri Adams and files from The Associated Press	The Alaskan cruise ship "Empress of the North" was given the order to evacuate at 2 AM Alaska Time this morning after striking an underwater rock and taking on water. All 281 passengers and 29 crew are unharmed and the passengers have been evacuated, though the ship is listing roughly 8 degrees. The US Coast Guard has stated the ship is in no danger of sinking, but tell news reporters that the captain of the ship gave the order to evacuate to be safe. The ship's current location is 24 km (15 miles) southeast of Juneau, Alaska in an area of the Eastern peninsula known as the Icy Strait. Though it is unknown exactly what penetrated the ship's hull at this time, it is suspected by the captain and US Coast Guard that it was an underwater rock. This all occurred during the night hours on the second day of a seven day long cruise through the Alexander Archipelago and Inside Passage in southeastern Alaska. Dan Miller, representative for "Majestic America" has said the ship "is stable and is under its own power and as soon as all the guests and crew are transferred off, she will make her way under her own power over to Juneau where we will assess the damage." Several civilian pleasure-craft arrived at the scene and have taken some passengers off of the ship. The ships involved in this rescue operation were a commercial tugboat, a barge, 6 pleasurecraft, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry, and another cruise ship. As of 1:00 PM Eastern Time, all of the passengers have been transferred to an Alaskan Ferry, heading back to Juneau. The 29 crew members have stated they will remain on board to help bring the ship back to port in Juneau for investigation and repairs. The 109-meter long Empress of the North is owned by "Majestic America", a division of Ambassadors Cruise Group, which is in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambassadors International.
Washington Post Foreign Service Thursday, April 28, 2005; Page A17 ROME, April 27 -- Dissatisfied with the results of a joint investigation with the United States, Italy on Wednesday began its own probe into the March 4 killing of one of its intelligence agents by U.S. troops in Baghdad. Italian officials said Rome prosecutors were looking for evidence of homicide in the case of Nicola Calipari, who was transporting a rescued Italian hostage to the Baghdad airport when U.S. soldiers opened fire on their car. The bullet-scarred Toyota Corolla was brought to Rome on Tuesday. The prosecutors have demanded the names of the soldiers who were involved, but the Pentagon has denied the request, Italian officials said. The Italian move follows the release this week of partial findings from the joint American-Italian investigation. The Americans concluded that their soldiers were not at fault and had observed the proper rules of engagement for firing at a suspicious vehicle, according to unnamed Pentagon officials. Two Italian investigators who took part in the probe have so far refused to sign on to the findings. The controversy represents an unusual break between the Bush administration and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose chief aide, Gianni Letta, met with U.S. Ambassador Mel Sembler twice on Tuesday. Berlusconi has been one of Bush's most staunch European allies in Iraq, where Italy maintains about 3,000 troops. The killing of Calipari, who had aided in the release of journalist Giuliana Sgrena from kidnappers, shocked Italians. According to an account from Sgrena, who was wounded in the shooting, Calipari threw his body over hers to protect her from the hail of bullets. U.S. officials have said, however, that Calipari was partly at fault because he was traveling on a dangerous road at night and, they say, had not properly notified American officials of his plans. The dispute has put at stake the reputation of a man viewed here as a gallant hero. "The government of Italy does not want a fight with the U.S.A., but it can't commit suicide by putting full blame on a national hero," commentator Alessandro Politi wrote in Il Messaggero, a newspaper in Rome. The first findings from Italian investigators on Wednesday absolved Calipari of any "errors," an Italian official said. Italian investigators who are examining the car are trying to ascertain how many bullets struck it and from which direction. "The important thing is not what Calipari did but what the people who shot him did," the official said. Berlusconi had asked the United States for an admission of error but did not receive one. U.S. officials have contended from the beginning that, at most, the shooting was a tragic accident. The Italian government has avoided detailing just how Sgrena's release came about. Stories of a ransom payment abounded in the Italian press at the time, and some commentators have questioned the wisdom of rushing Sgrena to the airport. "In almost two months from that tragic night, we have not grasped an ounce of truth or fact," Giuseppe d'Avanzo wrote in La Repubblica, a newspaper that has been highly critical of Berlusconi. "It looks as if the love affair is over between Bush and Berlusconi," an Italian Foreign Ministry official said. "Berlusconi needed help, and the administration did not supply it. The Americans were not going to sacrifice the morale of their soldiers for Berlusconi." Shortly after the shooting, Berlusconi announced that he would begin to withdraw Italy's troops from Iraq in September. Berlusconi's popularity has plummeted in recent months, largely because of inflation and stagnation in the national economy. The Baghdad shooting took place about six weeks before regional government elections in which Berlusconi's coalition fared poorly. \|\|\|\|\| 10:00am (UK) Berlusconi to Face Second Vote of Confidence "PA" The debate over Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s new government – which won approval in Italy’s lower house of parliament – moved to the Senate today, where the conservative leader was also expected to survive a vote of confidence. proval would put an end to the government crisis a week after Berlusconi was forced to briefly resign and form a new Cabinet following an embarrassing defeat in regional elections. But even if he wins approval, he still faces economic problems and fallout from the mistaken shooting of an Italian intelligence agent by US forces in Iraq last month – and a general election is only a year away. The effort to revive his coalition’s momentum comes as calls for bringing home Italy’s roughly 3,000 troops in Iraq are getting louder. The outcry follows reports that the US had absolved its soldiers of blame in the March 4 shooting of intelligence agent Nicola Calipari at a US checkpoint on Baghdad’s airport road. Calipari, who had just helped free an Italian hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena, became a hero in Italy, where people strongly opposed the war in Iraq. Sgrena and another Italian agent driving the car survived. The premier has put his government’s prestige on the line with assurances to the nation that full light would be shed on the shooting. Any public finding seen to absolve the US soldiers would likely undermine his credibility. Both sides said this week they were still working on the final report of a US-Italian investigation into the shooting. Italian and US officials attached to the coalition force in Baghdad were trying on Wednesday to negotiate a document that could resolve the impasse, US officials said. In a combative speech in the lower house of parliament on Wednesday, Berlusconi pledged to boost the economy, accused the left of spreading pessimism and appealed to businesses’ sense of patriotism by urging them to invest more in Italy. The media magnate-turned-politician reiterated that he intends to lead Italy until elections due in mid-2006 and vowed to carry out an economic platform that includes tax cuts for businesses and a new push to lift Italy’s poorer south. Berlusconi also faced opposition attacks over Italy’s faltering economic growth and its fiscal deficit. The government has forecast 2.1% growth for this year, but it is expected to lower the figure soon. When Berlusconi reluctantly resigned as premier last week, he ended Italy’s longest-serving post-war government after four years. He swiftly formed a new Cabinet, hoping the reshuffle will stop bickering that threatened to blow apart his coalition. \|\|\|\|\| BREAKING NEWS This story is from our news.com.au network Source: AFP Berlusconi warns US on friendly fire 28apr05 IN a stern warning to Washington, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that Italy would "never endorse" a report on the shooting by US soldiers of an Italian intelligence agent if it was unconvincing. "If there are differences, they will emerge. But certainly, we will never endorse things that do not convince us," Mr Berlusconi told reporters. Close allies Italy and the United States are at odds over an investigation into the March 4 shooting that killed Nicola Calipari, who was taking a freed Italian hostage to safety. The hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena, and another intelligence agent were injured in the shooting. "Our men have investigated the matter and now we have facts," Mr Berlusconi said without revealing any details. A joint US-Italian team is investigating the incident and has still to formally present its results. But a US army officer said the inquiry had concluded that the US soldiers were "not culpable." The leak infuriated Italians, and Berlusconi immediately demanded explanations from the Washington, which promptly said the inquiry was still ongoing. Mr Berlusconi singled out the Pentagon as source of tensions over the investigation. "We understand the difficulties of our counterpart, because the Pentagon has certain positions and the US administration would want these positions to be more flexible." "I am working with the United States, our allied country, which has internal problems with regard to the Pentagon. We will continue our contacts with the US administration," the prime minister said. The shooting angered many Italians and increased pressure on Mr Berlusconi's centre-right government to pull Italian soldiers out of Iraq - a highly unpopular war here. \|\|\|\|\| Reporters Without Borders said today it was "very surprised" by a US army announcement that an investigation has cleared US soldiers of any blame in the 4 March shooting in Baghdad that left Italian secret service agent Nicola Calipari dead and Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena wounded. "We are not convinced that everything possible has been done to establish what happened in this tragedy or to determine the responsibility of all those involved, and we reiterate our appeal for an independent international enquiry by US and Italian authorities," the press freedom organization said. Reporters Without Borders also pointed out that the two Italian members of the commission of enquiry disagreed with its findings on two points and are planning explain their reservations shortly. "We will see then what official reaction comes from the Italian government, which has a right to demand sanctions," it said. Sgrena today described the US army announcement as a "slap in the face for the Italian government." According to the US investigators, "the procedures were followed to the letter" by the US soldiers involved. But Sgrena insisted again that the car in which she and Calipari were travelling received "no warning signal... no warning shot" and that "the searchlight was turned on after the shots were fired." The car that was supposed to be carrying former hostage Sgrena to safety immediately after her release by her captors came under fire from US soldiers as it approached a checkpoint near the airport. The shots wounded Sgrena in the shoulder and killed Calipari, who was in charge of protecting her. The day following the shooting, Reporters Without Borders called on the United Nations to conduct a thorough investigation into the blunder. There has never been any response. The US high command insisted immediately after the event that procedures were followed and that the soldiers issued a warning to the car before beginning to fire. At the same time, a Pentagon official announced that the incident would be investigated.	__NOTOC__ In an escalating controversy that has contributed to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's political problems and created a national uproar in Italy, Italian prosecutors began their own independent probe on Wednesday of the death of Nicola Calipari. The premier has put his government's prestige on the line with assurances to the nation that full light would be shed on the shooting. Calipari, one of the top intelligence agents in Italy, had negotiated a settlement with hostage takers in Baghdad and was rescuing journalist Giuliana Sgrena from them when American soldiers fired on the car they were in. Calipari became a national hero for Italians after he bravely threw his own body across hers as the firing continued, killing him and seriously injuring Sgrena with a few bullets in her back. She is still recovering. Meanwhile, Americans released a document, now described as incomplete, which says the U.S. Army, in a joint inquiry with Italian officials, cleared its own soldiers of any responsibility in the tragic events of March 4. === Demands for troops to leave Iraq from former president === The Prime Minister has put his reputation on the line says Francesco Cossiga, an ex president of Italy. He was quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA, saying he thinks Berlusconi would have no choice but to withdraw Italy’s 3000 troops from Iraq if the U.S. soldiers are cleared without further investigation, called by the U.S. a “friendly fire” incident. Cossiga is demanding the U.S. release them to Italian officials for trial or make the commitment to put them before an American court martial. Berlusconi said that Italy would "never endorse" a report on the shooting by US soldiers of an Italian intelligence agent if it was unconvincing. "If there are differences, they will emerge. But certainly, we will never endorse things that do not convince us," Mr. Berlusconi told reporters. An international group of journalists, “Reporters without borders” (Reporters sans frontières), said they were “very surprised” at Tuesday’s report released by the U.S. Army. “We are not convinced that everything possible has been done to establish what happened in this tragedy or to determine the responsibility of all those involved, and we reiterate our appeal for an independent international enquiry by US and Italian authorities," the press freedom organization said. They had asked for a United Nations investigation immediately after the shooting. They also commented on the fact that the two Italian investigators disagreed with the findings of the U.S. Army and refused to sign the finished reports. "We will see then what official reaction comes from the Italian government, which has a right to demand sanctions," it said. === Former hostage and attack survivor Giuliana Sgrena very critical of report === Ms. Sgrena again today described the Army’s announcement as a "slap in the face for the Italian government." U.S. investigators were satisfied, according to the report, that "the procedures were followed to the letter" by the soldiers involved. Ms. Sgrena repeated her statement that the car in which she, Calipari and another agent, the driver, were travelling had “no warning signal…no warning shot” and "the searchlight was turned on after the shots were fired." The position of the U.S. high command, that soldiers had followed procedures, has remained unchanged since they first asserted this shortly after the incident occurred. U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld said of the report and its investigators, "My latest information is that they the Americans and Italians have not come to a final agreement on a joint report...It's an investigation, it was done together, intimately, and I think that we'll just have to wait and see what they come out with." === Related news === * Kidnapped Italian journalist refutes American government claims ''Wikinews'' March 25, 2005
Vanessa Hudgens Nude Photo: "It Is Unfortunate This Has Become Public" Eamonn McCormack/WireImage.com Vanessa Hudgens arrives at the "High School Musical 2" European Premiere in London on September 2, 2007.Eamonn McCormack/WireImage.com A photograph said to depict a nude Vanessa Hudgens has been circulating the internet today, with many wondering about its authenticity. Usmagazine.com can now confirm: the pic is real. The Disney sweetheart's rep tells Us, "This was a photo which was taken privately. It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public." The 18-year-old singer/actress recently finished promoting the sequel to the smash TV musical hit, High School Musical. She and boyfriend Zac Efron are in negotiations to star in a third installment of the series, which has broken basic cable ratings records. \|\|\|\|\| Advertisement The most buzzed about stars this minute! Note: The below are developer generated messages that only appear in development and are used by developers to help track down problems. If you're seeing this message a developer is very likely trying to fix a problem. Page generated on 2007.09.09 at 05:10:04 AM \|\|\|\|\| The Post Chronicle article you have requested has been archived If you are not redirected immediately, Click here to view the article	Hudgens (file photo) Controversy erupted on September 6th, 2007 when a nude photo of High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens appeared on the internet. Hudgen apologised and said she was "embarrassed over the situation" and that she regretted "taking those photos". Her publicist released a statement saying the photos were taken in private and it was "unfortunate" the pictures were leaked onto the internet. Hudgen's role in High School Musical 3 has not changed because of the photos.
Due to laws and regulations Sportsbet can't be accessed in certain locations. Visit our Help Centre for more info and alternative options. \|\|\|\|\| The Vatican Radio website has the full text of the pope's statement today. Here it is in full: Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is. Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer. From the Vatican, 10 February 2013 BENEDICTUS PP XVI \|\|\|\|\| Going to be away from your pc? Use your online account to Dial-a-bet on: If you need any help or support please chat with customer services at: or call us on: The prices quoted above are only applicable to bets placed on the website www.paddypower.com and are correct at the time of printing. They are subject to change or alteration and usual Paddy Power rules apply when placing bets online. © 2008 Paddy Power PLC	Coat of arms for Pope Benedict XVI. With news of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation only hours old, online gambling sites have already published odds for who will become the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, with and as early odds-on favorites. Online Australian gambling site SportsBet has Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet as their favorite with 7/2 odds. The Irish brokers has 11/4 odds with the Canadian Cardinal being chosen as Pope. Bwin has Ouellet becoming the next Pope with odds at 7/2. British SportingBet also has odds for Ouellet at 7/2. British has Nigerian Cardinal with 7/2 odds. has the betting odd for Ghanian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson at 7/2, its best odds for any potential Papal candidate. BetVictor also has the best odds on Turkson with 5/2. Stan James has the best odds for Turkson at 3/1. You Win has odds for Turkson at 5/2. Bets are also being taken by Paddy Power for the name of the next Pope, with Peter their odds-on favorite at 2/1. It is followed by Pious at 5/1, and John Paul and John at 6/1.
The Pope dismissed secularism and consumer-style religion He urged an estimated 1m young people at an outdoor Mass near Cologne to hold fast to the core values of their faith. Young Catholics should point people towards Jesus Christ in a Europe turning away from God, he urged. In a key speech later, he set out a blueprint for the Church's future, acknowledging the problems facing it. "Wrinkles and shadows" had obscured the face of the whole church he told about 80 Catholic bishops, an apparent reference to the scandals caused by paedophile priests. HAVE YOUR SAY He is beginning to put his own personality's stamp on the Papacy David Irby, Dingle, Ireland Send us your comments In pictures: Celebrating Mass He told them he acknowledged the dramatic shortage of priests in Germany. Catholic morals and ethics were in constant decline, he said, urging a future where the Church remained truly young in spirit while not pandering to youth. The BBC's David Willey in Cologne says it was a basically optimistic yet unusually realistic vision for the future of the Church. Dangers At the earlier Mass, held on the Church's World Youth Day, crowds stretched back as far as the eye could see, the BBC's Jane Little reports. Many had camped out all night. Hundreds of thousands of young people gathered to celebrate Mass with the Pope Enlarge Image The Pope told the crowds there were dangers in people finding their own religious routes. "If it is pushed too far, religion becomes almost a consumer product," he said. "People choose what they like, and some are even able to make a profit from it. "But religion constructed on a 'do-it-yourself' basis cannot ultimately help us," he said. "Help people to discover the true star which points out the way to us: Jesus Christ." The Pope has said he hopes his trip will help to kick-start "a wave of new faith among young people". Earlier in his visit he demonstrated his emphasis on cross-faith relations, by addressing Muslim leaders and visiting a synagogue. Pope Benedict flew out of Cologne airport on Sunday evening, ending his first foreign trip since becoming Pope in April. The World Youth Day festival, started by the late Pope John Paul II, is held in a different part of the world every three years. The next one will take place in Sydney, Australia, in 2008, the Pope announced at the end of the Mass. \|\|\|\|\| COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- More than 1 million Roman Catholic young people who had camped out overnight in an enormous field welcomed Benedict XVI on Sunday for the concluding Mass of his four-day trip to Germany, his first foreign travel as pope. As he began his homily, calling on the pilgrims and visitors to World Youth Day to make wise use of the freedom God had given them, the sun broke through the thick, gray clouds. "Freedom is not simply about enjoying life in total autonomy, but rather about living by the measure of truth and goodness so that we ourselves can become true and good," he said. He said there is a "strange forgetfulness of God," while at same time the sense of frustration and dissatisfaction has led to a "new explosion of religion." \|\|\|\|\| Home > News > World > Europe Youthful pilgrims listened yesterday to Pope Benedict XVIs prayer vigil at Marienfeld, a field near Cologne, Germany. (AFP Photo) Pope urges end to spread of terrorism Addresses German Muslim leaders COLOGNE -- Pope Benedict XVI, in his bluntest exchange to date with leaders of another faith, yesterday chose a meeting with German Muslim leaders to decry the spread of terrorism and urged them to help ''turn back the wave of cruel fanaticism that endangers the lives of so many people and hinders progress toward world peace." In his meeting with Muslims, which took place at the offices of the archbishop of Cologne, he said, ''You . . . have a great responsibility for the formation of the younger generation," he said. ''There is no room for apathy and disengagement, and even less for partiality and sectarianism. We must not yield to fear or pessimism. Rather, we must cultivate optimism and hope." The pope then traveled to Marienfeld, a field constructed from an abandoned mine near Cologne, where he rode in his new mother-of-pearl-colored Mercedes popemobile through an exuberant crowd of several hundred thousand teenagers and young adults who planned to spend the night sleeping outdoors in anticipation of hearing Benedict say the concluding Mass of World Youth Day here today. Benedict did not directly criticize Islam in his meeting with Muslim leaders. But he chose the setting to bring up the issue of terrorism, a subject he did not raise in separate meetings with Jewish and Protestant leaders on Friday. Benedict has previously declined to say whether he thinks Islam is a religion of peace, saying last month, ''Certainly it has elements that favor peace, as it has other elements." ''I turn to you, dear Muslim friends, to share my hopes with you and to let you know of my concerns at these particularly difficult times in our history," he said. ''I am certain that I echo your own thoughts when I bring up as one of our concerns the spread of terrorism." The pope referred to terrorism as ''a perverse and cruel decision which shows contempt for the sacred right to life and undermines the very foundations of all civil society. . . . If together we can succeed in eliminating from hearts any trace of rancor, in resisting every form of intolerance and in opposing every manifestation of violence, we will turn back the wave of cruel fanaticism that endangers the lives of so many people and hinders progress toward world peace." Benedict acknowledged that Christians and Muslims have waged wars in the past -- perhaps an allusion to the Crusades. ''The recollection of these sad events should fill us with shame," he said. He added that both sides should learn from history and seek reconciliation, in part by protecting religious freedom -- a concern for Christians in many Muslim countries -- because ''respect for minorities is a clear sign of true civilization." His remarks were made to representatives of the German Muslim community, who are predominantly immigrants from Turkey, but clearly were aimed more broadly at Muslim leaders who would hear about the meeting through the news media. The leader of the Muslim delegation did not address terrorism in his remarks to Benedict, which were released by the World Youth Day press office, but said, ''Today, memories of hostility and war are a source of pain for all of humankind." ''If we can continue to coexist in dialogue, it will send a signal that the theory of a 'clash of cultures' is baseless," said Rdvan Cakir, whose title is president of the Turkish Islamic Union. ''The more religious and cultural communities can learn about one another, the more they will realize that there is no reason for hostility, and indeed many reasons for friendship and cordial coexistence." At Marienfeld, Benedict joined in an evening World Youth Day vigil service, and, while speaking to the pilgrims, again seemed to refer to terrorism, saying, ''There are many who speak of God; some even preach hatred and perpetrate violence in God's name. So it is important to discover the true face of God. " Benedict presided over the vigil from atop a large hill under a spaceship-like structure that was supposed to resemble a cloud, like heaven above an altar. The hillside was decorated with candles. Amid tight security, the pope was so removed from the crowd that most watched him on television screens, hoping they would get an in-person glimpse last night or today when the popemobile rode through the crowd. The pilgrims, who come from 197 countries, walked for several miles from bus drop-off points to the field, where they laid out tarps and cardboard, preparing to spend the night in sleeping bags or under space blankets. Some prayed, others played cards, and many exchanged trinkets with religious or national symbols. ''This is what I've been looking forward to. How can you not have fun with a million different flags around you?" said Erin Shattuck, 16, of Chelmsford. ''It's a huge party -- people are dancing and singing -- and the sky was black an hour ago and now the sun is back." At least 400 young people traveled from the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston to World Youth Day, and in interviews, several cited the opportunity to meet Catholics from around the world as the highlight of their trip, an affirming experience at a time when their own diocese has been struggling after the abuse crisis and parish closings. ''It is comforting at World Youth Day to see that you're not alone," said Julie Morrison, 18, of Wellesley. ''It has been hard these past few years." The Rev. Chris O'Connor, who teaches philosophy at St. John's Seminary in Boston and is helping to lead one of the groups of Boston pilgrims, echoed that point. ''So much of our culture tells us that it's not OK to be Catholic, not OK to have faith, but something like this shows us it's perfectly OK and it's completely normal," he said. ''It's a teachable moment about the universality of the church." The pilgrims have been here for as long as a week, staying in hotels in Cologne, Dusseldorf, and other nearby cities, spending their days traveling to Masses, catechetical sessions, visiting churches, and exchanging greetings and trinkets with other young Catholics from throughout the world. The core of Cologne, around its high Gothic cathedral, has been nearly impassable at times because of the crowds of young people gathered in clusters praying and singing. Late at night, groups packed into beer halls, loudly singing Catholic praise songs while hoisting glasses of the local beer, Kölsch. They frequented American chain restaurants, like McDonald's and Pizza Hut, even a Hard Rock Cafe. Some of the high-end retailers did not fare so well; the Hermes boutique posted a sign saying it was closed until the end of World Youth Day. Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley of Boston said Mass for the group yesterday in St. Andreas Church, an 800-year-old Dominican church that contains the relics of St. Albert the Great. The church was packed with young Bostonians, many in jeans or shorts and T-shirts indicating the names of their parishes, filling the pews and sitting on the floor, swaying, singing, and chanting hymns accompanied by several guitars. Instead of shaking hands as a sign of peace, many hugged one another. As they left, they sang a boisterous version of ''Go Make a Difference in the World." In his homily, O'Malley briefly referred to the Holocaust, decrying ''the hellish tortures and extermination of millions of innocent people in concentration camps." He lamented the amount of division in society and urged the young people to remain united. Noting how many young people today dress similarly regardless of nationality, he said, ''Globalization has brought a certain uniformity, but not unity." ''We enslave people to fashions, fads, and political correctness, and a warped notion of tolerance," O'Malley said. ''Jesus teaches us to hate sin and love the sinner, and our modern culture teaches us to tolerate sin and hate the sinner." O'Malley urged the pilgrims to talk to others about their faith as a method of evangelization, saying, ''Your pilgrimage is not just for yourselves, but it's to help others to find the path that leads to God." Michael Paulson can be reached at mpaulson@globe.com. © Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company. Advertisement SEARCH THE ARCHIVES Advanced search Advertisement	The Catholic World Youth Day 2005 concluded today with a open-air mass by Pope Benedict XVI at the Marienfeld, about 15 km west of Cologne. Speaking to some one million pilgrims from about 200 countries the Pope called for a "return to God" . In his sermon, he condemned the commercialisation of faith and said that "Religion constructed on a 'do-it-yourself' basis cannot ultimately help us". He announced that the next World Youth Day will be held in Sydney and concluded with short addresses in nine languages in which he called upon the faithful to "walk together in unity". A journalist working for the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel described the speech this way: "First faith, then morality". The Pope has been in his native Germany since Thursday. During his visit he met with high ranking politicians, made the first ever visit of a Pope to a German synagogue and spoke to representatives of the Muslim community.
Posted: 7:53 am PDT March 29, 2009 Alaska Airlines has canceled all flights between Seattle and Anchorage, Alaska. Airline spokesman Paul McElroy said that Mount Redoubt erupted again on Saturday afternoon, sending volcanic ash into the air. Some of the ash fell on Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. McElroy told KIRO 7 that the airline canceled flights between Seattle and Anchorage on Saturday evening and continuing on Sunday. Alaska Airlines flights were operating between Seattle and the Alaska cities of Fairbanks and Juneau, McElroy said. There is no estimate on when Anchorage International Airport would open, McElroy said. Copyright 2009 by KIROTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Passengers are urged to check with Alaska Airlines on the status of their flights before going to the airport. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- The Anchorage, Alaska, airport reopened Sunday afternoon after being closed after an eruption of a nearby volcano on Saturday. Ash from Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano has been falling, causing flight cancelations. Ash from Mount Redoubt fell around the city, Alaska's largest, resulting in the closure of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Only a trace amount of the ash reached the airport grounds, airport spokesman Jeremy Lindseth said, but it was enough to affect operations. The airport reopened at about 2 p.m. ( 6 p.m. ET) Sunday, according to the airport's operations office. The eruption occurred at about 1:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. ET) Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey told CNN. The eruption shot ash about 45,000 feet in the air, officials said. The volcano erupted four times on Friday, at times shooting ash 51,000 feet into the air. The eruptions are the latest in a series that began March 22. Don't Miss Alaska volcano erupts 4 times on Friday The Alaska Volcano Observatory has set the alert level at red, its highest possible designation. That indicates an eruption is under way or imminent and the eruption will produce a "significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere." iReport.com: Send photos, videos of the volcanic ash Friday's volcano activity prompted Alaska Airlines to limit flights to and from Anchorage, according to the airline's Web site. The airline canceled all its Thursday flights to and from Anchorage after an eruption earlier in the day sent an ash cloud 65,000 feet high. CNN's Chuck Johnston contributed to this report. All About Alaska \|\|\|\|\| Alaska's Mount Redoubt spews ash 50,000 feet high ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's Mount Redoubt continued to erupt Saturday, sending one ash plume 50,000 feet into the air. The Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage said the volcano had a significant eruption at 1:20 a.m. Saturday and a less powerful eruption at 2 p.m. The ash is expected to move north toward the Alaska Range, missing Anchorage, which is about 100 miles from the volcano. After the first eruption, the observatory detected strong seismic activity lasting 20 minutes or more followed by an hours-long low-level tremor. "The vent has kind of opened up and there are gasses and venting occurring. That is likely producing the tremor," said Chris Waythomas, a geologist at the observatory. "There is likely a lot of water vapor, which turns to ice which gives the plumes this whitish appearance but there is still a lot of ash in there," he said. Alaska Airlines, the state's largest carrier, canceled eight flights early Saturday, but since then operations had been fairly normal, spokesman Paul McElroy said. The airline has canceled more than 150 flights affecting an estimated 10,000 passengers since the volcanic eruptions began last Sunday. Ash can cause engines to stall. Since the series of eruptions began Sunday night, the volcano has had about a dozen bursts. The last time the volcano erupted was during a four-month period in 1989-90. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.	The volcano when it erupted in 1990Mount Redoubt, a volcano in Alaska, erupted on Saturday, sending out clouds of ash thousands of feet high. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was shut down after ash reached the airport. Jeremy Lindseth, a spokesman for the airport, said that only small amount of ash reached the airport, but was significant enough to disrupt operations, as ash can cause engine problems for aircraft. He said that he was uncertain of how many flights were affected due to the eruption. The eruption happened at around 1:30 PM local time, the United States Geological Survey reported. The volcano had erupted four times on Friday, billowing ash up to 51,000 feet up into the air. These are the latest in a series of eruptions from Mount Redoubt, which started on March 22. The volcano had not erupted since a four-month period in 1989-90. The Alaska Volcano Observatory set its alert level at red, the highest possible level, meaning that an eruption is imminent, and that it would send a "significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere."
If you’re the proud owner of a cast-iron pan , then you already know what a good investment it is. Once well-seasoned, it can cook just about anything from pancakes to fried chicken, it can go from stovetop to oven with ease, it’s nearly indestructible, it’s inexpensive and it holds its heat like a dream. But if you’re just using your pan to cook the occasional burger, then you’re missing out; you really can cook pretty much anything in it. \|\|\|\|\| CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A gunman who shot and killed five women in a clothing store at a suburban Chicago strip mall Saturday remains at large, police said. Police investigate the scene of a shooting at the Brookside shopping center in Tinley Park, Illinois. The motive for the shooting at the Lane Bryant store was a robbery that "at some point went rather poorly," said Tinley Park police Sgt. T.J. Grady. All of the victims -- ranging in age from 22 to 37 -- were found in a back room of the store, he said. Their identities were not released. "This is a very serious and sensitive investigation," Tinley Park Police Chief Michael O'Connell said Saturday evening. At least one of the victims was a Lane Bryant employee, O'Connell said. The store did not have a security camera, he added. A 911 call reporting the shooting came in at 10:44 a.m., Grady told reporters. The shopping center was locked down while stores were thoroughly searched. It was reopened after police determined the gunman had left the area. Watch police describe the crime scene » Shoppers described a tense situation after the shooting. "I was so scared I couldn't think," said Selena Kujawa, who was in a Target store across from the Lane Bryant store, according to The Associated Press. She and other customers watched as police checked aisles with weapons drawn, the AP reported. There was a similar scene in a pet supply store nearby. "Six police entered the store with their hands on their gun holsters," Tracy Caccavella told the AP. The gunman was described as an African-American man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 230 and 260 pounds, Grady said. He was wearing a waist-length black winter coat, a black cap and dark jeans. Authorities believe there was only one shooter, Grady said. Helicopters helped in the search for the gunman, who is no longer believed to be in the immediate area, he said. Authorities were downloading surveillance video from businesses within a mile and a half of the Lane Bryant store to see if any cameras captured the gunman. Police appealed to the public for help, urging anyone with information to contact police at 708-444-5368. The Chicago Tribune reported the shopping center is just south of Interstate 80 and contains a Super Target, a Kohl's clothing store and several restaurants. E-mail to a friend Journalist Bill Kirkos contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Five dead in clothing store shooting A gunman has fatally shot five people in an apparent robbery at a store in a suburban Chicago shopping mall and fled, prompting police to sweep through neighbouring shops as terrified customers watched. The victims - all females - were killed at a Lane Bryant clothing store at the Brookside Marketplace. Police found the victims at the back of the store. A police spokesman said robbery was believed to be the motive. Officers searched for the gunman using a helicopter and dogs, and even stopped buses, but concluded that the man had left the area on Interstate 80 south-west of downtown Chicago. In a Target store across the car park from Lane Bryant, terrified customers were herded to the front as police with pistols and rifles drawn went up and down the aisles and into storerooms searching for the gunman. "I was so scared I couldn't think," said Selena Kujawa, who had just entered the store with her five-year-old son when it was locked down. After about an hour, customers were told to leave. "They told us to get in our cars and get out of here," Kujawa said. Meanwhile, the Chicago police department warned its officers to pay attention to similar shopping malls and other Lane Bryant stores. Police are downloading video from CCTV cameras. The Lane Bryant store was open at the time of the shootings. Police declined to say whether the victims were customers or employees. \|\|\|\|\| Obama statement on Tinley Park shootings Chicago, IL - Senator Obama made the following statement today on the shooting in Tinley Park, IL: "I was deeply saddened to learn about the shooting in Tinley Park, and my heart goes out to the victims' families. This kind of violence is unacceptable -- not just in a shopping center where we're supposed to feel safe, but wherever it occurs. And as the facts become clear, I hope the authorities find and prosecute whoever is responsible for this tragedy." More articles Get chicagotribune.com news by e-mail, free. Sign up for Daywatch. Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune	Location of Tinley Park within the Chicago metropolitan area. Five women are reported dead after a shooting at a strip mall in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and police are searching for the perpetrator, who they say fled the scene. According to police, the shooting may have been part of a botched robbery. The shooting took place at a clothing store in , a suburb of Chicago. Tinley Park police Sgt. T.J. Grady says a 911 call reported the shooting at 10:44 a.m. When police arrived, they found all five victims lying in a back room of the store. Other stores in the strip mall, including a , were temporarily locked down as police officers — armed with pistols and rifles — searched for the gunman. "Every store was immediately canvassed and a search by air too has given us every indication that the offender has left the scene," Grady said. Selena Kujawa, who was inside the Target with her 5-year old son when police entered, said, "I was so scared I couldn't think." Grady did not identify the names of the victims, as their families are still in the process of being notified. However, the victims have now been identified as ranging between ages 22 and 37, and at least one is believed to be a store employee. He described the shooter as an man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 230 and 260 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a black coat, a knit cap, and dark jeans. Grady believes the shooter is no longer in the immediate area. Tinley Park police chief Mike O'Connell said that more information would be made available Sunday afternoon, when forensic exams have been completed. "This is a very serious and sensitive investigation," O'Connell said. Illinois senator and Chicago resident Barack Obama released the following statement addressing the shootings: "I was deeply saddened to learn about the shooting in Tinley Park, and my heart goes out to the victims' families. This kind of violence is unacceptable — not just in a shopping center where we're supposed to feel safe, but wherever it occurs. And as the facts become clear, I hope the authorities find and prosecute whoever is responsible for this tragedy."
Officials: US Drone Strike Kills 5 Militants in NW Pakistan Pakistani officials say missiles fired from a U.S. drone aircraft have killed at least five suspected militants in the northwest tribal region near the Afghan border. Authorities say three missiles struck a compound Monday about 25 kilometers east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, a known insurgent stronghold. In recent months, the United States has increased missile attacks by pilot-less drones against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban hide-outs in Pakistan's northwest. Elsewhere in the tribal region, officials said Monday that Taliban militants kidnapped and killed a pro-government tribal elder, Maulana Abdul Haleem, and dumped his body in Bajaur. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| MIRANSHAH, Pakistan Three missiles fired by U.S. drone aircraft struck a militant compound in Pakistan's North Waziristan region near the Afghan border on Monday, killing five militants, intelligence officials said. The strike took place about 24 km (15 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, known as a hotbed of Taliban and al Qaeda militants, they said. "We have got confirmed reports of five dead but the number could be higher," said a Pakistani intelligence official in the region, who declined to be identified. Another official said militants had cordoned off the area. It was the second attack by pilotless U.S. aircraft in the area in the past two days. Seven militants were killed in a similar strike on Saturday. The United States, struggling to stabilize Afghanistan, stepped up its missile strikes in Pakistan's northwest after a Jordanian suicide bomber killed seven CIA employees at a U.S. base across the border in the eastern Afghan province of Khost in December. Most of the attacks this year have been in North Waziristan. U.S. ally Pakistan officially objects to the drone strikes, saying they are a violation of its sovereignty and fuel anti-U.S. feeling, which complicates Pakistan's efforts against militancy. (Reporting by Haji Mujtaba and Alamgir Bitani; Writing by Kamran Haider; Editing by Robert Birsel and Paul Tait)	Pakistani officials have said that missiles fired from a US drone aircraft killed at least five suspected rebels in the northwest part of the country near the Afghan border yesterday. Authorities say three missiles struck a compound about 25 kilometers east of , the main town in . "We have got confirmed reports of five dead but the number could be higher," said an anonymous Pakistani intelligence official, as quoted by Reuters. According to another official, rebels had cordoned off the area. This is the second drone strike made by a US unmanned aerial vehicle in the area within two days; on Saturday, seven people were killed in another such attack.
WASHINGTON Tobacco companies that marketed “light” cigarettes may be sued for fraud, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday in a 5-to-4 decision that will bolster dozens of lawsuits claiming billions of dollars in damages. The case was brought by three smokers from Maine as a proposed class action. They sued Altria and its Philip Morris USA unit, alleging fraud under Maine’s Unfair Trade Practices Act and saying they had been injured by what they called the false statements of the companies. They sought compensation for economic rather than medical harm. They claimed, in other words, that they had overpaid for cigarettes based on deceptive advertisements suggesting that “light” cigarettes were safer than regular ones; they did not seek money for injuries caused by smoking itself. It is undisputed that brands like Marlboro Lights, made by Philip Morris, register lower levels of tar and nicotine than ordinary cigarettes when smoked by machines under a standard method authorized by the Federal Trade Commission. But many smokers compensate by puffing harder, smoking more cigarettes or inhaling deeper. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled that consumers can sue Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA unit under state unfair-trade laws for its advertising of "light" cigarettes, striking a blow against a broad effort by U.S. corporations to limit their exposure to suits filed under state law. The 5-4 ruling rejected Altria's claim that federal cigarette-labeling laws, which bar states from imposing their own health warnings on cigarette packages, pre-empt consumer lawsuits. The suit, filed under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Law, alleges that Altria misled consumers into believing that light cigarettes, which contain less tar than regular varieties, were less dangerous to smoke. The suit says the companies knew smokers typically make up the difference in tar by taking longer or deeper puffs. Similar suits are pending in other states, exposing the tobacco industry to a new avenue of attack by smoking opponents. More broadly, the decision undercuts a legal strategy that the business community has deployed to insulate itself from consumer lawsuits filed in state court. With increasing success, companies have been arguing that federal regulation of their products implicitly barred state action, whether by consumers or state government, to hold them liable for injury. The Bush administration has made a concerted effort across agencies to incorporate pre-emption. Language in nearly 60 regulations since 2006 has protected, among others, auto manufacturers and the railroad industry form suits involving safety issues. New regulations address motorcycle brakes, sun lotion, the crashworthiness of railroad cars and number of seatbelts required in certain automobiles. In June, the Supreme Court in an 8-1 ruling said that a lawsuit filed in a state court alleging a defective catheter was pre-empted by a federal act reserving regulation of medical devices to the Food and Drug Administration. Last month, the court heard arguments that pre-emption should also extend to prescription drugs, which the FDA regulates under a different federal law. Monday's ruling suggests that the pre-emption argument isn't a magic bullet for companies. Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for a five-justice majority that included three other members of the court's liberal wing plus Justice Anthony Kennedy, said Maine's antifraud statute complements federal regulatory goals, rather than interfering with them. He said the Federal Trade Commission "has long depended on cooperative state regulation to achieve its mission because, although one of the smallest administrative agencies, it is charged with policing an enormous amount of activity." Justice Clarence Thomas, in dissent, said the majority's ruling defeats an "express congressional purpose, opening the door to an untold number of deceptive-practices lawsuits across the country." Heavyweights in industry and government filed friend-of-the-court briefs on both sides. More than 45 states, aiming to protect their own jurisdiction, filed suits siding with the consumers. Business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, backed Altria. The FTC, which oversees cigarette advertising, backed some of the consumers' arguments in the Altria case, breaking with the usual Bush administration policy of backing business in pre-emption cases. Robin Conrad, executive vice president of the chamber's litigation arm, said the decision "doesn't provide the kind of predictability that the business community has been looking for." The decision underscored that the court examines each statute individually to determine whether it leaves room for state laws, she said, "and clearly, this is not the end of the pre-emption doctrine." Altria issued a statement saying it was prepared to defend itself against the lawsuit that may now proceed. "We continue to view these cases as manageable, and the company will assert many of the strong defenses used successfully in the past to defend against this very type of case," said Murray Garnick, an Altria associate general counsel. On Monday, the Supreme Court broke along familiar ideological lines. Justice Kennedy, who sometimes splits with his fellow conservatives, joined Justice Stevens's majority opinion, along with Justices David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. For Justice Stevens, the Altria ruling vindicates an opinion he delivered in a cigarette case 16 years ago. In Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Justice Stevens, citing a general presumption against pre-empting state laws unless necessary, upheld portions of a lawsuit filed by the son and husband of a smoker who died of lung cancer. The 1992 court split in several directions over the case, however, and none of the other three justices who provided his plurality remain on the court today. Since then, lower courts have struggled to apply the Cipollone opinion, and tobacco companies hoped the Altria case would bury the Cipollone doctrine. Instead, Justice Stevens at last found a majority for his approach, which distinguishes regulation that specifically targets the health effects of smoking from general laws such as those barring fraud or deceptive advertising. Starting in 1965, Congress has mandated warnings on cigarette packs and advertisements, while barring states from requiring adding warnings on "with respect to any relationship between smoking and health." While the federal act had the dual aim of providing adequate health warnings without impeding "commerce in cigarettes," Justice Stevens wrote that nothing "suggests that Congress meant to proscribe the States' historic regulation of deceptive advertising practices." Matthew L. Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, characterized the decision as a "major victory for consumers and public health." He also said that the ruling "poses a significant legal threat to the tobacco industry and is an important step toward holding cigarette manufacturers accountable for decades of deceptive and harmful marketing" of light cigarettes. Low-tar and ultra-low-tar cigarettes recorded $9.5 billion in sales in 2007, or 12% of total cigarette sales, according to Euromonitor International. In dissent, Justice Thomas argued that Monday's decision departed from the court's recent cases that have displaced state law in favor of federal regulation. He was joined by the court's other conservatives: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito. Justice Thomas wrote that only deceptive advertising lawsuits related to cigarette health claims should be barred. "Thus, if cigarette manufacturers were to falsely advertise their products as 'American-made,' or 'the official cigarette of Major League Baseball,' state-law claims arising from that wrongful behavior would not be preempted." While the Bush administration was generally sympathetic to pre-emption claims, outside of the Altria case, that landscape is likely to change when President-elect Barack Obama takes office next month. Mr. Obama has said regulatory failures contributed to the nation's economic crisis. A Democratic administration is likely to view state action as complementing federal efforts to police markets, enforce environmental laws or promote workplace safety. —Lauren Etter contributed to this article. Write to Jess Bravin at jess.bravin@wsj.com \|\|\|\|\| The Supreme Court revived a lawsuit Monday by four British Muslims who said they were tortured and abused at the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and harassed and humiliated during daily prayers. The former prisoners are attempting to hold top Pentagon officials responsible for the abuse, including former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. The lawsuit was thrown out last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, which concluded that the Guantanamo prisoners had no rights under the Constitution because they were foreigners held by the military. In a one-line order Monday, the justices set aside the appeals court’s decision and ordered the judges to take a new look at the case. Advertisement In June, the Supreme Court rejected the premise that all Guantanamo prisoners had no rights. In a 5-4 ruling, the justices said the Constitution’s protection for the right of habeas corpus extended to all Guantanamo detainees. The decision cleared the way for prisoners to sue for their freedom before a judge. Citing that ruling, lawyers for the former prisoners at the U.S.-run detention center in Cuba appealed to the high court in August. “The torture, abuse and religious humiliation of Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay stands as a shameful episode in our history,” their lawyer, Eric Lewis, wrote in his appeal. The four British men include Shafiq Rasul. He was the lead plaintiff in the 2004 ruling that first granted the right of habeas corpus to prisoners held at Guantanamo. Advertisement Rasul, a native of Tipton, England, traveled to Pakistan in 2001 to study computer science. He and three other men went to Afghanistan a few months later to help with a humanitarian crisis. The men were captured by warlords and turned over to U.S. forces. They spent more than two years at Guantanamo before they were freed and returned to England. In their suit, the men say they were shackled in painful positions, threatened by dogs, subjected to extremes of hot and cold, and harassed during their daily prayers. Their suit named Rumsfeld and top generals who were in charge of Guantanamo. Bush administration lawyers had urged the high court to reject the appeal and dismiss the suit. Advertisement U.S. Solicitor General Gregory G. Garre said the appeals court had correctly concluded “that military detainees could not impose personal monetary liability on the nation’s military commanders for overseas conditions of confinement during a time of war.” The justices rejected that idea Monday. Lewis, the lawyer for the British men, said the court’s action was “a clear signal to the Court of Appeals that its decision . . . was wrong and should be overturned.” -- Advertisement david.savage@latimes.com \|\|\|\|\| Justices hear arguments on whether cigarette makers defrauded smokers with claims about light and low-tar cigarettes. Washington – More than 45 million Americans are smokers, and nearly 85% of them buy “light” cigarettes such as Marlboro Lights, which are advertised as having lower tar and nicotine. The Supreme Court, on the opening day of its term, heard arguments today on whether the tobacco industry can be held liable for allegedly perpetrating a massive fraud on the smoking public. In recent decades, most smokers switched to “light” cigarettes, believing they posed less of a danger to their health. But studies have shown this common-sense view is wrong. Although machine tests showed “light” cigarettes emitted less tar when burned, actual smokers inhale about the same amount of tar when they puff on a “light” cigarette, the studies found. The tobacco industry faces more than 30 class action lawsuits from smokers and ex-smokers who seek billions of dollars in damages and claim they were fooled by the marketing of light and low-tar cigarettes. But the justices sounded receptive to an argument from the cigarette makers that all these suits should be thrown out because they conflict with the federal law that requires warning labels on cigarette packs. That law shielded tobacco firms from any other “requirement respecting the promotion of cigarettes based on smoking and health,” Washington attorney Theodore B. Olson told the court. The former U.S. solicitor general was representing the Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris and the maker of Marlboro Lights. His argument tracked a recent trend in the high court holding that products subjected to federal regulations are shielded from lawsuits filed under state law. In nearly every state, consumers who say they were fooled or cheated by a product maker can sue for damages. In the case before the court, several smokers from Maine sued Altria under the state’s law against “unfair and deceptive” trade practices, and they alleged they were misled by the marketing of “light” cigarettes. Olson said their claim should be tossed out because “Congress wanted one uniform source of regulation of advertising of cigarettes,” not different rules established by states and jury verdicts. But a lawyer for the consumers said Congress did not intend to wipe out suits involving deceptive marketing. Lawmakers who set the warning labels in 1969 had “no intention whatsoever to immunize cigarette makers for false statements” about their products, David C. Frederick, told the justices. At one point, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. suggested the real culprit was the Federal Trade Commission. This agency oversees the warning labels on cigarettes, he noted, and it allowed the cigarette makers to tout the data from the machine tests indicating “light” cigarettes emitted less tar. “If these figures are misleading, then you should have prohibited them a long time ago,” Alito told an FTC lawyer. “You have created this whole problem by, I think, passively approving the placement of these figures in the advertisements [in the packaging]. You have misled everybody who’s bought those cigarettes for a long time,” he said. The FTC lawyer replied that the agency itself had been fooled because tobacco companies had hidden research data indicating that actual smokers did not benefit from switching to light or low-tar cigarettes. Also today, the justices turned down without comment hundreds of appeal petitions which had piled up over the summer. In doing so, they let stand several noteworthy rulings. In Arizona, an anti-abortion group had won a free-speech right to obtain license plates with the message “Choose Life.” The state permits private groups to obtain special plates, so long as they meet several basic criteria, and because the anti-abortion group qualified, its message should not be censored, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said In the Stanton vs. Arizona Life Coalition case. The court also let stand rulings that allow juries in Louisiana and Oregon to convict criminals even when they are not unanimous in their verdicts. In the past, the court said the Constitution does not require unanimous verdicts in all cases. They refused to reconsider that issue in the case of a Louisiana murderer in the Lee vs. Louisiana ruling. *** \|\|\|\|\| Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Vol. 14, 693-698, March 2005 © 2005 American Association for Cancer Research Similar Uptake of Lung Carcinogens by Smokers of Regular, Light, and Ultralight Cigarettes Stephen S. Hecht Sharon E. Murphy Steven G. Carmella Shelby Li Joni Jensen Chap Le Anne M. Joseph Dorothy K. Hatsukami Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center and Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota Requests for reprints: Stephen S. Hecht, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Mayo Mail Code 806, 420 Delaware Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Phone: 612-624-7604; Fax: 612-626-5135. E-mail: hecht002{at}umn.edu Cigarette design has changed markedly over the past 60 years and sales-weighed levels of tar and nicotine have decreased. Currently, cigarettes are classified as regular (>14.5 mg tar), light (>6.5-14.5 mg tar), and ultralight ( 6.5 mg tar), based on a Federal Trade Commissionspecified machine-smoking protocol. Epidemiologic studies suggest that there is no difference in lung cancer risk among people who smoke light or ultralight cigarettes compared with regular cigarettes, but the uptake of lung carcinogens in smokers of these types of cigarettes has never been reported. We recruited 175 smokers, who filled out a tobacco use questionnaire in which their current brand was identified as regular, light, or ultralight. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HOP), total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL plus its glucuronides) and total cotinine (cotinine plus its glucuronides). 1-HOP and total NNAL are biomarkers of uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, lung carcinogens in cigarette smoke. Total cotinine is a biomarker of nicotine uptake. There were no statistically significant differences in urinary levels of 1-HOP, total NNAL, and total cotinine in smokers of regular, light, and ultralight cigarettes, whether the results were expressed per mg urinary creatinine, per mL of urine, or per mg creatinine divided by cigarettes per day. Levels of machine measured tar were available for the cigarettes smoked by 149 of the subjects. There was no correlation between levels of tar and any of the biomarkers. These results indicate that lung carcinogen and nicotine uptake, as measured by urinary 1-HOP, total NNAL, and total cotinine is the same in smokers of regular, light, and ultralight cigarettes. The results are consistent with epidemiologic studies that show no difference in lung cancer risk in smokers of these cigarettes.	The United States Supreme Court on Monday ruled that "tobacco companies that marketed 'light' and 'low tar' cigarettes may be sued for fraud." The 5-to-4 judgment is expected to open the way for dozens of lawsuits claiming billions of dollars in damages. United States Supreme Court building. In the certiorari ruling penned by Justice Stevens, the Court held that a class action brought under state law prohibiting deceptive advertising generally was not preempted by federal law regulating cigarette advertising. The lawsuit claims that tobacco makers who manufacture "light" and "low tar" cigarettes had deceived smokers into thinking the products are safer than regular cigarettes. Former United States Solicitor General Theodore Olson, now working with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, argued the case for the petitioners, Altria Group and Philip Morris USA. Several smokers in recent decades switched to light cigarettes, with fervent faith they posed less of a danger to their health. But scientific or medical researches have shown this common-sense view is wrong. Although mechanical tests showed "light" cigarettes emitted less tar when burned, actual smokers inhale about the same amount of tar when they puff on a light cigarette, the studies found. The cigarette business faces more than 30 class-action lawsuits from smokers and ex-smokers who seek billions of dollars in damages and claim they were deceived by the marketing of light and low-tar cigarettes. Respondents Stephanie Good and 2 others are Maine residents and for over 15 years smoked Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights cigarettes, which are manufactured by petitioners Altria Group and Philip Morris USA. They sought damages compensation for economic rather than medical harm, claiming they had overpaid for cigarettes based on fraudulent advertisements suggesting that light cigarettes were safer than regular ones. The Labeling Act requires tobacco companies to indicate rotating warnings on their packaging and advertising. “No requirement or prohibition 'based on smoking and health' shall be imposed under state law with respect to the advertising or promotion,” the law provides, and only if the labeling requirements on cigarettes are obeyed. Evolution of the "Marlboro Miles" promotion. From left to right: "5 Miles" used through 2003; "FIVE Miles" used ca. 2004-2006; and no Marlboro Miles (after ca. April 2006). In the case, the Court applied the pertinent Federal laws, in question, Title 15 U.S.C. § 1334(b), the "Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act" and Me. Rev. Stat. Ann., Tit. 5, § 207 (Supp. 2008), the "Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act" (MUTPA). It held that "the Labeling Act neither expressly nor impliedly pre-empts respondents’ fraud claim." The landmark decision allows the lawsuit to proceed on the merits upon remand to the trial court below. The ruling strikes a blow against a broad effort by U.S. corporations to limit their exposure to lawsuits filed under federal law. The court also dismissed Philip Morris's argument that the Federal Trade Commission's mid-1960s endorsement of machine testing of cigarette tar and nicotine levels "should relieve the company of liability for alleged fraud." In November, the FTC officially dropped its endorsement of the Cambridge Filter Method, saying it is flawed because "the machine doesn't take into account the way smokers adjust their behavior." The Supreme Court in a June ruling, said 8 to 1 that "a case filed in a state court alleging a defective catheter was pre-empted by a federal statue providing regulation of medical devices to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration." The court also ruled in 1992 in 'Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc.' that "the phrase 'based on smoking and health' in the Labeling Act did not apply to pre-empt suits under state laws based on the 'general duty' not to make fraudulent statements." Justice Clarence Thomas said that "some kinds of fraud claims against cigarette makers may go forward, just not those concerning smoking and health. Thus, if cigarette manufacturers were to falsely advertise their products as ‘American-made’ or ‘the official cigarette of Major League Baseball,’ state-law claims arising from that wrongful behavior would not be pre-empted. Forbidding lawsuits based on health claims, would not mean consumers lack protection, as tobacco marketing is subject to regulatory oversight." Altria's associate general counsel, Murray Garnick, in a statement, said "we continue to view these cases as manageable, and the company will assert many of the strong defenses used successfully in the past to defend against this very type of case."
Satellite Objectives: Feng Yun-3A was launched by a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicle, an optimized version of the CZ-4B Chang Zheng-4B launch vehicle - using an upper stage with restart capability, and a new interstage adapter between the first and second stages. The satellite was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology (SAST) and is a three-axis stabilized vehicle measuring 4.4 x 2 x 2 meters, with a launch mass of 2200 kg. With a operational life of three years, Feng Yun-3A is equipped with a solar panel mounted on one side of the satellite main body, making for a total length of approximately 10 meters in orbit. 'The main objectives of the Feng Yun-3A are to provide global sounding of three dimensional thermal and moisture structures of the atmosphere, cloud and precipitation parameters to support global and regional numerical weather prediction,' noted to Wenjian Zhang, of the National Satellite Meteorological Center. 'It will provide global imaging to support short range weather forecasting and real time monitoring of meteorological and hydrological disasters and surface environment anomaly; to provide necessary data for deriving important geophysical parameters to support researchers on global change and climate change; and to collect and relay important meteorological data.' Satellite Instrumentation: To achieve it's mission, Feng Yun-3A is carrying a variety of scientific instruments, including the Visible and InfraRed Radiometer (VIRR) - a 10 channel radiometer that will make operational observations. Also included on the bird is the Moderate Resolution Visible and Infrared Imager (MODI) - which will image the Earth in high resolution and near true colour imagery during the day, and high resolution thermal Infra Red image during the night. Other instruments include: The Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI) - which will measure thermal microwave emissions from land and ocean surfaces, along with the ability to take measurements of various forms of waters in the atmosphere, clouds and surfaces using six frequency points with dual polarizations. The Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (IRAS) will be used to measure aerosols, stratospheric temperatures, carbon dioxide contents and cirrus. The Microwave atmospheric Temperature Sounder (MWTS) is capable of 'temperature sounding' in cloudy regions, along with the Microwave atmospheric Humidity Sounder (MWHS) - which will be utilized for humidity sounding in cloudy regions. The Total Ozone Mapper and Ozone Profiler (TOM/OP), which is based on two instruments that will study the ozone in the Earths atmosphere, along with the Earth Radiation Budget Unit (ERBU) - which is similar to the ERBE used on NOAA satellites, and includes a separate solar constant monitoring instrument. The Space Environment Monitoring Unit (SEMU) will be used for space environment monitoring, with improved accuracy and measuring capacity for high-energy particles. The data will be transmitted to Earth using two X-band transmitters and an L-band transmitter. The Feng Yun-3A is the first R&D satellite with Feng Yun-3B expected to join it 2009/2010. The operational Feng Yun-3 system will be eventually composed of six satellites. Chinese Outlook: Today's launch is the is the second for China in 2008 - a year that should see the launch of the Shenzhou-7, crewed by three Yuangyuans. One of the crewmembers will carry out the first extravehicular activity (EVA) of the ambitious Chinese space program. Launch of Shenzhou-7 is scheduled to take place between the 12th and 14th of October. The next Chinese launch will likely take place on June 6, when a CZ-3B Chang Zheng-3B rocket will orbit the ZX-9 ZhongXing-9 (ChinaSat-9) telecommunications satellite, from the Xixhang Satellite Launch Center. \|\|\|\|\| Special report: 2008 Olympic Games A second Olympic weather forecasting satellite, the Fengyun-3 (FY-3), is launched on a Long March-4C carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province, May 27, 2008. The 2,295-kilogram satellite will provide accurate and timely information about weather changes to facilitate more precise weather forecasts during the Beijing Olympic Games. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> TAIYUAN, May 27 (Xinhua) -- China launched a second Olympic weather forecasting satellite, the Fengyun-3 (FY-3), Tuesday morning. The satellite was launched on a Long March-4C carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province at 11:02 a.m. (Beijing Time). It entered the preset orbit 27 minutes later. Gao Huoshan, general director of the FY-3 research team, said the satellite would send back images with the highest spatial resolution of 250 meters and its temperature sensitivity would reach 0.1 degree Fahrenheit. Both indices were close to the most advanced level of similar satellites in the world. The highest spatial resolution of existing satellites in China had been 1.1 kilometers, according to Gao. "The 250-m resolution images will be of vital significance for censoring global climate changes and possible subsequent natural disasters," said Gao. A second Olympic weather forecasting satellite, the Fengyun-3 (FY-3), is launched on a Long March-4C carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province, May 27, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> It would also contribute to key geographical data for the research on aviation, navigation, agriculture, forestry and oceanography, he added. The satellite was equipped with a dozen of advanced detectors such as the infrared scan actinograph and the microwave formatter. It is able to carry out a three-dimensional, all-weather, multi-spectrum quantitative detection to acquire data from the ground surface, the ocean and the space, according to sources with the China National Space Administration. Experts said the data collected by the satellite would not only facilitate weather forecast in China but also in other countries. China Meteorological Administration (CMA), in cooperation with Swedish meteorological authorities, had established a data collection terminal at the north pole to transmit data collected by the FY-3, according to an official with the National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC), which is affiliated with the CMA. The World Meteorological Organization had said it would use data offered by China's FY-3, Europe's METOP and U.S. NPOESS to detect changes of the atmosphere, the ocean and the ground surface, said the official. The 2,295-kilogram satellite will provide accurate and timely information about weather changes to facilitate more precise weather forecasts during the Beijing Olympic Games, said a CMA official earlier. The CMA official said the new satellite, with a bigger payload, would provide medium-range weather forecasts up to 10 to 15 days. Zheng Guoguang, director of the CMA, said the FY-3 would work with the existing FY-2 to ensure timely weather forecast during the Olympics. Both the satellite and the rocket are developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology affiliated to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The launch was the 106th mission of China's Long March series of rockets since April 24, 1970, when a Long March-1 rocket successfully sent China's first satellite Dongfanghong-1 into the space. China has launched eight meteorological satellites since research started in the 1970s. Its first Olympic weather forecasting satellite, the FY-2D, was launched towards the end of 2006. The CMA has identified weather forecast services for the Olympic Games as "a priority" for this year as the country may face much more frequent adverse weather. It has announced earlier that China will launch another 22 meteorological satellites by 2020, including four more from the Fengyun-2 series, 12 from the Fengyun-3 series and six from Fengyun-4 series. [1] [2] [3] [4]	A Long March 4C rocket The Chinese National Space Administration has launched a Long March 4C carrier rocket, carrying the Fengyun-3A (FY-3A) weather satellite. FY-3A is the first of thirteen Fengyun-3 satellites, which will be launched in the next twelve years. The launch occurred from Launch Area 1 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province, China. Lift-off was at 03:02 GMT this morning, and the ascent to orbit took around 27 minutes, resulting in the successful deployment of the satellite. Fengyun-3A will provide weather forecasts for the upcoming Olympic Games. It will also be used for general forecasting, both for China and the rest of the world. It will be able to make forecasts around a fortnight in advance. With a 250 metre resolution, it is the most advanced Chinese weather satellite yet launched. This is the 26th orbital launch of 2008, the 106th launch of a Long March rocket, and the 3rd launch of the Long March 4C, which first flew in 2006. The next scheduled Chinese launch is believed to be a Long March 3B from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, with the Chinasat 9 satellite. This will occur in early June.
Sicily storms kill 17, sniffer dogs search rubble MESSINA, Italy — Rescue workers and sniffer dogs on Friday searched for survivors in the rubble of two buildings that collapsed in torrential rains in Sicily, where at least 17 people died and 35 were missing. Ten were seriously injured and some 415 people were homeless after up to 250 millimetres (10 inches) of rain fell in the space of a few hours on Thursday, emergency services spokesman Giampiero Gliubizzi told AFP. Two buildings collapsed in a mudslide, causing many casualties, he said, adding that sniffer dogs were searching for victims in the rubble. Messina city officials said they feared a heavier toll as some parts of the southern island remained inaccessible. Some 60 people were ferried to area hospitals aboard dinghies because the roads were impassable, while those with serious injuries were evacuated by helicopter. "Most of the dead and seriously injured were in two buildings that collapsed in mudslides," Gliubizzi said, adding that several hundred people suffered some form of injury. The toll "is sure to rise," Sicily's regional presidency said in a statement, adding that the damage was "incalculable" and calling on Rome to take "preventive measures so that such disasters do not recur." Mudslides included one that stretched over 3.5 kilometres (two miles), cutting off communications and sweeping away dozens of cars between Messina and several coastal towns south of the city in the northeast of the island. The government has declared a state of emergency in the region. "We are working to make sure we get to all the villages including the ones that are cut off," said Guido Bertolaso, the head of Italy's civil protection service, in televised remarks. He said rescue workers responded quickly to the disaster, deploying the first dinghy at around 2:00 am Friday. Witnesses said that in some towns such as Molino, south of Messina, the mud was up to seven metres (23 feet) deep. "Two floors of my building collapsed and completely disappeared," said a shocked survivor who lived on the third floor. "Everything happened very quickly," he told the ANSA news agency. Said another survivor: "I didn't understand what was happening. I was at home and everything started moving. Then I found myself surrounded by rubble." Bertolaso arrived earlier Friday in the mainland city of Reggio Calabria which is separated from Messina by a narrow strait. The Sicilian capital Palermo in the northwest was also affected, with motorists stranded in their cars and a hospital's emergency services flooded. The road south to Catania was cleared in both directions by the end of the morning. Several local officials said the disaster was predictable, citing inadequate storm drainage systems. Bertolaso himself joined in the criticism. "Obviously the emergency services cannot resolve the problems of hydro-geological imbalance created by illegal constructions," he said. "The area is already very fragile, and we have seen total negligence, especially with the lack of drainage," said Gian Vito Graziano, president of the regional association of geologists. Environmentalist Giulia Maria Mozzoni Crespi said, for her part: "The tragedy of Messina? Everything is down to negligence and a lack of concern for the environment." Sicilian politicians "don't think about the landscape because they want to help their friends who want to build," said Mozzoni Crespi, head of the Italian Fund for the Environment. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| A car is partially submerged in mud following the heavy rain in Messina At least five people have died and more are missing after heavy rain triggered mudslides in the Italian city of Messina in southern Sicily. The violent mudslides and flooding destroyed several buildings, swept away cars and blocked road and rail links. Italian authorities are afraid the number of casualties could rise, the AP news agency reported. Rescue dogs were being used in the search for survivors, Messina Mayor Giuseppe Buzzanca told Italy's Sky TV. He added that the rescue efforts were being hampered because some areas were only reachable by foot. More than 100 people left their homes when the mudslides struck, officials said. At least a dozen people are believed to have been taken to hospital following the overnight storm.	At least thirteen people have been killed after torrential rains caused mudslides in Italy on Friday. City of MessinaThe mudslides occurred in the city of Messina, located in the northern part of Sicily. The mud blocked rails and road, cut off communications, and destroyed several buildings. Search and rescue teams were using dogs to locate survivors buried beneath the rubble. Around forty people were hospitalised. "Most of the dead and seriously injured were in two buildings that collapsed in mudslides," emergency services spokesman Giampiero Gliubizzi told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Over one hundred people were forced to evacuate when mudslides threatened their homes, officials said. Some escaped onto roofs, where they were airlifted by helicopters. "I didn't understand what was happening. I was at home and everything started moving. Then I found myself surrounded by rubble," said a survivor. Witness reports suggest the depth of the mud reached seven metres (23 feet) in some areas.
SIA, SilkAir not affected by US directive for checks on all Boeing 737s Related News US orders emergency checks of Boeing 737s after Japan accident SINGAPORE: Owners of Boeing 737s worldwide have received an emergency directive to inspect key wing hardware by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The move came after an explosion on a China Airlines plane in Japan about a week ago. In that incident, all 165 passengers and crew escaped to safety, sliding down emergency chutes just before the Boeing 737-800 exploded into flames. Owners and operators of the six series of the plane have been given 24 days to inspect the wing slat assemblies of the aircraft. This is due to suspicions that a bolt on the China Airlines passenger jet came loose and ruptured a fuel tank, starting the fire. More than 2,000 planes currently in service around the world are expected to be affected. In Singapore, both Singapore Airlines and SilkAir are unaffected as they have no B737s in their fleets. - CNA/so \|\|\|\|\| Federal regulators ordered airlines to inspect the wings of more than 700 Boeing jets in response to a fire that destroyed a plane after it landed in Japan last week, officials said yesterday. The inspections will affect more than 780 next-generation Boeing 737s operated by U.S. carriers, including AirTran and American, Southwest and Continental airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration order focuses on the planes' slats, which are attached to the front edge of both wings and are deployed during takeoffs and landings to increase lift. The order was prompted by an accident involving a China Airlines 737, which erupted in a fireball after landing on the Japanese island of Okinawa on Aug. 20, FAA officials said. All 165 people on board escaped uninjured. The fire started after a loose bolt pierced the right wing's fuel tank, causing fuel to spill and ignite, investigators in Japan have said. Investigators believe the bolt came loose because a worker did not re-install a washer on the slat's "downstop assembly" during a maintenance check that took place in the last few months, according to sources familiar with the probe. Without the small washer, the assembly's bolt came loose and punctured the fuel tank, apparently when the slats were being retracted after the plane landed, the sources said. China Airlines representatives could not be reached for comment. The FAA's directive, issued Saturday, did not mention the China Airlines accident by name but explained its circumstances in detail. FAA officials confirmed the directive was referring to the incident. The order also described a second incident in which a loose nut pierced a wing tank, causing fuel to leak. That did not lead to a fire, and the order did not name the carrier. The directive requires airlines and other operators to inspect the slats within the next three weeks. Carriers are required to repeat the inspections every 3,000 landings. Jim Proulx, a Boeing spokesman, said the company was working with carriers and regulators to help airlines comply with the inspection regimen. "This was determined to be an issue of flight safety," Proulx said. "It's very, very important." Proulx said Boeing had received four reports in the past about loose nuts in slats. The airplane maker has issued several bulletins since December 2005 urging airlines to ensure the nuts on the downstop assemblies are properly installed and tightened. The most recent bulletin was sent last month, Proulx said. Outside experts said the FAA and Boeing need to ensure that the inspections are done properly and that design flaws are quickly corrected because so many next-generation 737s are in service. Bernard Loeb, a former top investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, said the fire highlighted what investigators often learn after crashes: that parts that had seemed innocuous during the design and construction of an aircraft "can sometimes have catastrophic results." "That is why we need to know more than just what happened, but why it happened," Loeb said.	The burnt-out wreckage of the aircraft. The United States Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive to all owners and operators of certain Next Generation Boeing 737s to inspect their aircraft in light of recent developments in the investigation of the recent China Airlines explosion. An example of a Boeing 737 in commercial operation The measures have been imposed due to the discovery that a structural bolt in the aircraft that exploded had come loose and punched a hole in the aircraft's right wing fuel tank. It is thought the bolt came loose after a worker failed to replace a washer after a routine maintenance procedure several months prior to the accident. Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx said "This was determined to be an issue of flight safety... It's very, very important." Operators must complete an initial inspection of the wing slat assemblies of the affected aircraft in ten days, and must ensure the fasteners are properly torqued within 24 days. They must then repeat the inspections every 3,000 flight cycles thereafter. The directive is believed to affect over 2,000 aircraft worldwide.
Aug 19, 2007 1:02 am US/Eastern (CBS) CASTRIES, St. Lucia Alarmed tourists jammed Caribbean airports for flights out of Hurricane Dean's path Saturday as the monster storm began sweeping past the Dominican Republic and Haiti and threatened to engulf Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. In Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, a boy was pulled into the ocean and drowned while watching waves kicked up by the Category 4 storm strike an oceanfront boulevard, the emergency operations center reported. The rough waves also destroyed five houses and damaged 15 others along the Dominican coast, emergency officials said. In Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, which stand directly in Dean's path, fear gripped many islanders and tourists alike. The eye of the storm will arrive in Jamaica sometime Sunday afternoon, Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel told CBS Evening News Saturday anchor Thalia Assuras. “It’s going to go right across Jamaica, it could be devastating,” he said, adding that Hurricane Dean would be the first direct hit Jamaica has had in nearly 10 years. Jamaica’s government began evacuating people to more than 1,000 shelters nationwide. People jammed supermarkets and hardware stores in the capital of Kingston to stock up on canned food, bottled water, flashlights, batteries, lamps and plywood, while shop owners hammered wood over windows at malls in the city. Resident Elaine Russell said she was getting ready for the storm remembering Hurricane Ivan's destruction in 2004. “I can't take it,” she said. “The storm is bad enough but it's what happens afterward — there's no light, no water.” Before dawn, tourists began lining up outside the Montego Bay airport in western Jamaica to book flights out. The storm was expected to bring 155 mph winds and as much as 20 inches of rain. Shante Morgan of Moorpark, Calif., said a lack of information about the severity of the storm was fueling the fear. “People are freaking out because they're not getting answers at their hotel,” said Morgan, 38, who got a Saturday flight after waiting several hours. “They're really playing down the potential influence of the hurricane.” Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller called for a halt to campaigning for the Aug. 27 general elections, saying: “Let us band together and unite in the threat of this hurricane.” Further west in the low-lying Cayman Islands, lines of tourists snaked out of the international airport terminal and onto the lawn outside. Many tourists flopped under a tree to get out of the sun, surrounded by their luggage. Cayman Airways added 15 flights to Florida from the wealthy British territory, and they were quickly sold out. The islands were expected to take a direct hit on Monday. The scene was much calmer in the Dominican Republic. Residents ran errands at stores with fully stocked shelves, despite government advisories about heavy rains and possible flooding. “Nothing's going to happen here — a lot of water but nothing else,” said Pedro Alvajar, 61, as he sat in a doorway selling lottery tickets. The outer bands of the storm were expected to bring as much as 6 inches of rain to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola. In Haiti, the government issued radio alerts for people in the mountains and coastal areas. In 2004, Tropical Storm Jeanne brushed the impoverished and heavily deforested country, triggering massive floods that killed 1,900 people and left 900 others missing. Dean, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, gained strength over warm Caribbean waters after claiming six lives and devastating banana and sugar crops when it hit tiny islands in the eastern Caribbean on Friday as a Category 2 storm. As of 5 p.m. Saturday, Dean was centered about 165 miles south of Santo Domingo and 450 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. It was moving west at 18 mph and had maximum sustained winds near 150 mph. The storm was expected to clip Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and enter the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Authorities on Mexico's Caribbean coast began evacuating tourists and residents from low-lying Holbox island north of Cancun on Saturday. A total of 2,200 people, including some 250 Mexican and foreign tourists, were ordered to leave, state officials said. Forecasters said it was too soon to say whether the hurricane would strike the United States. Worried the storm could disrupt operations at Mission Control in Houston, however, NASA shortened the last spacewalk for astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour and ordered the spacecraft to return to Earth a day early on Tuesday. President Bush, meanwhile, signed a pre-landfall emergency disaster declaration for Texas, allowing the federal government to immediately send people, equipment and supplies to the state if Dean makes landfall there. In Cuba, which could get rain from the outer bands of the storm, the government issued a tropical storm warning and said it was evacuating 50,000 people from three provinces. Dean passed near the islands of St. Lucia and Martinique early Friday as a Category 2 storm with winds near 100 mph. In St. Lucia, fierce winds tore corrugated metal roofs from dozens of homes and the pediatric ward of a hospital, whose patients had been evacuated hours earlier. Police spokeswoman Tamara Charles said a 62-year-old man drowned when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river. In Dominica, a woman and her 7-year-old son were killed when a rain-soaked hillside gave way and crushed the home where they were sleeping, said Cecil Shillingford, the national disaster response coordinator. Dominica's government reported at least 150 homes were damaged. Authorities said two people died on the French island of Martinique, including a woman who apparently fell and drowned. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Hurricane Dean intensified Saturday as it muscled across the Caribbean and headed toward a dangerous rendezvous Sunday with Jamaica. Satellite image shows Hurricane Dean's position at 9:15 a.m. ET Saturday. more photos » The Jamaican government issued a hurricane warning late Saturday morning, meaning a hurricane is expected within 24 hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters fear Dean will be a destructive Category 5 monster packing 155 mph winds by the time it reaches Jamaica. Even worse could be yet to come. By Monday, as Dean nears Cancun and other tourist areas along Mexico's eastern Yucatan coast, its sustained winds could be 160 mph, with gusts approaching 200 mph -- wreaking new havoc on an area heavily damaged just two years ago by Hurricane Wilma. At 11 a.m. ET Saturday, Dean was in open water south of Puerto Rico, 565 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 210 miles south-southeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm's maximum sustained winds neared 150 mph with higher gusts, putting it at Category 4 intensity. It was moving north-northwest at about 17 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend 60 miles from the center of the storm, the hurricane center said. Watch CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider with latest on Hurricane Dean » The storm could force NASA to cut short the space shuttle Endeavour's flight if Dean heads toward Mission Control in Houston, Reuters reported. NASA shortened Saturday's spacewalk and prepared for a possible Tuesday landing -- one day earlier than scheduled. Bringing Endeavour back early would allow NASA to complete the flight before Mission Control would have to be evacuated, Reuters reported. "We'd really like to protect an option to be able to end the mission on Tuesday," mission management team chairman Leroy Cain said, according to Reuters. Jamaicans were rushing to supermarkets to stock up on groceries, batteries and nonperishable food, said Jamaican reporter Kirk Abraham. "There are long lines," he said. "Several persons are also at the gas station trying to get petrol, kerosene and all of that. People are taking it seriously." The two main airlines in Jamaica -- Air Jamaica and American Airlines -- have added flights and are taking on additional passengers to accommodate those who want to leave, said Lincoln Robinson, spokesman for Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. The Associated Press reported several deaths and significant damage on the islands of St. Lucia, Dominica and Martinique. Dean is forecast to reach Category 5 strength -- the highest rating on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity -- later in the day Saturday, with winds of at least 151 mph, according to the NHC. With long-range computer models showing Dean turning north after striking Mexico, officials in Texas and Louisiana launched preparations for a possible midweek landfall. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency Friday and activated the state's emergency response center. Texas Gov. Rick Perry called Dean an imminent threat and took steps to deploy emergency responders to the coast. "It is imperative that Texans living along the coast pay close attention to threatening weather conditions and heed the warnings of their local leaders," Perry said. Southern Texas was still dealing with flooding caused by Tropical Depression Erin, which dumped heavy rain on the region late in the week. The storm has left six people dead and one missing, according to The Associated Press. See dramatic images as Erin soaks Texas » Blanco, whose state was devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, urged Louisianans to "be prepared for the worst and hope for the best." Besides Jamaica, hurricane warnings were in effect for the southern Dominican Republic and southern Haiti. The Cayman Islands, west of Jamaica, were under a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions were expected within 36 hours. The northern parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti were under a tropical storm warning, and parts of Cuba were under a tropical storm watch. A tropical storm watch for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico was dropped. The hurricane center forecast rainfall of up to 6 inches in Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which could trigger flash floods. Jamaica could receive 5 to 10 inches of rain, it said. Emergency services were gearing up in Jamaica and in the Cayman Islands, which were devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. "I implore every resident to prepare for the hurricane," Kurt Tibbetts, head of the local government in the British overseas territory, said Friday. "Take no chances. Don't second guess." The long-range forecast shows Dean making landfall in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, near Cancun, on Monday, before emerging back into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. See Hurricane Dean's projected route » The storm is expected to weaken over land, but forecasters predicted it would remain at least a Category 3 storm, with winds of at least 111 mph, once it gets loose again in the Gulf. The forecast path has the storm making landfall again late Wednesday near the Texas-Mexico border. But because of the unpredictable movements of hurricanes, forecasters cautioned that the storm could strike anywhere in the western Gulf. E-mail to a friend Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. All About Hurricane Dean • National Hurricane Center \|\|\|\|\| View images of severe weather around the world in the first half of 2007. Hot destinations, helpful hints to help you enjoy the season Click to see the weather outlook for your city Aug. 17: With Hurricane Dean churning across the Atlantic, just how prepared is the city of New Orleans? WDSU's Travers Mackel reports. CASTRIES, St. Lucia - Hurricane Dean was expected to strengthen into an extremely powerful Category 5 storm as it passed Jamaica and neared Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Friday. Category 5 hurricanes are the strongest and potentially most destructive tropical storms on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity with top sustained winds in excess of 155 miles per hour. Dean, the Atlantic season's first hurricane, built to a powerful Category 4 storm Friday night after crossing over the warm waters of the Caribbean. Forecasters warned winds could surpass 150 mph before steering next week into the Gulf of Mexico, with its 4,000 oil and gas platforms. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Dean could threaten the United States by Wednesday, forecasters said, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry's office suggested people get ready. On tiny St. Lucia, fierce winds tore corrugated metal roofs from dozens of houses and a hospital's pediatric ward, whose patients had been evacuated hours earlier. Police said a 62-year-old man drowned when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river. Interactive Follow the progress of past and present hurricanes The government on Dominica reported that a woman and her 7-year-old son died when a hillside soaked by Dean's rains gave way and crushed the house where they were sleeping. French authorities on the nearby island of Martinique said a 90-year-old man had died of a heart attack during the storm but it was unclear whether it was a factor. Dean was forecast to brush the southern coast of Haiti late Saturday, then hit Jamaica on Sunday before clipping Yucatan two days later. In Washington, the State Department said it would allow some U.S. diplomats in Jamaica to leave the island to avoid the storm. Jamaican officials said Kingston's national arena will serve as one of several shelters, and they drafted a plan to move inmates at two maximum security prisons if needed. Evacuation plans, especially for the flood-prone eastern region, were finalized, said Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. About a dozen cruise ships were altering their itineraries to avoid the hurricane and its aftermath, according to cruisecritic.com, a Web site devoted to cruise travel information. On Yucatan, Mexican authorities broadcast radio alerts, including in the Yucatec Maya language, warning people to "be prepared." Some people boarded up windows and stocked up on supplies, while officials prepared some 570 schools, gymnasiums and public buildings as shelters. People on Martinique, St. Lucia and Dominica mostly stayed indoors Friday while the hurricane swept the islands with heavy rain and wind. People who ventured out said the islands seemed to have escaped serious damage. "I did not sleep at all last night and was a little worried that the roof of my house would be blown off with all that wind. Thank God it did not," Gwenie Moses said Friday as she checked her small tin-roofed house in Dominica's capital, Roseau. On St. Lucia, the storm washed boulders from the sea onto downtown streets and knocked down trees. The power company shut off electricity across the island to prevent people from being electrocuted by wires broken by falling trees and power poles. Dominica, which lies north of Martinique, had minor flooding, a few downed fences and trees and battered banana crops, one of the island's main exports.	Hurricane Dean forecast update at 8 a.m. (EDT) update on August 18, 2007, courtesy of NOAA. The in Miami is calling Hurricane Dean "extremely dangerous," saying that the storm is gaining strength and will likely become a storm. The storm's winds are currently clocked at 150 mph, classifying it as a . A Category 5 hurricane means the storm has winds of over 155 mph and has the potential to cause "catastrophic" damage. Dean is currently moving through the eastern Caribbean, and is heading towards the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm is expected to hit Jamaica on Sunday, and then gain even more power as it strikes Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Monday. Dean could hit the mainland of the United States on Wednesday. Therefore, officials in Texas and Louisiana are currently making major preparations. , the Governor of Texas, said the hurricane is an "imminent threat," saying the state is preparing for its arrival. Task forces have been put on alert, and supply trucks and other resources are in position. Governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency yesterday so local governments can move forward with emergency plans if necessary. However, forecasters say there is little chance of Dean moving toward Louisiana. Instead, the storm is expected to threaten Mexico or Texas. A has been issued for Haiti from the Haiti/Dominican Republic border to . has opened all shelters and has declared a "state of alert" in preparation for the storm. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the U.S. and and Puerto Rico. At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Dean was about 240 miles south-southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 660 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving west at 14 mph. However, the storm is expected to pick up speed today. Hurricane Dean could force NASA to cut short 's flight. Mission management team chairman Leroy Cain said, "We'd really like to protect an option to be able to end the mission on Tuesday." The ''Associated Press'' reports several deaths and significant damage on the islands of St. Lucia, and Martinique.
Industries Sprint Tunes in Rhapsody It’s no ROKR, but Sprint ups the ante by unveiling live music on its cellular network. The marriage between music and mobile phones entered the honeymoon phase on Monday with the announcement that Sprint Nextel and RealNetworks will offer live radio feeds to Sprint mobile service subscribers. Rhapsody Radio, a unit of RealNetworks, will offer Sprint customers their choice of 100 commercial-free streaming radio stations, including “Urban Hitz Radio,” streaming podcasts from KCRW, Santa Monica 89.9 FM, and National Public Radio’s Southern California station. Customers who buy Rhapsody Radio on the Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services will get some fraction of that library of streaming content for $6.95 per month for unlimited access. Sprint customers also pay separately for wireless network access. The move comes on the heels of the announcement from Motorola and Apple of the ROKR mobile phone, which doubles as a digital music player. The ROKR is available exclusively from Cingular, the largest mobile carrier in the United States (see iTunes Phone, New iPod Debut). ‘I think this signals a move away from special-purpose embedded operating systems that were used in mobile phones.’ -Tom Nolle, CIMI Mobile phones that also act as music players are an increasing trend, according to one analyst. “It’s not logical to assume that the consumer is going to carry around multiple digital devices,” said Tom Nolle, president of CIMI, a technology assessment firm based in Voorhees , New Jersey . “I think Apple understands this, and that is why we have the ROKR. Ultimately competition from mobile phones may be more of a risk to the iPod than competition from other MP3 players.” Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services is available nationwide to customers with a Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone. The Rhapsody Radio service can be purchased through the phone. Rhapsody Radio is the latest of four streaming music channels available to Sprint customers. “The addition of Rhapsody Radio gives customers a popular catalog of commercial-free streaming music, music news, and independent music videos which will allow Sprint customers a new way to discover artists,” said Jeff Hallock, vice president of consumer product marketing and strategy for Sprint. Sprint’s PDA Phone Sprint Nextel, the third-largest mobile carrier in the U.S. after Cingular and Verizon Wireless, has been on a tear lately. Last Friday the Overland Park, Kansas-based company launched the Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6700, a combination of a Pocket PC PDA with a phone equipped with Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software. “I think this signals a move away from special-purpose embedded operating systems that were used in mobile phones,” said Mr. Nolle. “You will see more general purpose operating systems like Windows Mobile and Linux because they can run more applications.” The PPC-6700 will be available this week for a suggested retail price of $629.99 before discounts and promotions. The Windows-based software may provide an advantage over proprietary operating systems. “If you are marketing a device that can do more and more things, then you want an operating system that can pull those applications off the shelf rather than wait for a developer to write an application for a specialized operating system,” said Mr. Nolle. Shares of Sprint Nextel were down $0.53 to $24.85 in recent trading, while shares of RealNetworks were up $0.22 to $5.81. \|\|\|\|\| After the splashy launch of the Apple iTunes mobile phone earlier this month, Sprint is firing back with two music announcements, one of them being rolled out today by Seattle-based RealNetworks. The two announcements up the ante in mobile music by getting closer to the ultimate goal — downloading music directly to the phone over the cellular network. The new Sprint services allow some subscribers to stream live music to the phone in a radio-type format without having to buy a new phone or have lots of storage. That differs from the iTunes phone, launched by Cingular Wireless, which requires users to purchase the Motorola Rokr phone and load music from a computer via a cable. The phone is also limited to 100 tracks. "The great thing about streaming is that there's no memory requirement," said Kevin Nakao, RealNetworks' general manager of mobile services. "There's not a lot of handsets with memory out there. This is an easy and convenient way for customers to get and hear the music." The service, Rhapsody Radio, is based on a similar service RealNetworks has for PCs that offers a selection of music channels and music downloads, along with artist information. The mobile service is a simplified version and provides access to five music channels, podcasts, music news and videos. It also has a service created strictly for the mobile phone called "Beats N Breaks," which turns a mobile phone into a boombox and allows users to rap in karaoke-type fashion. In addition, Sprint last week launched Sirius Satellite Radio programming on mobile phones, a stripped-down version of the service offered in the car or at home. Both Sprint services are available on seven phones capable of using the Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Service. The models are the Sanyo MM-7400, MM-5600 and MM-8300; the Samsung IP-A790, MM-A800 and MM-A880; and the LG MM-535. Although neither streaming service is a new concept in the wireless industry, music services on mobile phones have gotten renewed attention in the past few weeks as carriers roll out more data applications, thinking that consumers are growing more savvy about using phones to do more than make calls. "The iTunes announcement was a big wake-up call for the industry," said Roger Entner, vice president of wireless telecom research at Ovum. "A few other people have come up with the same idea; it's the first wave of it." Entner thinks streaming radio will be more popular, with users able to listen on their current phones while waiting to upgrade with more memory later for music downloads. "If you do downloads, you need a sizable memory card on the handset," Entner said. "If you have an older handset, this [radio] service is immediately available to anybody." Nakao pointed to Beats N Breaks as one of the more attractive parts of the service because it doesn't duplicate something found on the PC service. In a video RealNetworks shot of a focus group, four young men use the phone as if it were a mic and pass it around a table. When one picks it up, he's expected to come up with lyrics on the fly. Nakao said he never expected the phone to be used like that, especially when the group started using it in a spin-the-bottle-type fashion to decide who would rap next. "There's a whole new series of things we've never thought of before," he said. "A lot of people didn't think ringtones were going to be successful, but they are a way of expressing who they are." Sprint spokeswoman Jackie Bostick said the Rhapsody and Sirius services were added to two other streaming-music options: MusicChoice and Mspot. She declined to release subscriber rates, but said Sprint chose to add more offerings because of the success of the older features. "Music is by far consistently one of the top channels," Bostick said. "We've seen demand and interest continue in that space." In addition to offering music channels, Bostick said Sprint has personalization services such as ringtones or music-video downloads. It also has a music player in which songs can be transferred from the computer. Next up, Bostick said, is the launch of an over-the-air music service by the end of the year. Separately, Sprint has also launched the Sprint PCS VisionSM Smart Device (PPC-6700). As the first device using Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software, the PocketPC device features Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook Mobile and the new PowerPoint Mobile. The phone will run on Sprint's high-speed 3G network and be capable of using Wi-Fi connections. The device, made by UTStarcom Personal Communications (formerly Audiovox Communications), also has Bluetooth, a mini-keyboard and a 1.3-megapixel camera. Tricia Duryee: 206-464-3283 or tduryee@seattletimes.com \|\|\|\|\| Sprint launches streaming music service Associated Press Sprint Nextel Corp. is jumping into the music phone business. The nation's No. 3 wireless provider said Monday that it and Seattle-based digital media provider RealNetworks Inc. are launching a streaming music service for Sprint PCS customers called Rhapsody Radio. The service provides streaming radio stations, a freestyle rap service called "Beats N Breaks," music news, videos and podcasts - recorded audio files that are downloaded from the Internet - for $6.95 per month. This is the second partnership between the companies. Sprint, with corporate headquarters in Reston, Va., and operational headquarters in Overland Park, already uses RealNetworks to provide streaming video content through Real-rTV. Wireless companies, inspired by the popularity of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod and other MP3 players, have raced each other to add music content to their service portfolios. Earlier this month, Apple introduced the Motorola Inc.-made ROKR phone that comes loaded with iTunes software and allows users to load up to 100 songs on their phones. The service is being sold in the United States by Cingular Wireless. Verizon Wireless also provides downloadable music videos over its service. Shares of Sprint closed down 61 cents, or 2.4 percent, at $24.77 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange. They have traded in a 52-week range of $19.70 to $27.20. Shares of RealNetworks ended down 2 cents at $5.57 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. They have traded in a 52-week range of $4.54 to $7.40. ON THE NET http://www.sprint.com http://www.realnetworks.com	Wireless provider Sprint announced today, that they would be working with RealNetworks to launch a streaming music service, for Sprint wireless customers, called '''Rhapsody Radio'''. The service will allow users to listen to podcasts and six streaming radio stations (rap, hip-hop hits, alternative, country, '70s, and music news) from their mobile phone. Users will be able to listen to live broadcasts of those stations over their cellular connection. For a monthly subscription fee of $6.95, users will also have unlimited access to commercial-free radio broadcasts. Selected streaming podcasts from KCRW, Santa Monica 89.9 FM, and National Public Radio’s Southern California station will also be available. A special ''Beats N Breaks'' stream is also available. ''Beats N Breaks'' provides background music from hip-hop songs for users to rap with. Rhapsody Radio service requires a Sanyo MM-7400, Sanyo MM-5600, Sanyo MM-8300, Samsung IP-A790, Samsung MM-A800, Samsung MM-A880 or an LG MM-535 mobile phone. Customers are able to order directly from their phones, with the charge appearing on their next bill. Many analysts predicted the introduction of music services by other wireless providers after Apple recently introduced the Motorola ROKR. The Motorola ROKR comes with a version of the iTunes software which allows users to listen to up to 100 songs on their phone. Service for this phone in the USA is provided by Cingular Wireless.
Story Highlights • NEW: Jury finds Joya Williams guilty of plotting to steal Coke's secrets • Jury deliberated 11½ hours • Plan was to sell secrets to rival Pepsi for $1.5 million, feds say • Two men pleaded guilty in plot Adjust font size: ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A federal jury convicted a former Coca-Cola secretary Friday of conspiring to steal trade secrets from the world's largest beverage maker in an effort to sell them to rival Pepsi. Joya Williams faces up to 10 years in prison. No sentencing date was immediately set. The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for 11½ hours over three days. On Thursday it told U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester it was "hung" and could not decide. Forrester told the jury to try again Friday. Williams showed no visible reaction when the verdict was announced. Her lawyer comforted her as she left the courtroom, and said she plans to appeal. Williams was fired as a secretary to Coca-Cola's global brand director at the company's Atlanta headquarters after the allegations came to light. The government says Williams stole confidential documents and samples of products that hadn't been launched from The Coca-Cola Co. and gave them to Ibrahim Dimson and Edmund Duhaney as part of a conspiracy to sell the items to Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo Inc. for at least $1.5 million. (Read the indictment ) Dimson and Duhaney have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Duhaney testified previously that Williams spearheaded the scheme. Dimson did not testify. The government says Williams was deeply in debt, unhappy in her job and seeking a big payday, so she embarked on the scheme to steal trade secrets. Defense lawyer Janice Singer urged jurors to use their common sense, and she argued that prosecutors did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Singer suggested that Dimson and Duhaney stole the documents and product samples from Williams without her knowledge and conspired to sell them to Pepsi behind her back. Williams testified earlier this week she left a key under her doormat for one of the co-defendants, perhaps explaining how they could have gotten into her home. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak said during his closing argument Wednesday that the key under the mat claim was one of many lies told by Williams. During two days on the stand, Williams testified that she didn't steal anything from Coke, but rather took documents and product samples home to protect herself in case her boss questioned whether she was doing her job. She also claimed that $4,000 in cash she deposited into her bank account in June 2006, just days after Dimson was given $30,000 in cash from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for Coke materials, came from a friend, not from Dimson. But the friend, Clifton Carroll, testified Tuesday that Williams was lying; he said the most money he ever loaned her was $400, and that was after her July 5 arrest. Williams' credibility was an issue for the jury to weigh during its deliberations. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| 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.	Coca-Cola logo After deliberating for 11 hours a jury found Joya Williams, now former Executive Administrative Assistant for Coca-Cola Inc., guilty of plotting to steal Coke's secrets to sell them to Pepsi Inc. Williams, 41, took confidential documents and unreleased samples of products to Ibrahim Dimson and Edmund Duhaney in an attempt to sell the items to Pepsi for about US$1.5 million. Dimson and Duhaney also pleaded guilty. Williams claimed in court that even though she brought the documents and unreleased samples to her home, Dimson and Duhaney went into her home and took them. Duhaney denied the statement and said Williams gave the documents and unreleased samples to them. In May 2006, Coca-Cola received a letter from the Purchase, New York based company Pepsi stating that a person had offered to sell samples and other confidential information regarding Coke products to Pepsi. The former secretary could face up to 10 years in prison.
Russia is unlikely to extradite Andrei Lugovoi to Britain to face trial for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, despite pressure from Downing Street, the foreign office and the Crown Prosecution Service. A spokeswoman for the Russian prosecutor's office told the Guardian this morning: "We have been instructed not to comment on the Lugovoi case." On previous occasions, however, prosecutors have pointed out that the Russian constitution prohibits the extradition of citizens to stand trial abroad. It leaves open the possibility that Mr Lugovoi could be tried within the Russian federation "with the participation of the necessary foreign experts". There is no bilateral extradition treaty between Russia and the UK, and legislation passed by Russia to deal with one-off requests by European countries rules out the extradition of its citizens. When signing up to the European convention on extradition in 1996, Russia granted itself an exemption in accordance with article 61 of the state's constitution, which says: "A Russian citizen cannot be sent beyond the borders of the Russian Federation or given to another state". The Moscow lawyer Dimitri Afanasiev told the Guardian last year that, because the Russian parliament had ratified the exemption, any extradition would need parliamentary approval. "I don't see any way that it could be overruled other than by an act of parliament," he said. The only other way would be for suspects to be tried in Russia. Also, in the past Russia has responded to any British extradition requests with repeated demands for the extradition of Russians in the UK. Moscow has attempted to secure the return of 16 emigres, but has been rebuffed because the Home Office says they are targets of politically driven prosecutions and could not expect a fair trial. This group includes Boris Berezovsky, the billionaire who once employed Mr Litvinenko, and Akhmed Zakayev, the Chechen separatist who lived opposite Mr Litvinenko, as well as former executives of the Yukos oil giant. Moscow has repeatedly tried to extradite Mr Berezovsky - most recently following his interview with the Guardian in April, when he claimed he was plotting a violent revolution against President Vladimir Putin's regime. \|\|\|\|\| Home » Media Centre » Press Releases » CPS announces decision on Alexander Litvinenko case CPS announces decision on Alexander Litvinenko case 22 May 2007 The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, has announced that the Crown Prosecution Service has made its decision in the Alexander Litvinenko case. Sir Ken said: "On 23 November 2006 Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital of acute radiation injury. He was found to have ingested a lethal dose of Polonium 210, a highly radioactive material. During his difficult, fatal illness and following his death, the Metropolitan Police Service in London conducted a careful investigation into how this had happened. "Among the people of interest to police in this inquiry was a Russian citizen named Andrey Lugovoy. "In late January 2007 the police sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service so that we could make a decision about whether criminal charges should be brought against anyone who might have been involved in these events. "Prosecutors from CPS Counter Terrorism Division have carefully considered the material contained in that police file. They have also asked the police to carry out further inquiries, which are now complete. And, finally, they have consulted with me. "I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning. "I have further concluded that a prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest. "In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrey Lugovoy from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged with murder - and be brought swiftly before a court in London to be prosecuted for this extraordinarily grave crime." Notes to Editors \|\|\|\|\| Alexander Litvinenko in hospital Lugovoi profile Sir Ken Macdonald said Andrei Lugovoi should be tried for the "grave crime". Mr Litvinenko, 43, an ex-FSB agent and a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in London last November. Mr Lugovoi denied any involvement and said the charges against him were "politically motivated"; the Kremlin said he would not be extradited. Mr Lugovoi met Mr Litvinenko on the day he was taken ill. Radioactive isotope polonium-210 - the substance found in Mr Litvinenko's body - has been detected in a string of places Mr Lugovoi had visited in London. But Mr Lugovoi has insisted he was a witness and a victim but not a suspect. 'Well-founded distrust' "I consider that this decision to be political, I did not kill Litvinenko, I have no relation to his death and I can only express well-founded distrust for the so-called basis of proof collected by British judicial officials," Russian news agencies quoted Mr Lugovoi as saying. The formal submission of a request for Mr Lugovoi's extradition is expected to take place before the end of the week, after it has been translated. A spokesman for the Kremlin said Russia's constitution did not allow its nationals to be extradited. Andrei Lugovoi has strongly denied involvement Profile of accused The spokesman added it was waiting for the "British side to actually do something rather than make statements". The Russian general prosecution service also said there was "no way" Mr Lugovoi could be extradited because of constitutional constraints. But the service's spokesman added that a Russian citizen who had committed a crime in another country "should be prosecuted in Russia with evidence provided by the foreign state". UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she had told the Russian ambassador that she expected "full co-operation" with regards extraditing Mr Lugovoi. And Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said people should wait and see what Russia's "considered legal response" was to the extradition request. He pointed out that in 2001 Russia had signed the 1957 EU convention on extradition. Mr Litvinenko, who was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000 after leaving Russia and went on to take British citizenship, died at University College Hospital on 23 November. I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia Sir Ken Macdonald CPS statement on Litvinenko Sir Ken Macdonald told a news conference: "I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrei Lugovoi with the murder of Mr Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning. "I have further concluded that a prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest. "In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged with murder - and be brought swiftly before a court in London to be prosecuted for this extraordinarily grave crime." International investigation Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said that she welcomed the decision on what was a "big day" for her. She said: "I am now very anxious to see that justice is really done and that Mr Lugovoi is extradited and brought to trial in a UK court." A period of tense relations between Britain and Russia is expected Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News website 'Stand-off' over spy case She added that any court case should be held in Britain, and that she believed more than one person was responsible for her husband's death. The counter-terrorism command of the Metropolitan Police has been conducting a detailed international investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death. The police inquiry, during which officers followed a trail of polonium radioactivity at a series of locations visited by Mr Litvinenko in London before he died, eventually took them to Moscow. His friends, including London-based Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, have accused the Kremlin of ordering his assassination but the Russian government has rejected such claims. Police passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in January.	__NOTOC__ The United Kingdom has announced that it has sufficient evidence that a former FSB (formerly ) officer should be charged with the murder last year of Alexander Litvinenko. is charged with the murder of Mr Litvinenko, by the administration of the highly radioactive in a hotel in Mayfair, London, on 1st November 2006. Mr Litvinenko, 43, died of radiation sickness in University College Hospital on 23rd November. The case received considerable publicity at the time, with pictures of Litvinenko in hospital and showing the effects of the radiation poisoning. Litvinenko was himself a former Russian FSB agent and was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He had tried to publish a book in Russia describing Putin's rise to power as having been organised by the KGB. He was forced to flee from Russia and had lived for some time in London, being granted British citizenship in October 2006. He continued his dissent throughout the remainder of his life, culminating in a posthumous published on 24th November 2006 alleging that Putin was responsible for his death. ===Investigation and charge=== Litvinenko's murder led to a lengthy investigation by the and additional specialist police forces following a trail of sites which had been contaminated with radiation, leading eventually to Moscow. A file of evidence was sent in January 2007 to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration as to whether any criminal charges might be brought. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, in announcing the decision to prosecute, said: "Prosecutors from CPS Counter Terrorism Division have carefully considered the material contained in that police file. They have also asked the police to carry out further inquiries, which are now complete. And, finally, they have consulted with me." "I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning. I have further concluded that a prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest." "In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrey Lugovoy from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged with murder - and be brought swiftly before a court in London to be prosecuted for this extraordinarily grave crime." ===Extradition unlikely=== The announcement followed the summoning of the Russian Ambassador to London to the Foreign Office to be told by Foreign Secretary that she expected that the Russian authorities would co-operate fully with Britain to arrange the extradition of Mr Lugovoi to stand trial in London. However there are indications from Moscow that the extradition of Lugovoi, who denies any involvement in the murder, is unlikely to happen. Marina Gridneva, spokeswoman for the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said that "under Russian law, a citizen of the Russian Federation cannot be handed over to a foreign country". There is no bilateral extradition treaty between Russia and the UK. Legislation passed by Russia to deal with individual requests from countries in Europe rules out the extradition of its citizens, even to the extent that when in 1966 it became a signatory to the European convention on extradition, it granted itself an exemption from such a course. However it has been reported that such a ban on extradition would not necessarily prevent Lugovoi being tried in Russia using evidence from the UK.
ISTANBUL, July 17 (Xinhua) -- About 2,000 protestors marched in Istanbul city center on Saturday against strict website censorship in the country. Protesters marched down Istanbul's central Istiklal Avenue chanting slogans for YouTube and against the Transportation Minister, whose Ministry is responsible for site bans. Shouting slogans saying the "Binali (the transportation minister), you are wrong. Don't touch the Internet, pull away your hand." The protest was organized by the Common Platform Against Internet Censorship, a platform of over 50 non-governmental organizations. Ozgur Uckan of Bilgi University and one of the organizers of Saturday's rally told Xinhua there was always dissatisfaction with Internet censorship but people just hadn't poured out into the streets before. Uckan finds that the popular dissatisfaction is wearing down the politicians too, who have apparently started lashing back in increasingly angry tones. The protesters are demanding that Law No. 5651, which has resulted in access to more than 5,000 Internet sites being banned in Turkey, be repealed. There are about 30 million Internet users in the country with a total population of 70 million. \|\|\|\|\| Despite the hot weather, more than a thousand people marched Saturday in Istanbul demanding a free Internet in response to a recent court order that cemented the ban of YouTube. YouTube, the popular video-sharing portal and symbolic website representing protests for Internet freedom in Turkey, has been banned by a series of court decisions, the earliest of which dates back to May 5, 2008 apparently for insulting the memory of legendary Turkish figure Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The actual problem, according to the courts, is YouTube’s parent, Google. The search engine giant is in a dispute with the Turkish government over taxes. Another part of the ongoing dispute regards proxy websites that bypass government restrictions on access to blocked websites. In response to a question submitted by Prosecutor Kürşat Kural from Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office’s Press Crimes Investigation Bureau, the Telecommunication Transmission Directorate, or TİB, said 44 new IP addressed were identified as able to provide access to YouTube. Kural demanded an additional decision from an Ankara criminal court to block the 44 new sites. When the court applied for bans on the IPs, an objection to the decision carried the case to a higher court, where the case about the new IP addresses continues. Nihad Karslı, a lawyer for the Internet Technologies Association, or İNTED, said they plan to object if the lower court’s decision is not overturned and will likely take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. Street disagrees with courtroom The march on İstiklal Avenue in Istanbul on Saturday attracted several hundreds of people from various Internet groups, nongovernmental organizations and Internet platforms such as many popular Turkish websites, including sourtimes.org, zaytung.com and bobiler.org, the Young Civilians, Penguen magazine, “Sansüre Sansür” (Censor Censorship) and “Sansüre Karşı Ortak Platform” (Joint Platform against Censorship). The group gathered at Taksim Square at 5 p.m. and marched to Galatasaray Square holding large banners reading “Censorship-free Internet,” “Do not click on our freedom,” and “Censorship protects you from the truth.” Demonstrators also had whistles, portable music systems and tambourines. The joint press declaration read at Galatasaray Square protested Law No. 5651, which has resulted in access to more than 5,000 Internet sites being blocked in Turkey. The protesters demanded that the law be repealed and access to the sites affected by the law be re-established. An additional 500 websites are banned by various other laws and the protesters demanded that Turkish Internet users be allowed to access them as well. “The Internet is the good news of a full attentive utopia of democracy being possible without a hierarchy,” the statement read. “We, as Internet users, do not accept laws that do not fit the Information Age. We know that the recent Internet policies followed by government institutions is censorship.” The demonstrators demanded an unrestricted Internet from the government in the name of the freedom of speech and the right to obtain information. Dylan Ware, a musician who promotes his work on YouTube, said: “I think it is very important to protect our right to access documentation and other people’s opinions and to be able to express our own and have people hear them. It is one of the most important things for democracy and it is the key to development for a country. We have to protect that. Because people try to take that right away from us regularly, that is what happening now. Blocking YouTube because somebody said something bad about Atatürk is like blocking books. It is too wide reaching. It interferes with our basic human rights. Turkey signed the European Convention of Human Rights in 1950 and article 10 guarantees our right to be able to express ourselves. This law breaks this agreement and human rights.” Faik Polat, a member of the Censorship-free Internet platform, said: “Today 7,000 sites are blocked in Turkey. If we want to be an information society, why are 7,000 sites blocked? We claim Turkey is an information highway. How can an information highway exist when 7,000 exits are blocked?” Merve Alıcı, a member of the Young Civilians, said: “The legal basis for this ban was in fact related to child porn. But this decision was exploited and now 7,000 sites are blocked. With this protest, we have reached many people because there has been broad participation. We not only protest, but also we convey our declaration to Parliament. I believe this will be taken seriously.” \|\|\|\|\| Published on 8 July 2010 Reporters Without Borders urges the authorities to put a complete stop to their blocking of YouTube and to review their Internet filtering policies after an Ankara court yesterday refused to rescind a court order blocking access to 44 IP addresses that offered alternative ways to access the Google-owned video-sharing website. The main YouTube site has itself been blocked on the same court’s orders since 5 May 2008. The blocking of the 44 other IP addresses, ordered in mid-June, resulted in the disruption of other Google services such as Google Maps and Google Analytics. The latter is still affected. The case has now been transferred to another court in Ankara for evaluation. “Turkey’s Internet law allows the authorities to block access to thousands of websites,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The blocking of YouTube has had a particular impact. The authorities undermine their own credibility by denying the Turkish people access to a means of communication and information that is widely used internationally.” The press freedom organisation added: “Their credibility is further weakened by the fact that the blocking is also a form of financial blackmail, inasmuch as they have let it be understood that it is linked to their desire to make Google pay taxes.” YouTube was blocked in 2008 under Law 5651 because of a dozen videos that were deemed to insult the Turkish republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In effect since November 2007, Law 5651 on “the organisation of online publications and the fight against crimes committed by means of such publications” allows prosecutors to block a site within 24 hours if its content is deemed liable to incite suicide, paedophilia, drug abuse, obscenity or prostitution, or violate a law forbidding any attacks on Atatürk. The 44 addresses offering alternative access to YouTube were blocked last month at the request of the Ankara prosecutor in charge of investigating press crimes. Turkish media reports on 5 July meanwhile highlighted the ambiguity of official statements about the blocking. Hayri Keskin, a judge, said YouTube continued to be censored because it still violated the Internet law but transport minister Binali Yildirim suggested it was more to do with a desire to tax the advertising earnings of YouTube and Google. Dunja Mijatovic, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s media freedom representative, wrote to the Turkish authorities on 22 June to again urge them to restore access to YouTube and other Google services.	Istanbul's Taksim Square About 2,000 protestors marched against censorship last Saturday in Istanbul in Turkey, reported. Protesters gathered at central Istanbul’s and marched down to Istiklal Avenue, chanting slogans against Transport and Communications Minister , Internet censorship, and especially against "Law No 5651". Many Internet groups, , and Internet platforms participated in the protest, reported. , zaytung.com, bobiler.org, the Young Civilians, Penguen magazine, “Sansüre Sansür” (Censor Censorship) and “Sansüre Karşı Ortak Platform” (Joint Platform against Censorship) were among the participants. More than 5,000 Internet sites including , YouTube and some of Google services are currently banned in Turkey. The bans are issued by prosecutors if the site "is deemed liable to incite suicide, paedophilia, drug abuse, obscenity or prostitution, or violate a law forbidding any attacks on ." reported that the (OSCE) recently wrote to the Turkish authorities to urge them once again to restore access to banned Internet sites.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Previously unseen CCTV footage of the London suicide bombings has been released after being shown in court. The film shows smoke and people fleeing after Shehzad Tanweer detonated his device on a London Underground train heading towards Aldgate in July 2005. Other footage shows three of the four bombers on CCTV as they scouted for targets nine days before the attack. Prosecutors showed the film in the trial of three Leeds men who deny assisting with target reconnaissance. Waheed Ali, Mohammed Shakil and Sadeer Saleem all deny conspiracy to cause an explosion by taking part in a London scouting mission in December 2004. Attack: Footage shows effects on Liverpool Street platform The jury at Kingston Crown Court saw CCTV footage of Shehzad Tanweer's bombing of an London Underground train between Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations. The footage shows passengers boarding the train and it leaving the platform. Moments later smoke engulfs the platform as commuters run away. Police officers are seen running in the direction of the train on which seven people died. The jury was also shown two clips of the aftermath of Hasib Hussain's bombing of a double-decker bus. In the first, the bus passes the British Medical Association's reception on Tavistock Square. Seconds later people in the building can be seen to duck. In the second clip, passengers on the bus immediately in front of that targeted react with shock as they hear the explosion behind them. Final reconnaissance Prosecutors also showed the jury CCTV footage of three of the bombers carrying out final reconnaissance in the capital nine days before the attacks. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The scouting trip did not involve any of the defendants who are only alleged to have visited London months earlier. The CCTV images show Mohammed Siddique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer and Jermaine Lindsay travelling around the capital over the course of four hours. They visit a number of locations on the Underground network. The fourth bomber, Hasib Hussain, did not attend - but had visited London with the defendants during the earlier alleged scouting mission. The footage shows the three bombers meeting at Luton railway station shortly after 8am, before they join a commuter service to Kings Cross station. CCTV cameras also captured the men at Embankment, South Kensington and Baker Street London Underground stations. In the clips, the three men could be seen acting like ordinary commuters including buying tickets and using escalators. Siddique Khan, the leader of the plot, was seen wearing a grey T-shirt and beige baseball cap and carrying a blue Berghaus rucksack. The jury were told that in one clip the ringleader could be seen eating an ice cream near Madame Tussauds. Waheed Ali, Mohammed Shakil and Sadeer Saleem all deny conspiracy to cause an explosion by allegedly taking part in a London scouting mission in December 2004. Prosecutors say the three men spent two days in the capital and visited a number of London Underground stations and tourist attractions. The trial continues. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| CCTV shows 7/7 bombers' London trip Footage caught on CCTV cameras of three of the July 7 bombers carrying out a reconnaissance trip to London nine days before launching their deadly attacks was shown to a jury today. Mohammed Siddique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer and Jermaine Lindsay spent four hours in the capital, visiting various locations on the Underground network. They were captured on security cameras meeting at Luton railway station before journeying to King's Cross and then on to Tube stations at Embankment, South Kensington and Baker Street. A court was shown clips of the trio mingling with commuters, buying tickets and travelling up and down escalators on the transport network during the trip on June 28. At one point ringleader Khan is seen strolling towards Madame Tussauds and then minutes later causally eating an ice-cream. The footage, much of which has never previously been seen before, was played to Kingston Crown Court where three men are standing trial accused of helping the July 7 bombers plan their attack. Waheed Ali, 24, from Tower Hamlets, east London, Mohammed Shakil, 31, and Sadeer Saleem, 27, both from Beeston, Leeds, are accused of conspiring with Khan, Tanweer, Lindsay, Hasib Hussain and others unknown to cause explosions between November 17, 2004 and July 8, 2005. The four suicide bombers murdered 52 people when they set off bombs on the capital's transport network in 2005. The defendants deny the charge. All three are alleged to have carried out a previous two-day reconnaissance mission in the capital on December 16 and 17, 2004 with bombers Hussain and Lindsay. They are accused of pinpointing potential targets and the court has heard they visited the Natural History Museum, the London Eye and the London Aquarium. \|\|\|\|\| What do you mean, where are the Balearic Islands? They’re right where we left them:... A Coronavirus Travel Update on the Balearic... Ryanair and EasyJet have announced to be resuming a percentage of flights from 1 July... It’s Official: Spain Has Announced a Four-Phase Plan to Ease Coronavirus... Will it be Possible to Travel to Greece This... With various low cost airlines announcing they’ll start to resume some flights in June and... \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A home video of London suicide bomber Mohammad Siddique Khan bidding goodbye to his baby daughter has been shown to a jury at Kingston Crown Court. The video was shown in the prosecution of three men alleged to have helped find bombing targets in the capital. Waheed Ali, Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil deny helping the bombers months before the attacks on 7 July 2005. In the November 2004 video, Siddique Khan tells his daughter that he "has to do this thing for our future". The jury at Kingston Crown Court was told that in late 2004 Siddique Khan and fellow suicide bomber Shehzad Tanweer flew to Pakistan. Prosecutors say that the leader of the bombers expected to die fighting jihad - but there was an unexpected change of plan while abroad which led to their return and the London bombings the following summer. In the weeks before their departure, Siddique Khan recorded a number of home videos featuring his six-month-old daughter. Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said the videos included a lot of "cooing over the baby" typical of any doting parents. Father's cuddle In one, shot two days before the departure, Siddique Khan can be seen cradling his baby daughter in his arms. She is wearing a baby-suit and is jiggling on his knee. I just so much wanted to be with you but I have to do this for our future and it will be for the best, Inshallah [God willing] in the long run Mohammad Siddique Khan The bomber is slightly off-camera for most of the recording as the lens is focused on the girl. His voice can be heard clearly and he frequently breaks off from speaking to kiss her. He is heard saying: "Sweetheart, not long to go now and I'm going to really, really miss you a lot. I'm thinking about it already. "Look, I absolutely love you to bits and you have been the happiest thing in my life. You and your mum, absolutely brilliant. I don't know what else to say. "I just wish I could have been part of your life, especially these growing up... these next months, they're really special with you learning to walk and things. "I just so much wanted to be with you but I have to do this for our future and it will be for the best, Inshallah [God willing] in the long run. Waheed Ali: Features in the video "That's the most important thing. You make plenty of dua [prayers] for you guys and you've got loads of people to look after you and keep an eye on you. "But most importantly I entrust you to Allah and let Allah take care of you. "And I'm doing what I'm doing for the sake of Islam, not, you know, it's not for materialistic or worldly benefits." Mr Flewitt told the jury the video had come to light shortly after the bombings. Hasina Patel, Siddique Khan's widow, had handed some tapes to a friend in late 2004. At 1845 on 8 July, the day after the bombings, she handed more material to the same friend. On 13 July the friend handed them over to the police. 'Uncles' video In another video, recorded in October 2004, Khan introduces his daughter to "her uncles", Waheed Ali and 7 July bombers Shehzad Tanweer and Hasib Hussain. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement The men are relaxing in the lounge at a house with a television on in the background. Siddique Khan calls Tanweer Uncle "Kaki". Mr Ali, sitting on the floor next to Hussain, gets up and kisses his own bicep in a jokey manner. The jury were told of further footage to be played later which includes Hasina Patel. Mr Flewitt told the court that Ms Patel says: "There are two minutes left so say your piece." Khan is said to reply: "My little sweetheart I love you lots and lots. You are my little baby with big fat little feet. "Remember me in your Duas, I will certainly remember you, and, inshallah, things will work out for the best. Look after your mother, she needs looking after. "Be strong, learn to fight - fighting is good. Be mummy's best friend. Take care of mummy - you can both do things together like fighting and stuff." The trial continues. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Previously unseen CCTV footage of the London suicide bombings has been released after being shown in court. The film shows smoke and people fleeing after Shehzad Tanweer detonated his device on a London Underground train heading towards Aldgate in July 2005. Other footage shows three of the four bombers on CCTV as they scouted for targets nine days before the attack. Prosecutors showed the film in the trial of three Leeds men who deny assisting with target reconnaissance. Waheed Ali, Mohammed Shakil and Sadeer Saleem all deny conspiracy to cause an explosion by taking part in a London scouting mission in December 2004. Attack: Footage shows effects on Liverpool Street platform The jury at Kingston Crown Court saw CCTV footage of Shehzad Tanweer's bombing of an London Underground train between Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations. The footage shows passengers boarding the train and it leaving the platform. Moments later smoke engulfs the platform as commuters run away. Police officers are seen running in the direction of the train on which seven people died. The jury was also shown two clips of the aftermath of Hasib Hussain's bombing of a double-decker bus. In the first, the bus passes the British Medical Association's reception on Tavistock Square. Seconds later people in the building can be seen to duck. In the second clip, passengers on the bus immediately in front of that targeted react with shock as they hear the explosion behind them. Final reconnaissance Prosecutors also showed the jury CCTV footage of three of the bombers carrying out final reconnaissance in the capital nine days before the attacks. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The scouting trip did not involve any of the defendants who are only alleged to have visited London months earlier. The CCTV images show Mohammed Siddique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer and Jermaine Lindsay travelling around the capital over the course of four hours. They visit a number of locations on the Underground network. The fourth bomber, Hasib Hussain, did not attend - but had visited London with the defendants during the earlier alleged scouting mission. The footage shows the three bombers meeting at Luton railway station shortly after 8am, before they join a commuter service to Kings Cross station. CCTV cameras also captured the men at Embankment, South Kensington and Baker Street London Underground stations. In the clips, the three men could be seen acting like ordinary commuters including buying tickets and using escalators. Siddique Khan, the leader of the plot, was seen wearing a grey T-shirt and beige baseball cap and carrying a blue Berghaus rucksack. The jury were told that in one clip the ringleader could be seen eating an ice cream near Madame Tussauds. Waheed Ali, Mohammed Shakil and Sadeer Saleem all deny conspiracy to cause an explosion by allegedly taking part in a London scouting mission in December 2004. Prosecutors say the three men spent two days in the capital and visited a number of London Underground stations and tourist attractions. The trial continues. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these?	The scenes after the bombings on July 7A court in the United Kingdom has been shown footage of the bombers that attacked London on July 7, 2005. The jury were told that the footage, taken by a CCTV camera, was taken just nine days before the bombings. The video was shown as part of the trials of Waheed Ali, Mohammed Shakil and Sadeer Saleem, who are charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion, because of their alleged involvement in the preparation of the bombings. Three of the July 7 bombers, Mohammed Siddique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer and Jermaine Lindsay, were shown in the video, although the other bomber, Hasib Hussain, was not seen in the video. The film was taken from a camera located at Luton railway station. Russell Square after the bombings. The footage, which was shown to Kingston Crown Court was described by ''Teletext'' as 'chilling.' Last month a video showing Mohammad Siddique Khan saying goodbye to his child was shown in the court. In the video he explained his reasoning for his actions. "And I'm doing what I'm doing for the sake of Islam, not, you know, it's not for materialistic or worldly benefits," he said, when talking to his six month old daughter. The defendants in the trial have previously been accused of helping to find locations for further bombings. The July 7 bombings were a series of coordinated bombings which struck London on the morning of July 7, 2005. 52 people died and approximately 700 were injured as a result of the bombings. When commenting on the defendants, Neil Flewitt QC claimed that "it is the case that the defendants associated with and shared the beliefs and objectives of the London bombers."
[Wikimania-l] Announcement: Wikimania 2008 All, We are pleased to announce that Buenos Aires has been selected as the location for Wikimania 2009. The jury was particularly excited by a few parts of the Buenos Aires bid: * A strong, organized team, with division of labor already underway and support from Wikimedia Argentina. Many people contributed to the bid, with obvious enthusiasm for organizing the conference and quick responses to inquiries. * A detailed budget proposal and planning schedule. Many major expenses are being covered by the provider. The total budget is similar to Wikimania 2007's, including a larger travel scholarship fund, and they have provided detailed charts ahead of time. * A significant number of sponsors already lined up, with some already confirmed. They hope to cover half the accommodation and $60k in travel scholarships, which will help to ease travel costs for participants from far away. * A solid venue : as with Toronto, this was situated within a well-maintained cultural center in a major international city, near an airline hub; culturally open, and an international melting pot. * Relaxed visa rules, and easy entry from South American countries. * Good Spanish-language media contacts, with the promise of outreach to and the opportunity to work with the Spanish-language Wikimedia communities. Toronto, the runner up, also provided a great bid. The jury was especially excited by: * Strong English-language press in the area, and media experience among the bid team * A very accessible venue, especially for US/European attendees. * An excellent venue : a university campus, with dorms directly at the venue. As with Buenos Aires, it was situated within a well-maintained cultural center in a major international city, near an airline hub; culturally open, and an international melting pot. * Extensive budget accommodation in the dorms; with many options for casual social space. * A dedicated bid team, with the hope of Wikimedia Canada being formed in time to help coordinate. However, the jury felt that Buenos Aires' bid showed stronger organization overall. Additionally, much of the information in the Toronto bid was carried over from previous bids, and it was unclear how much of a commitment for the University of Toronto facilities there was specifically for 2009. Brisbane and Karlsruhe also provided good bids. Brisbane in particular had an enthusiastic bid team and a strong proposal, with particularly good local sponsorship opportunities; though this was offset by the high travel costs for out-of-country attendees. The jury felt both bids needed more detail (including specifics about accommodation options, and more detailed budget information) to be compelling. As in previous years, the relative accessibility of locations was extensively discussed. The jury believes that it's important for Wikimania to be accessible to as wide an audience as possible, particularly to members of the Wikimedia community; the relatively high cost of travel to South America from Europe and North America was one of the most significant drawbacks we identified in the Buenos Aires bid—especially coming on the heels of Taipei and Alexandria. Having said that, the jury believes that the Buenos Aires bid overcame this drawback with its numerous advantages, among those the opportunity to hold the conference in a Spanish-speaking locale, on a new continent. We hope to receive strong bids from easily accessible locations for 2010. Congratulations to the Buenos Aires team! Wikimania 2009 promises to be an exciting and successful conference. -- Phoebe Ayers, Cary Bass, James Forrester (non-voting jury moderators), on behalf of the Wikimania 2009 Jury http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2009/Jury \|\|\|\|\| De Wikimedia Argentina, la enciclopedia libre. Español \| English \| Português Buenos Aires, 28 de marzo de 2008. La Fundación Wikimedia, administradora de la enciclopedia libre Wikipedia y de otros proyectos colaborativos globales, anunció hoy la elección de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires como sede para la realización de Wikimanía 2009, la conferencia anual de los proyectos Wikimedia. El evento, de cinco días de duración, atrae a numerosos usuarios de los proyectos de Wikimedia en todo el mundo, además de reconocidos activistas, bloggers y especialistas en tecnología wiki, software libre, cultura libre y movimientos sociales de la cultura de Internet, por lo que recibe una importante cobertura periodística internacional durante su desarrollo. Las ediciones anteriores del evento tuvieron lugar en Frankfurt (Alemania), Boston (en la célebre Escuela de Derecho de Harvard) (EEUU) y Taipei (Taiwan), mientras que la edición de este año se realizará en la nueva Biblioteca de Alejandría, en Egipto. La candidatura de Buenos Aires fue presentada y desarrollada por la asociación civil Wikimedia Argentina, resultando electa en una competencia en la que quedaron finalistas las ciudades de Toronto (Canadá), Brisbane (Australia) y Karlsruhe (Alemania). Wikimedia Argentina es el "capítulo argentino" de la Fundación Wikimedia, y está integrada por una comunidad de voluntarios que desarrolla proyectos vinculados al conocimiento libre. El evento, que se realizará durante el mes de agosto de 2009 en las instalaciones del Centro Cultural General San Martín, cuenta con el respaldo del Ente de Turismo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, con el auspicio de importantes empresas nacionales e internacionales y con el apoyo de prestigiosas instituciones educativas, como la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. En forma paralela, se llevarán a cabo jornadas y talleres sobre los proyectos de Wikimedia para el público en general, entre otras actividades. Buenos Aires espera con los brazos abiertos la que será la primera edición bilingüe, en inglés y español, de Wikimanía. A la hora de emitir su fallo, el jurado destacó la importancia del idioma español para los proyectos de Wikimedia, así como la trascendencia cultural de la sede elegida. Pesó también en la elección, el alto grado de organización y actividad de la comunidad de wikipedistas de Argentina. Esta decisión es trascendental para la enorme comunidad de Wikipedistas de habla hispana, ya que será la primera edición bilingüe, además de la primera a realizarse en América latina, con la consiguiente facilidad de acceso para las comunidades involucradas en proyectos Wiki de toda la región. Sobre Wikimedia Argentina Wikimedia Argentina es una institución sin fines de lucro que tiene como objetivo promocionar la cultura y el conocimiento libres, especialmente a partir del apoyo y difusión de los proyectos hospedados por Wikimedia Foundation, y de su contenido. Wikimedia Argentina es un "capítulo local" de la Fundación Wikimedia desde diciembre de 2007. Sobre Wikimedia Foundation La Fundación Wikimedia es un organización sin fines de lucro, responsable de los sitios web de Wikipedia y de otros proyectos de Wikimedia. Para mayores antecedentes, sírvase contactar a Patricio Lorente Presidente - Wikimedia Argentina correo@wikimedia.org.ar	The General San Martín Cultural Centre. On March 28, the jury in charge of selecting the location of Wikimania 2009 announced that the annual conference will be held in the city of , the capital of the Argentine Republic. According to a an official mailing list post from Wikimedia Volunteer Coordinator Cary Bass, Phoebe Ayers, and James Forrester made on behalf of the jury, Buenos Aires was chosen because of the "strong, organized team" behind the bid, the "detailed budget proposal and planning schedule," the "significant number of sponsors already lined up," "relaxed visa rules," because it has a "solid venue, situated within a well-maintained cultural center in a major international city," and because of its "good Spanish-language media contacts." Buenos Aires was selected out of 4 official bids, including , , and . The conference venue will be the General San Martín Cultural Centre, located in the heart of the city. The conference will also be sponsored by entities like the Buenos Aires Tourism Authority and the National University of La Plata. The bid was mainly organized by the members of Wikimedia Argentina, a local chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation. This will be the first Wikimania celebrated in the South American continent and the first in a Spanish-speaking country. Wikimania is an annual international conference for the editors of Wikimedia projects. The first conference was held in , Germany, on August 4-8, 2005; the second conference was held in Boston, USA, on August 4-6, 2006; the third one was held in , Taiwan, on August 3-5, 2007; this year's conference will be held on July 17-19 in Alexandria, Egypt.
Most of Detroit's public schools closed for the day on Wednesday due to teacher absences, as disgruntled educators stepped up efforts to protest the governor's plans for the district, its ramshackle finances and dilapidated buildings. Detroit Public Schools said more than 85 of its roughly 100 schools were shut. On Tuesday night, a group advocating for change at city schools known as Detroit Teachers Strike to Win warned of closures and said protests were planned Wednesday. On Tuesday night, Gov. Rick Snyder again pushed state lawmakers to pass bills to overhaul the school district by splitting it in two, spending more than $700 million over a decade, warning of a potential bankruptcy. Already, the district is run by an emergency manager appointed by the Republican governor. Teacher and activist Steve Conn said in a statement that Snyder is "attacking public education in Detroit." The closings also come the same day that President Barack Obama plans to visit Detroit with a tour of the North American International Auto Show to highlight progress in the city and the auto industry. A rally and picket by teachers is planned outside downtown's Cobo Center, where the tour will take place. The district said it has no choice but to close schools when teachers don't report to work. It said those who don't call in sick still were required to report to their buildings Wednesday. Detroit has about 46,000 students. More than 60 schools were closed Jan. 11 because of an absence of teachers. Other sick-outs affecting a smaller number of schools have taken place. In response, city officials have started inspecting schools for possible code and safety violations. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) Eighty-three Detroit public schools -- or roughly 80% of those in the system -- will not be open Wednesday because of "high teacher absences," the latest instance of teachers and staff calling in sick to call attention to what they see as inadequate funding. Wednesday was already set to be a big day for Detroit, with President Barack Obama set to be in town. And Detroit Public Schools expected the staff to take advantage of the spotlight, listing five schools as closed as early as Tuesday and warning that many more could be coming. Ivy Bailey, interim president of Detroit's teacher's union, estimated the doors of "over 30 schools" ultimately would be closed for business Wednesday. It turns out she vastly underestimated the extent of the sickout. It's not only almost triple Bailey's estimate, but a vast majority of the roughly 100 schools in Detroit's public school system. Obama visit Obama will be in town to tout the resurgence of the U.S. car industry at the Detroit auto show. But he may see leaflets lying about with pictures of dead rats found at public schools, mildew taking over ceilings and walls, and damage to school buildings. Protesters plan to hand out the fliers to car show attendees to get them to sign a petition to protest conditions in schools. Two protest rallies will also kick off in the afternoon -- one by parents and residents, the other by the teacher's union. Governor's speech The city's school crisis has made up to the desk of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who called for change in his State of the State address on Tuesday. The "time to act is now," he said. "The Detroit schools are in need of a transformational change," he told lawmakers. "The state needs to ensure that a complete failure to educate schoolchildren never again happens to this extent in one of Michigan's districts." The Republican said he wants money spent on debt service -- about $1,100 per student -- shifted into classroom funding to give teachers what they need to do their jobs. Governor's outlook for school reforms Managing the debt A proposal introduced last week in the Legislature would appear to find a way of doing that while handling the school system's massive $515 million debt. It would create a second school district within the city that assumes control over all of its schools and students, while leaving the current Detroit Public School system with only the district's debt, said Republican state Sen. Goeff Hansen, author of the proposal. "It's a high priority. It's an emergency situation," Hansen said. About $7,400 of school funding is allocated per student each year. But close to $1,200 of that goes to pay down debt and other costs, Hansen said. Under the proposal, tax revenue would continue to pay off the debt isolated in the Detroit Public Schools system, but the state would gain room to inject additional funding into the new school system. Litany of troubles 5 photos: 5 photos: Photos taken at three Detroit schools show deterioration at school facilities. Teachers have protested the conditions by calling in sick in large groups. Hide Caption 1 of 5 5 photos: Teachers say the deplorable conditions diminish their ability to effectively teach and put students at a disadvantage. Hide Caption 2 of 5 5 photos: Teachers have complained of safety hazards and equipment shortages. Hide Caption 3 of 5 5 photos: Reports provided by the teachers union complain of rats in the halls of some schools and pieces of ceiling falling on students' heads. Hide Caption 4 of 5 5 photos: Teachers also claim that some extracurricular facilities, such as gyms, are unsafe because of neglect. Hide Caption 5 of 5 The proposal may have teachers worried. They are afraid that Detroit Public Schools will go out of existence, teachers' organizer Bailey said. Funding could run out by April. Teachers feel pushed over the edge to protest against a litany of resulting troubles. "It's because of the lack of respect that has been displayed toward teachers in this district, the hazardous working conditions, oversize classes, lost preparation periods, decrease in pay, increase in health care cost, uncertainty of their future," Bailey said. "I could go on and on. Teachers are fed up and have had enough." There have been some recent concessions. The school district agreed to demands on staff meetings, sick leave accrual and a labor-management committee on curriculum, the teacher's union said. And last week, Mayor Mike Duggan ordered inspections of all the city's public schools. Flint water slap Flack from the drinking water crisis in the city of Flint, involving high levels of lead, is also haunting the emergency manager who has handled the Detroit school crisis. Darnell Earley was also the emergency manager in Flint, when the city switched its water source in 2014. Earley has said he was not responsible for the decision -- only with implementing it after it was approved. Michigan Senate Democrats took a swipe at him in a tweet: "Crumbling #DPS schools are a direct result of damage that can be done by unelected emergency managers." Crumbling #DPS schools are a direct result of damage that can be done by unelected emergency managers. #MISOTS16 — MI Senate Democrats (@MISenDems) January 20, 2016 Teachers' organizer Bailey also complained. "Emergency Management is not working," she said. "If the goal was to destroy DPS, emergency management has done an excellent job." \|\|\|\|\| The largest in a series of rolling sickouts by teachers protesting the conditions of Detroit schools nearly shut down the entire district Wednesday, just as President Obama was expected to arrive in town. All but a dozen or so of the city's 100 public schools were closed Wednesday, forcing most of the district's 46,000 students to stay home, according to local NBC affiliate WDIV. Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed 1:23 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog Many of the teachers rallied outside the Cobo Center, where Obama was scheduled to speak to a United Auto Workers gathering. Detroit teachers have been staging sickouts — the organized but unauthorized taking of sick days — to draw attention to the district's financial straits and crumbling buildings and to express their opposition to Gov. Rick Snyder's public education policies. The centerpiece of Snyder's plan to turn the system around is a 10-year, $715 million refinancing scheme that would split the district — already run by an emergency manager he appointed — into two as a way to pay off crippling debts. Many teachers say the plan threatens to undermine the public school system and disenfranchises city residents. Teachers from Detroit area schools protest outside Cobo Center before President Barack Obama's visit to the auto show on Jan. 20. Todd McInturf / Detroit News via AP Wednesday's sickout was the biggest in a string of similar actions in recent weeks, reportedly organized by a group affiliated with the teachers union called DPS Teachers Fight Back. More than 60 schools were forced to close Jan. 11. The sickouts have not risen to the level of an all-out strike, because such a move is prohibited by Michigan law. \|\|\|\|\| Buy Photo Crowds walk through the displays at the North American International Auto Show on Sunday. (Photo: Robin Buckson / The Detroit News)Buy Photo Expect tight security and traffic delays for President Barack Obama’s scheduled midday visit Wednesday to Detroit for the auto show and a stop at UAW offices. Some downtown Detroit streets will close during Obama’s visit Wednesday to the auto show and a stop at UAW offices, the Detroit Police Department announced in a statement. Eastbound Larned, from John C. Lodge to Washington, and the entrance ramp to the Lodge from Congress are closed until the presidential visit ends. “During that time, citizens can expect traffic congestion, long waits and delays during their travels,” the statement read. “The Detroit Police Department encourages the community to remain patient and consider an alternate route to and from their destination.” Meanwhile, the People Mover will offer “extremely limited service between 12:30 and approximately 3:30 p.m.,” officials said in a statement. Trains will not stop at the Renaissance, Millender Center, Financial District, Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Center stations, which are closed for pedestrian entry starting at 12:30 p.m. The remaining eight stations will be served by one People Mover train operating between Fort/Cass around to the Bricktown station and back. Two motor coaches also will stop in front of six People Mover stations; customers may board in front of the Fort/Cass Broadway, Michigan Greektown and Grand Circus Park Bricktown stations from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., officials said. After security clearance, DPM stations will reopen and normal operating service will continue until midnight. Detroit police are coordinating with state and federal authorities to prepare security measures for the visit, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. “Any time the president comes, there’s a heightened police presence,” Craig said. “He’s been here before, and we’ll respond like we always have.” Showgoers could run into traffic backups as Obama travels from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to downtown. It might be more difficult for auto show attendees to get in, too. North American International Auto Show spokesman Max Muncey said attendees normally are not required to pass through metal detectors, but added: “There will be changes to the security protocol for tomorrow.” When asked if that meant metal detectors will be used, Muncey said he couldn’t comment on security specifics. Downtown streets may also be snarled as Obama’s motorcade heads to the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, on the riverfront about two miles east of Cobo Center, for a speech. The president plans to discuss Detroit’s revival and the 640,000 auto industry jobs created since the $85 billion bailout of the U.S. industry, officials said. Retired Detroit police Cmdr. Kenneth Williams, who coordinated police security for presidential visits from Ronald Reagan to Obama, said there are several behind-the-scenes precautions taken whenever a dignitary comes to Detroit. Streets and freeways will likely be shut down while Obama travels to and from Cobo, Williams said. “Mostly, it’s about traffic and crowd control,” the 25-year veteran said. “You’re going to create a primary and secondary route for the motorcade. You’ve got the press corps that travels with the president, and you don’t want the primary route to be leaked, so you create a secondary route. Then, you coordinate that with the state police; they’re the lead agency as far as the motorcade goes.” The U.S. Secret Service works with Michigan State Police to determine which freeways and exits to shut down, Williams said. “There will also be a temporary shutdown of air traffic in the area,” he said. Bomb-sniffing dogs likely worked around Cobo ahead of the visit, Williams said. “You do what’s known as a sweep and post; they’ll sweep a certain area for explosives, and then post agents there to make sure nobody leaves behind packages,” he said. Obama’s scheduled trip, his 17th to Michigan since taking office, will mark at least the third time a sitting president will attend the Detroit auto show. The others were Bill Clinton in 1999 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in the late 1950s. In an address earlier this month, Obama said he would attend the auto show “to see the progress firsthand. Because I believe that every American should be proud of what our most iconic industry has done.” The auto show will remain open all day Wednesday despite Obama’s visit, Muncey said. “Between noon and 4 p.m., there will be light restrictions to access to certain parts of the floor, but it’s nothing that should affect people visiting the show,” he said. Craig said having the president visit the auto show doesn’t present any unique problems. “It’ll be about the same as any other venue,” he said. “We’ll make sure it’s staffed sufficiently.” Obama last visited the state in September when he spoke at Macomb Community College to discuss apprenticeship programs and making community college free. Warren police officers and state troopers helped with the presidential motorcade from Selfridge Air National Guard base in Harrison Township to the college, Warren Police Commissioner Jere Green said. “Having a president visit is a real responsibility for any law enforcement agency to take on,” he said, adding he deferred to the Secret Service. “They do it every day, so we basically supplemented them. The Secret Service is totally in charge.” Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said the visit went smoothly. “The disruption of traffic was the biggest complaint; otherwise, everything was flawless.” Coordinating dignitary details involves planning for the worst and hoping for the best, Williams said. “The main thing about doing executive protection at such a high level is, everything you do is planning for the worst-case scenario,” he said. “You think what the worst thing that could happen is, and you create a plan for that. “You know where the closest trauma centers are; the protocol for closing traffic and getting the president to a safety zone, if needed. You don’t want that to happen, but you’re ready in case it does. You can always ramp down; it’s harder to ramp up.” ghunter@detroitnews.com (313) 222-2134 Read or Share this story: http://detne.ws/1V36EA3 \|\|\|\|\| Detroit Public School Teachers Turn To 'Sickouts' In Protest i toggle caption Courtesy of Detroit Federation of Teachers Courtesy of Detroit Federation of Teachers For three straight days earlier this week, some Detroit public schools were closed because too many teachers called in sick. These rolling "sickout" protests have picked up steam in recent weeks, and they've drawn fierce criticism — and attention to a school district in freefall. Detroit resident Crystal Fischer saw it on the news Monday morning: Her 5-year-old son's school was closed because too many teachers had called in sick. Fischer made do for that day. But when she got the call on Tuesday — the school was closed again — the working single mom wasn't too happy. "It may be an issue with the teachers, but shoot, they're causing issues with the parents," she says. "They're making us suffer." Fischer didn't really understand what the teachers were so upset about, but she did notice one thing at her son's school. "The classrooms are overcrowded," she says. "Too many kids to one teacher." Overcrowding is just one item on the long list of complaints Detroit teachers have. toggle caption Ed White/AP Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan toured some schools Tuesday. "I've seen some very well-maintained buildings," he said. "And I've seen some buildings that would break your heart." Duggan has vowed to fix the most egregious building problems: for example, black mold and collapsing ceilings. But Duggan's powers are limited because the state has run Detroit Public Schools for almost seven years now, through a series of so-called "emergency managers." "And it's been seven years of enrollment decline, deficits, test score decline," Duggan said. "And now a third of the money coming in school is being diverted to debt." That's $3.5 billion of debt, some of it short-term debt run up by the district's emergency managers, who are supposed to put the school's finances back on solid footing. But many in Detroit argue that emergency management has made bad situations even worse, putting Detroit schools on the brink of what the city of Detroit has already endured. Nina Chacker is a special education teacher in Detroit. "The state has created debt after debt after debt," she says, adding that teachers are now at a breaking point. "People leave every single week. And we have just kind of come to realize that they need us at this point. They cannot get people to work in Detroit," Chacker says. The teachers union has not organized or even formally condoned the sickouts. It's struggling with its own internal political divisions. Chacker says the push came from the teachers. And she says they're doing it for the students. "They're kids that are easy to take advantage of," Chacker says. "And I will fight as hard as I can to ensure that that doesn't happen." That's not how district and state officials see it. They say the sickouts just hurt students and parents like Crystal Fischer, and they have accused the teachers of using them as "pawns" and engaging in illegal wildcat strikes. Strikes by government employees are illegal in Michigan. Michelle Zdrodowski, a spokeswoman for Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, says they all understand Detroit teachers' "frustration." "But when teachers continue to do these sickouts, it makes our efforts to talk to the Legislature, and get them to say yes to investing in DPS, that much more difficult," she says. That's exactly what many Republicans in the Michigan state Legislature say, as bills calling for a bankruptcy-style restructuring were finally introduced in Lansing. That's Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's plan for the district, but the response so far has been lukewarm at best. And the governor is already struggling with another huge political crisis: widespread contamination of drinking water in Flint, Mich. He has to figure it out, though. Without some kind of state investment, the Detroit Public Schools will go broke before the end of the school year. \|\|\|\|\| Buy Photo A group of more than a hundred teachers, joined by parents and children, protest Monday in Detroit over Detroit Public Schools. (Photo: Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News)Buy Photo Detroit — A day after more than half of Detroit Public Schools were closed because of a teacher sickout, another wave of schools canceled classes for the day. According to the district, 24 schools were closed, more than 20 percent of the district. According to the district, the following schools are closed Tuesday because of teacher absences: Academy of the Americas, Bates, Bow, Burton, Carleton, Carstens, Carver, Coleman Young, Dixon, Drew, Gompers, Marcus Garvey, Mackenzie, Mark Twain, Palmer Park, Pasteur, Paul Robeson, Sampson, Spain, Thirkell, Thurgood Marshall, Turning Point and Vernor. “Detroit Public Schools has no choice to close five schools this morning due to a high volume of teacher absences,” DPS spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said in a statement Tuesday. Sixty-four public Detroit Public Schools were closed Monday. In a statement Tuesday, the interim president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers said district and state officials must address concerns about conditions in DPS school buildings. “As frustrations by educators, parents and the community continue to mount over deep concerns about Detroit Public Schools’ deplorable health, safety and learning conditions, we need real answers from Emergency Manager Darnell Earley and Gov. Rick Snyder,” Ivy Bailey said. “The community is crying out for help over what is clearly a crisis in our schools. The DFT has called for public hearings to fully reveal all of the problems in every school and for Earley to announce how he intends to mitigate the issues. Our students and their families deserve real answers.” Tuesday’s sickout means several DPS schools have seen at least two unexpected school closures since December related to teacher sickouts. According to Detroit News research, some schools have been closed for at least three days: Bates Academy (3), Dixon Educational Learning Academy (3), Gompers Elementary-Middle School (3), Detroit Collegiate Preparatory at Northwestern (2), Palmer Park Preparatory Academy (2), Bow Elementary-Middle School (2), Vernor Elementary School (2), Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy (2), Spain Elementary-Middle School (2), Thirkell Elementary-Middle School (2), Cody Medicine and Community Health (2), Coleman A. Young Elementary (2), Burton International Academy (2), and Carver STEM Academy (2). Besides building conditions and supply shortages, teachers are upset by large class sizes, pay and benefit concessions, and a state plan to create a new, debt-free Detroit school district. DPS, which has been run by a series of state-appointed emergency managers since March 2009, has $515 million in past debts and unpaid vendor and pension bills. Gov. Rick Snyder weighed in on the issue Tuesday, labeling the sickout “a concern.” “What I would say is it’s really unfortunate because it’s coming at the expense of the kids. There are other venues and ways — if people have issues or things that they’d like to present — to do that. They shouldn’t be doing it at the expense of not having kids in class, and that is something that we’re carefully monitoring,” Snyder told reporters after touring the Detroit auto show Tuesday morning. “If it continues, I’m sure you’ll see action at some point. But the goal is, hopefully, they’ll stop that, and they’ll find other mechanisms and ways to communicate what issues they may have — and not do it at the expense of children.” Asked whether the solution might be legislation that better clarifies what constitutes “strike conditions,” Snyder said that could be something the Legislature eventually picks up. “There’s already been some discussion about that in terms of interviews the press has done with legislators, and that could be a consequence of this continuing,” Snyder said. Snyder added he supports Earley. “He’s been doing a good job. He’s been working hard,” Snyder said. “If you think about it, our goal is to get the Detroit Public Schools to be successful. I’ve proposed a package that involves an investment of over $700 million to improve education in Detroit. I’m not sure why people would want to go out and protest against a solution like that come to Detroit.” Snyder also said his office has had good feedback from both the state House and Senate on his proposal. In response, Bailey said Snyder’s concern “isn’t enough.” “The governor says he understands the frustration, but that isn’t enough,” she said in a statement. “A sufficient response to the Detroit Public Schools’ deplorable health, safety and learning conditions that are outraging educators and parents would be to address these issues and take action to mitigate the problems. The mayor and the state school superintendent are working with us on these issues; we need the governor’s help as well.” Last week, five public schools in Detroit were closed because of sickouts, including at Cass Tech, Renaissance and Martin Luther King Jr. high schools. Teachers at another school, Wayne Elementary on the east side, attempted a sickout Wednesday, but the district was able to get the building staffed, according to a teacher who attended a Sunday night meeting of the Strike to Win Committee. Steve Conn, the ousted president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, has been calling for teachers to stay home in protest. “It’s great,” Conn told The News on Monday. Conn was removed from office and expelled from the DFT in August by the union executive board, which found him guilty of internal misconduct charges, including illegal cancellation of meetings and failure to investigate abuse of members. At a news conference Monday, Bailey and other union officials, teachers and parents expressed frustration about conditions in many DPS schools and called for public hearings. Bailey said health and safety hazards include rat and other rodent infestations, crumbling walls, holes in ceilings, cracked sidewalks and broken boilers and no heat. She also said DPS has 170 teaching vacancies and that some special education classrooms have no textbooks. The district has 46,325 students in its 107 school buildings. In fall 1999, Detroit Public Schools had more than 150,000 students enrolled and no budget deficit when teachers began the school year with a nine-day strike. The district imposed no fines, and teachers got a 6 percent raise, phased in over three years, better dental insurance, and smaller class sizes in some schools, according to Detroit News archives. Staff writer Melissa Nann Burke contributed. Read or Share this story: http://detne.ws/1P6IJev	A majority of public schools were closed yesterday due to a coordinated "sickout" of teachers. This work stoppage was the latest in a series of showdowns with state government and was timed with an arrival by the President to attend an auto show. Activists used the opportunity to hold rallies to air their grievances publicly. Educators have staged several work stoppages to protest the dilapidated state of public schools as well as Governor 's plan for the schools, which involves spliting the school district in two. Yesterday's protest closed over 85 schools and followed last week's efforts which shut down more than 60 and prompted visits to school sites by Mayor and inspectors. Detroit Public Schools is several hundred million dollars in debt and has been under the administration of emergency manager for a year. The "sickout" strategy attempts to sidestep Michigan law which prohibits teacher strikes. Schools have been found with mold in walls, crumbling infrastructure, and infestations. In response to the sickout, the school district has filed a lawsuit and sought an injunction against the union as well as individual activists and teachers.
Rescuers have recovered 24 bodies from the wreckage of a bus swallowed by a Mexico landslide, as a plane smashed into a busy road elsewhere in the country, killing nine people. Local authorities say up to 60 people were killed in Wednesday's landslide and there is little hope there are any survivors. Emergency workers have spent the night digging up the bus with the help of the army in the central state of Puebla. The victims were mostly students and farmers, whose ages ranged between six and 44. Puebla Governor Mario Marin says the first body, of a 40-year-old woman, was recovered by rescuers more than 12 hours after the accident late on Wednesday. A further 13 were recovered in the morning, among them six men, two women, two children and three who have not yet been identified. The bus was completely engulfed in mud, earth and rocks in a sudden landslide on Wednesday morning (local time) near the mountain village of Zacacoapan, in the Sierra Negra area of Puebla. Plane crash Meanwhile, a cargo plane smashed into a busy road, hitting vehicles and killed nine people after failing to take off in north-western Mexico. Local government spokesman Oscar Rivera says the plane broke through a wall, hitting a military truck and a car after failing to take off at the Culiacan airport in the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa. "The plane was not able to take off and because the airport is in the middle of an urban area, it crashed on a busy road," he said. Mr Rivera says the plane, owned by a mail courier company, failed to take off because of a mechanical problem and the pilot was unable to control the aircraft. He says the victims include the plane's three crew members and four people who were travelling in a car. Two soldiers who were guarding the airport for the arrival of President Felipe Calderon were also killed. Mr Calderon cancelled his planned trip to Sinaloa state after the accident. - AFP \|\|\|\|\| President Felipe Calderon has cancelled a planned visit to Culiacan The plane overshot the runway and slid onto a road where it hit a military vehicle and other cars. Officials said two soldiers and four civilians were among those killed on the ground at Culiacan airport. Mexico's president had been planning a visit to the state of Sinaloa but cancelled the trip after the accident. The two soldiers who were killed were guarding the airport for his arrival. Another five people were injured and sent to hospital. As the plane sped down the runway to take off a tyre exploded and the pilot lost control of the aircraft. It ran onto a road, hitting a military vehicle, two other cars and a mechanic's workshop. "The plane was not able to take off, and because the airport is in the middle of an urban area, it crashed on a busy road," Oscar Rivera, a spokesman for the pacific coast state of Sinaloa told Agence France Presse. The twin-engine Sabreliner was owned by a Mexican company, Jet Paqueteria.	Nine people have been killed when a cargo plane failed to take off correctly at Culiacán Airport in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico yesterday. The plane, owned by a mail courier company, is thought to have blown a tire during the take-off procedure, causing it to run off the end of the runway and break through a wall. It then crashed onto an adjacent highway, killing three crew members aboard the aircraft and six people on the road. The six included two members of a security presence for Mexican President Felipe Calderón, who was due to arrive shortly after the incident for a day visit. A family of four were also killed when their car was engulfed by flames that were trailing the aircraft. The President, who was in a plane en route to Culiacán at the time of the incident, cancelled his visit after hearing the news. The accident comes during the rescue attempts following landslides in the central state of Puebla. Up to 60 people were killed in the slide the day prior to the Culiacán incident, according to local authorities.
View larger image Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, walk along the grounds of their temporary housing, in San Angelo, Texas, Monday, April 7, 2008. (AP / Tony Gutierrez) View larger image Law enforcement officials assist members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints onto a school bus in Eldorado, Texas, Sunday, April 6, 2008. (AP / Tony Gutierrez) More than 400 children removed from compound CTV.ca News Staff More than 400 children removed from a polygamist compound in Texas have been taken into state custody after a judge ordered every child living there to be taken from their parents. Police say they continue to discover more children as they search from house to house at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, a secretive religious compound built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. They allege the children, mainly girls, have been abused or neglected. The raid began Sunday after a tense standoff between residents of the compound -- members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- and police. It was prompted by a 16-year-old girl's phone call to police, in which she claimed she had been forced to marry a 50-year-old man. She also said girls as young as 14 or 15 were being forced into marriages with much older men and that she gave birth to a child at 15 years old. Girls younger than 16 are not permitted by Texas law to get married. Police haven't found the girl and don't know if she is one of those who have already been relocated. They say 133 women, many who have never seen the world outside the compound, went willingly with the children. They are being housed at Fort Concho, a nearby historic site. Many of the women and girls removed from the compound wore handmade, pioneer-style dresses. Their hair, which they weren't allowed to cut, was worn in braids. They were not allowed to wear red because Jeffs preached that the colour belongs to Jesus. They spent their days looking after the children, gardening and doing other chores. Authorities say many of the women and children may have a difficult time adapting to life in the outside world. An undisclosed number of men are still at the sect's complex, being held by state troopers until the search of the seven-square-kilometre property is finished. The compound includes a medical station, residential units and a massive white limestone temple. Jeffs, the leader who built the compound, is currently in jail for being an accomplice to rape. He has followers scattered in enclaves throughout Arizona, Utah and Texas. The sect also has a settlement in Bountiful, B.C. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a breakaway sect of the Mormon Church, which renounced polygamy in 1890. Many living on the compound believed they were waiting for an imminent rapture. Authorities searching the compound were looking for documents or photos that prove the girl who called police was married to Dale Barlow, 50. Barlow is currently in Arizona, his lawyer told The Salt Lake Tribune. According to Tela Mange, a spokesperson for the state's Department of Public Safety, troopers charged one man with interfering with the duties of a public servant during the search warrant, but it was not Barlow. With files from the Associated Press \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Authorities said Monday they have taken legal custody of 401 children who lived on an isolated West Texas polygamist retreat built by imprisoned "prophet" Warren Jeffs. Authorities load members of the FLDS onto buses as they search their Texas ranch for clues of abuse. The children are being kept at a temporary shelter at historic Fort Concho in nearby San Angelo while authorities investigate whether a child bride gave birth on the ranch at age 15. The children in state custody are joined at the shelter by 133 women, most of them mothers, who were taken during the past few days from the sprawling Yearning for Zion ranch, said Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for the state's Child Protective Services agency. The women are free to return to the 1,900-acre compound, officials said, but many have chosen to remain. At this point, officials said, the children's fathers are not permitted to see them. See buses take girls from compound » Court proceedings began Monday to determine whether there is enough evidence to remove the children from their homes on the ranch, which is near Eldorado, Meisner said. A hearing is scheduled April 17. The children will be appointed lawyers and legal guardians in about two weeks, she added. Meisner said the temporary shelter is filling up quickly, and officials are facing a "critical shortage" of foster homes. Officials will try to keep siblings together, she added. Law enforcement officials would not provide many details of their investigation, but Meisner said the 401 court affidavits being filed Monday should shed some light on the alleged abuse. The investigation, which began Thursday night, is continuing and authorities remain on the property to search for evidence and other children, said Tela Mange of the Texas Department of Public Safety. One man has been arrested, allegedly for interfering with investigators. He faces a misdemeanor charge, authorities said. Investigators said they believe more children will be found at the ranch, but Mange stopped short of saying they were being hidden. See why police want every child removed » Authorities would not say whether they have located or identified the teen tipster whose call prompted the raid. On March 31, a 16-year-old called and reported physical and sexual abuse on the ranch, authorities said. She said she was married to a 50-year-old man. Authorities are looking for evidence the girl had a child at the age of 15. It remains unclear whether the girl who reported being abused is among the children being interviewed -- or was whisked away from the compound under a different name before authorities arrived. "I am confident that this girl does indeed exist," Meisner said earlier. "I am confident that the allegations that she brought forth are accurate." One issue compounding an already difficult and sensitive investigation is the difficulty pinning down exact names and ages of the people being interviewed -- as well as of the people being sought. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints bought the ranch four years ago and began erecting dormitories and a large, white temple. Hundreds of Jeffs' followers moved from Arizona and Utah as authorities there stepped up their investigations. The name is taken from one of Jeffs' spiritual songs, "Yearning for Zion." Authorities began blocking roads to the YFZ ranch Thursday, then raided the compound and began busing women and children off the property. Most were girls, and most wore hand-sewn prairie dresses. Watch Eldorado residents react to the removals » Officers entered the compound with a search warrant for 50-year-old Dale Evans Barlow, who they believed was married to the 16-year-old tipster. The search warrant authorized law enforcement to seize any evidence of a marriage between the two including CDs, DVDs and a computer hard drive, The Associated Press reported. Barlow was sentenced to jail last year after pleading no contest to conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, the AP said. Barlow was ordered to register as a sex offender for three years while on probation, the wire service reported. Barlow's probation officer, Bill Loader, told The Salt Lake Tribune in Utah that he was in Arizona and did not know his accuser. It remained unclear, the spokeswomen said, whether that was the same Dale Barlow named in their warrant. They acknowledged the man they are seeking might not be in Texas, but said they had no other details about his whereabouts. CNN's previous visits to the ranch revealed the compound was guarded by armed men equipped with night-vision gear and other high-tech surveillance tools. Authorities would not say Monday whether they had found any weapons. Jeffs remains jailed in Kingman, Arizona, where he awaits trial on four counts of incest and sexual conduct with a minor stemming from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. Jeffs was sentenced in November to two terms of 5 years to life for being an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old girl who said she was forced to marry her cousin. E-mail to a friend Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. All About Warren Jeffs \|\|\|\|\| BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Texas authorities have so far removed more than 400 children from a polygamist compound and sent them to state custody, media reported Tuesday. "This is the largest endeavor we've ever been involved in the state of Texas," said Marleigh Meisner, spokesman of Children's Protective Services. Women were found dressed in home-sewn, ankle-length dresses with their hair pinned up in braids, and girls in pioneer dresses when police raid the 1,700-acre property, which includes a medical facility, a cheese-making plant, a cement plant, a school, numerous large housing units and a white limestone temple. The women were not allowed to wear red -- the color jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs said belonged to Jesus -- and were not allowed to cut their hair. They were also kept isolated from the outside world. "Once you go into the compound, you don't ever leave it," said Carolyn Jessop, 40, one of the wives of the alleged leader. They "were born into this," said Jessop, "Their mothers were born into and have no concept of mainstream culture. Their grandmothers were born into it." Meisner said each child will get an advocate and an attorney but predicted that if they end up permanently separated from their families, the sheltered children would have a tough acclimation to modern life. Police have arrested one person as they continue searching the rural compound that houses followers of Jeffs. The raid was sparked by a 16-year-old girl's call to authorities that she was abused. She also said that girls as young as 14 and 15 were forced into marriages with much older men. The location of the girl is still underway. (Agencies) Polygamist temple: search goes on for 16-year-old mother BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhuanet)-- U.S. state troopers who removed 219 women and children from a polygamist compound were continuing their investigation to determine whether they had the 16-year-old girl whose report of underage marriage led to the raid, media reported Monday. What made the investigation difficult is that many people share similar names, and in some case they were giving different names at different times, investigators said. The investigators armed with a search warrant raided the compound on Friday to look for evidence of the girl, who allegedly had a baby at 15, with a 50-year-old man. Under Texas law, girls younger than 16 cannot marry, even with parental approval. Full story U.S. authorities remove 137 children from polygamist compound Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs (L) sits with his defense team as they listen to Judge James L. Shumate's sentence in the fifth district court in St. George, Utah Nov. 20, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>> A total of 183 people -- including 137 children -- have been taken away since law enforcement officers raided the compound Thursday night, said Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for the Texas Child Protective Services Division. Full story \|\|\|\|\| People were escorted from the compound behind sheets. Related Links April 7: Troopers make arrest during raid on West Texas polygamist compound As of Monday, more than 400 women and children were taken from the fundamentalist sect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Eldorado. They are being housed by state authorities. At least two shelters in the Austin tell us they have been contacted about housing kids, in what’s becoming one of the biggest abuse cases in the state. The Austin Children's Shelter says the state called them about bed availability, but they have none right now, and Safe Place tells us they were asked about housing some of the children from the compound, but were later told they weren't needed. The mothers and children taken from the shelter are now being questioned at an historic fort in San Angelo. "this is not about numbers, this is about children who are at imminent risk of harm, children we believe have been abused and neglected,” Marleigh Meisner with Child Protective Services said. This all started when a teen from the sect called police claiming she had a baby at 15 with her 50-year-old husband. That gave authorities enough probable cause to raid the compound, started by imprisoned polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. It's unclear whether the teen who made the call to police is among the those taken from the compound. "At this point I can not confirm, we may have found her. We are not certain,” Meisner said. Her alleged husband is a registered sex offender said to be in Arizona. Police continue to search the 17-hundred acre ranch where they believe there may be more children. Kids from the compound could arrive in Austin as soon as space becomes available. A judge will hold a hearing about the children next week in San Angelo. Some of the children taken from a polygamist compound in West Texas may be headed to Austin.As of Monday, more than 400 women and children were taken from the fundamentalist sect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Eldorado. They are being housed by state authorities.At least two shelters in the Austin tell us they have been contacted about housing kids, in what’s becoming one of the biggest abuse cases in the state.The Austin Children's Shelter says the state called them about bed availability, but they have none right now, and Safe Place tells us they were asked about housing some of the children from the compound, but were later told they weren't needed.The mothers and children taken from the shelter are now being questioned at an historic fort in San Angelo."this is not about numbers, this is about children who are at imminent risk of harm, children we believe have been abused and neglected,” Marleigh Meisner with Child Protective Services said.This all started when a teen from the sect called police claiming she had a baby at 15 with her 50-year-old husband. That gave authorities enough probable cause to raid the compound, started by imprisoned polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.It's unclear whether the teen who made the call to police is among the those taken from the compound."At this point I can not confirm, we may have found her. We are not certain,” Meisner said.Her alleged husband is a registered sex offender said to be in Arizona.Police continue to search the 17-hundred acre ranch where they believe there may be more children. Kids from the compound could arrive in Austin as soon as space becomes available. A judge will hold a hearing about the children next week in San Angelo. \|\|\|\|\| Additional Children Removed at Polygamist Ranch in Texas A total of 137 children have so far been removed from the compound, as a confrontation appeared to be developing over law enforcement access to parts of the facility.	YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas, owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 133 women and 401 allegedly abused children have been taken into state custody after officials received a call from a distressed 16-year-old girl. The children were found in a 1700-acre compound belonging to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints during a raid which started on Saturday. Children as young as 6 months have been removed from the compound. The 16-year-old girl called in saying that she had been abused and forced to marry a 50 year old man. The girl also said that in the compound – which included a medical facility, a cheese-making plant, a cement plant, a school, numerous large housing units, and a white limestone temple – some females as young as 14 and 15 were already mothers. The girl has not yet been identified. The women leaving the compound were wearing home sewn, ankle-length dresses and were said to have been kept in isolation from the outside world. A spokesperson affiliated with the Texas Department of Public Safety has said that so far, one person has been arrested for "interfering with the duties of a public servant." She also told reporters that "an unknown number of men remain on the compound and are not free to leave." The children will be assigned attorneys and the case hearing will be held next week. Meanwhile, the children will be staying in temporary shelters, which officials say are filling up fast. Police had been monitoring the compound ever since it was bought by the sect one year ago. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a polygamist sect led by Warren Jeffs – jailed last year for the rape and forced marriage of a 14 year old girl – is a breakaway branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which abandoned the practice of polygamy in 1890.
Sri Lanka's civil war came to the tourist coast in dramatic fashion as Tamil Tiger rebels staged a sea-borne raid on one of the island's top holiday destinations, the port town of Galle. Disguised as fishermen, the Tigers reached the town's naval base in five small vessels that had been travelling with fishing boats. Three of the Tigers' boats exploded at sea, damaging Sri Lankan naval vessels. Two made it to the shore, where the rebels attacked the base on land, leading to an hour-long gun battle. Article Length: 563 words (approx.) \|\|\|\|\| Sri Lankan police officers guard the coastline outside the naval base in Galle, about 110 kilometers south of the capital, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006 A suicide attack by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in the Sri Lankan port city of Galle has killed at least two people and injured a score of others. This was the second suicide bombing this week in Sri Lanka, where ethnic fighting has intensified in the past year. Officials say Tamil Tiger rebels posing as fishermen entered Galle in a flotilla of small boats, and rammed some of the explosive-packed vessels into navy gunboats anchored in the harbor. At least two of the navy boats were damaged. The incident sparked sporadic rioting in the seaside town. Shops belonging to the minority Tamil community were attacked in some areas. Authorities have imposed a curfew and increased security, and they say the city is now calm. Monday, more than a 100 people, mostly sailors, were killed when suspected guerrillas targeted a military convoy in the center of the country. Last week, a deadly battle in the north claimed the lives of hundreds of troops and rebels. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam, as the rebels are officially named, have been carrying out suicide bombings for almost 20 years. Analysts and government officials believe the latest attacks are an attempt by the rebels to demonstrate their strength before they sit down for peace talks scheduled to be held in Geneva later this month. But Patlitha Kohona, the head of the government peace secretariat, says such tactics will not work. "They have done this in the past also," Kohona says. "I assume they believe that by using terror tactics, they could intimidate the government. They are committing a big mistake. The government's objective is to negotiate an honorable peace. By using terror tactics, by using intimidatory tactics, I do not think the Tamil Tigers will be able to influence the government in any way." The latest attack occurred in an area that is not usually involved in Sri Lanka's deadly ethnic conflict. The civil war between Tamils and the majority Sinhalese has been raging mainly in the Tamil-dominated north and east of the country. Galle, by contrast, is located at the southwestern corner of Sri Lanka, about 100 kilometers south of Colombo. It is a popular tourist destination, and is also the country's main southern naval port. Hours after the attack, government warplanes bombed rebel-held territory in the east. The rebels say the bombs killed a woman and wounded two civilians. The air force has been carrying out retaliatory attacks since April, when hostilities intensified between the two sides. The sporadic fighting has claimed more than two-thousand lives this year, even though both sides claim they are still committed to a 2002 ceasefire, and to negotiating a peaceful solution. The conflict first erupted in 1983, when the rebels began fighting for an independent homeland for the minority Tamil community. \|\|\|\|\| Adjust font size: GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) -- This week's surge in violence in Sri Lanka comes as the South Asia island nation faces increasing international pressure to return to the negotiating table. Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels posing as fishermen blew up two boats in a suicide ambush on a Sri Lankan naval base Wednesday. (Full story) The bombing in Galle was the second such suicide attack on the Sri Lankan navy this week. On Monday, a suicide bomber rammed a truck filled with explosives into a military bus convoy in central Sri Lanka, in the deadliest insurgent attack since a 2002 cease-fire temporarily halted the country's civil war. (Full story) U.S. envoy Richard Boucher is scheduled to make a two-day visit to Sri Lanka beginning Thursday. On Wednesday Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi was scheduled to hold talks with rebel leaders in the north Wednesday. Norwegian envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer arrived in Colombo on Tuesday for meetings with government and rebel officials. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for the Tamil minority in the north and east, citing decades of discrimination by the majority Sinhalese. About 65,000 people were killed before the 2002 cease-fire. Aid workers bodies exhumed In the northeast, meanwhile, authorities exhumed the bodies of aid workers killed in August. Gregoire Lechat from Action Against Hunger said at least six bodies were disinterred in a cemetery in Trincomalee in the presence of a magistrate, judicial medical officers and relatives. Seventeen local staff of the group were found slain execution-style in the town of Mutur in early August amid heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. The killings prompted an international outcry and U.N. demands for an investigation. Two bodies were exhumed last month for further examination. Nordic cease-fire monitors have said that they are convinced that government troops were behind the massacre, a charge vehemently denied by the government. While the monitors said that their assessment was based on the heavy presence of government troops in Mutur at the time, the government said a post-mortem examination suggested the possible time of the killing was when the Tigers held the town for four days. Sri Lankan security spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella accused the rebels of staging deadly attacks to provoke a backlash against ethnic Tamils and win international sympathy ahead of peace talks starting October 28 in Switzerland. Rambukwella said the government would attend the talks despite the suicide attacks. The rebels told a Japanese peace envoy in their northern stronghold that they were also committed to the talks. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.	Just days following the suicide attack of unarmed Sri Lankan naval officers in Habarana, another was launched in the early hours of the morning in the southern port city of Galle. Official reports stipulate that terrorists, under the guise of fishermen in 5 boats entered the harbor and detonated after ramming into gunboats anchored at the naval base. Initial reports confirm that at least 16 people were killed and scores of others were injured in the blast. The government has accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE, a militant separatist group, banned as a terrorist organisation in countries such as United States, England, India and Australia of conducting both attacks. Though the organization has not claimed responsibility for either, they are also yet to claim responsibility in a string of such attacks, including the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, allegedly as retribution for "war-crimes" committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. Analysts believe that the attack on the port city of Galle, a UNESCO heritage site and the heart of Sri Lanka's tourist industry was aimed at sparking a government response in the lead up to talks between the government and the LTTE, as well serving an economic blow in the lead up to peak tourist season on the island. The presence of envoys from the U.S., Japan and Norway are expected for this week's scheduled government talks with the LTTE.
Gun assassin on the loose after man, 35, is shot dead outside his home in broad daylight By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 4:49 PM on 9th June 2010 A murder hunt is underway after a man was gunned down outside his home in broad daylight. Anthony Wright, 35, died at Wishaw General Hospital within hours of being shot around 7am today. The incident happened in Inverkip Drive, Shotts, Lanarkshire, and the gunman ran from the scene. He was last scene heading across wasteground at the back of Inverkip Drive Crime scene: Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the fatal shooting of Anthony Wrtight, 35, this morning Detective Superintendent John McSporran, of Strathclyde Police, said: 'A man has been shot in broad daylight in a very public place. It is imperative that we trace those responsible, who have obviously no regard for public safety. 'Fortunately, no one else has been injured and we believe that the victim was the intended target. 'However I would like to reassure members of the public that a high police presence will be maintained in the area and extra resources will be deployed to trace the suspects. 'We are currently checking local CCTV images and also conducting door-to-door inquiries with residents and shopkeepers in and around the area. 'Inverkip Drive would have been relatively busy around the time of the incident with people making their way to work. 'I would appeal to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident this morning and witnessed the incident take place, or has any information that may assist police 'nquiries to come forward to police as a matter of urgency.' 'I have no doubt that there are people out there who know who was involved in this crime and who may have reservations about coming forward. 'I would urge them to do so without delay as it is vital that the killer is arrested and brought to justice.' No description of the suspect is available, and police have offered no motive for the shooting. \|\|\|\|\| A murder investigation has been launched after a man was shot outside his home in North Lanarkshire and later died. Anthony Wright, 35, was shot by a gunman in Inverkip Drive, Shotts, at about 0700 BST. Police believe he was the intended target. No-one else was injured. The suspect made off on foot across wasteground. Detectives have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. The area around the house, where Mr Wright is thought to have lived with his girlfriend and four children, has been cordoned off. It is understood Mr Wright, who died at Wishaw General, was shot at on his driveway and again further down the street. Police said the area would have been relatively busy at the time of the shooting, with people heading to work. Det Supt John McSporran, said: "Extensive door to door enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who was in the Inverkip Drive area at that time to come forward. Continue reading the main story I have no doubt that there are people out there who know who was involved in this crime and who may have reservations about coming forward Det Supt John McSporran Strathclyde Police "Officers from the enquiry team are also keen to talk to anyone who may have seen the suspect heading towards wasteground at the back of Inverkip Drive. "I would ask members of the public who have not yet come forward and know something about this crime, to speak to police as a matter of urgency." One couple who live in the street, who did not wish to be named, said they had been sleeping when the shooting happened and only heard about it when a friend rang to tell them. The woman said: "We don't know the man well but he had a boy at the high school and three wee tots. It's shocking really." Forensic and ballistic experts were at the scene where a white tarpaulin covered part of the road. Public safety Det Supt McSporran added: "I have no doubt that there are people out there who know who was involved in this crime and who may have reservations about coming forward. "I would urge them to do so without delay as it is vital that the killer is arrested and brought to justice." Ch Supt Graham Cairn said local people should remain calm following the shooting, which happened in broad daylight. He added: "We see this as an isolated incident. Normal, law-abiding residents and members of the public need not fear. "I would like to reassure them that I will be putting on extra patrols in the area to make sure that everyone feels safe. Normal members of the public should not worry themselves." \|\|\|\|\| 181875 A murder inquiry has begun after a man was shot dead at his home in Shotts in the early hours of the morning. Thirty-five-year-old Anthony Wright was shot while he was outside his home in Inverkip Drive, Shotts, around 7am on Wednesday morning. According to reports, Mr Wright was approached by the gunman on his driveway, and was shot once on the driveway and a second time as the gunman ran away. STV reporter Debi Edward, who was at the scene, said neighbours were reluctant to speak openly about Mr Wright. Forensic teams in white body suits were in the street investigating an area which has been covered with a large white tarpaulin. Mr Wright was taken by ambulance to Wishaw General Hospital, where he later died. No one else was injured as a result of the disturbance. Police have not released a description of the suspect, who is said to have made off on foot across nearby wasteground and was last seen at the back of Inverkip Drive. Speaking on Wednesday, Detective Superintendent John McSporran said: "Extensive door-to-door enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal once again to anyone who was in the Inverkip Drive area at that time to come forward. Officers from the enquiry team are also keen to talk to anyone who may have seen the suspect heading towards wasteground at the back of Inverkip Drive. "I would ask members of the public who have not yet come forward and know something about this crime, to speak to police as a matter of urgency. "I have no doubt that there are people out there who know who was involved in this crime and who may have reservations about coming forward. I would urge them to do so without delay as it is vital that the killer is arrested and brought to justice. Information can be given in confidence to Crimstoppers on 0800 555 111." Anyone with information can also contact the Incident Room at Coatbridge Police Office on telephone number 01236 452146. A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. Last updated: 09 June 2010, 20:20 GMT	Map of Scotland with highlighted in dark blue. A man has died after he was shot outside his house in , Scotland, United Kingdom. Anthony Wright, aged 35, was shot outside his household in the rural town of at approximately 0700 (0800 ) on Wednesday. Police think that Wright, who was shot twice, was the anticipated target. An ambulance then transported him to ; he died in the hospital later that day. A murder investigation has begun outside Wright's house. A completed report is expected to be submitted to the later on. No other injuries were reported as a result of this incident occurring. A description of the suspect's appearance has not been disclosed by the police. The police have not offered any motive for the crime. Reports say that the suspect left the crime scene on foot, going across some wasteland; he was last sighted at the rear of Inverkip Drive. One nearby resident, who is remaining unidentified, commented about Wright: "We don't know the man well but he had a boy at the high school and three wee tots. It's shocking really." Detective Superintendent John McSporran stated on Wednesday, "Extensive door-to-door enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal once again to anyone who was in the Inverkip Drive area at that time to come forward. Officers from the enquiry team are also keen to talk to anyone who may have seen the suspect heading towards wasteground at the back of Inverkip Drive." McSporran urged individuals who know about the incident to speak with law enforcement, "I would ask members of the public who have not yet come forward and know something about this crime, to speak to police as a matter of urgency. I have no doubt that there are people out there who know who was involved in this crime and who may have reservations about coming forward. I would urge them to do so without delay as it is vital that the killer is arrested and brought to justice."
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. A ceremony has been held to mark 65 years since the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Representatives from 75 nations - including the United States, which dropped the bomb - were among thousands who gathered to remember the moment that changed the world. A bell was rung at the precise moment the nuclear bomb 'Little Boy' was dropped by a US plane - just after 0800 on August 6, 1945. Around 140,000 people died, some instantly, others later from the effects of the radiation. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon used an appearance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremony in Japan to advocate for his five-point plan for worldwide nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. August 6 marks the 65th anniversary of the atomic bomb dropped by the United States at the end of World War II on Hiroshima. Another was dropped a few days later on Nagasaki. The bombs devastated both cities and killed more than 200,000 people. Thursday was the first time a U.N. secretary-general took part in the ceremony. "Together, we are on a journey from ground zero to global zero -- a world free of weapons of mass destruction," Ban said. "That is the only sane path to a safer world. For as long as nuclear weapons exist, we will live under a nuclear shadow." This is Ban's first visit to Hiroshima. He also made the first visit of a U.N. secretary-general to Nagasaki when he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony on August 5. Ban called for his plan for nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament to be acted upon. "It includes recommendations on security, verification, transparency, conventional weapons and the legal framework for nuclear disarmament," he said before laying the wreath in Nagasaki. In Hiroshima, Ban noted recent success in the nonproliferation movement. "We see new leadership from the most powerful nations. We see new engagement in the U.N. Security Council. We see new energy from civil society," he said. Ban cited the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the United States and Russia, which would replace the 1991 START that expired last year. He also noted progress made at a nuclear summit in Washington earlier this year. "We will build upon [that] in Korea in 2012. ... We must keep up the momentum," he said. Ban said he will convene a conference on disarmament in New York in September. "We will push for negotiations towards nuclear disarmament. A comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. A fissile material cut-off treaty," he said. Ban further advocated for "disarmament education" in schools, calling for the translation of survivor testimony in all the world's major languages. "We must teach an elemental truth: that status and prestige belong not to those who possess nuclear weapons, but to those who reject them," he said. "Let us realize our dream of a world free of nuclear weapons so that our children and all succeeding generations can live in freedom, security and peace." Ban said his experience of living through the Korean War as a child motivated him to be a leader who seeks peace. "One of my earliest memories is marching along a muddy road into the mountains, my village burning behind me," he said. "All those lives lost, families destroyed, so much sadness. Ever since, I have devoted my life to peace. It has brought me here today." United States Ambassador John Roos also attended, marking the first time the United States has sent an envoy to the Hiroshima memorial ceremony. \|\|\|\|\| US Ambassador John Roos at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, marking the 65th anniversary of the bombing. Photograph: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images The US ambassador to Japan, John Roos, today became the first US representative to attend an annual ceremony to honour the victims of the bombing of Hiroshima. Roos's presence at an event to mark 65 years since a US bomb left Hiroshima in ruins has raised hopes that president Barack Obama will visit the city when he attends a meeting of Apec leaders in Japan in November. The mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba, welcomed Washington's decision to send Roos, after it had previously turned down invitations to mark the moment a B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the city on the morning of 6 August 1945. "We need to communicate to every corner of the globe the intense yearning of the survivors for the abolition of nuclear weapons," Akiba said. "I offer my prayers to those who died. We will not make you wait for much longer [for nuclear disarmament]." An estimated 140,000 people were killed instantly or died from the effects of radiation in the months that followed. A further 80,000 people died after the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days later. The US has since justified the bombings as an alternative to a potentially prolonged and costly land invasion, saying the devastation wrought on the cities forced Japan's surrender days later, on 15 August. Some of the 55,000 people attending today's ceremony made symbolic offerings of water to the victims, as many had complained of thirst as they lay dying, while schoolchildren read out messages of peace. A single bell tolled as the city's people fell silent at 8:15am, the exact time "Little Boy" detonated. Envoys from France and Britain – both nuclear powers – and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, also attended for the first time. Roos did not speak at the ceremony, but said in a statement that his attendance was proof of the Obama administration's commitment to disarmament. "For the sake of future generations, we must continue to work together to realise a world without nuclear weapons," he said. Conservatives in the US have criticised the decision to send Roos, saying it would be misinterpreted as an act of contrition. The son of a member of the Enola Gay crew said the ambassador's visit to Hiroshima amounted to an "unspoken apology". Gene Tibbets, whose deceased father, Brig Gen Paul Tibbets, piloted the bomber, told Fox News: "It's making the Japanese look like they're the poor people, like they didn't do anything. They hit Pearl Harbor, they struck us. We didn't slaughter the Japanese. We stopped the war." The prospect of a first visit to Hiroshima by a sitting US president has also divided opinion in Japan. "I'm not sure if I would welcome president Obama here," Katsuki Fujii, a college student, told Associated Press. "I don't think we have the same idea of what peace is. He seems to think some wars are good and some are bad. I think they are all bad." Japan's long campaign to persuade the world's nuclear powers to disarm sits uneasily with its postwar dependence on the US nuclear umbrella. The prime minister, Naoto Kan, said Japan must continue to look to its ally for security in "uncertain times" – a clear reference to the perceived threat from a nuclear North Korea. "I think that nuclear deterrence continues to be necessary for our nation at a time when there are unclear and uncertain factors," Kan said. "We share strong hopes for nuclear disarmament, but the reality is that nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction are spreading."	Hiroshima aftermath The 65th anniversary of the has been remembered in a ceremony Thursday in , Japan. The atomic bomb, code-named "", was dropped on Hiroshima at precisely 08:15 local time on August 6, 1945 by the specially converted bomber piloted by Colonel , who later retired as a brigadier general in the . Diplomats from 75 countries attended this anniversary including the United States, United Kingdom and France for the first time. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, who was also attending this ceremony for the first time said "Together, we are on a journey from ground zero to global zero — a world free of weapons of mass destruction, and that is the only sane path to a safer world. For as long as nuclear weapons exist, we will live under a nuclear shadow." U.S. Ambassador to Japan also attended, marking the first time that a U.S. representative has attended the ceremony. Meanwhile, some conservatives in the United States have criticised the choice for Roos to attend. Gene Tibbets, the son of retired Brigadier General Tibbets said on , "It's making the Japanese look like they're the poor people, like they didn't do anything. They hit Pearl Harbor, they struck us. We didn't slaughter the Japanese. We stopped the war." Three days after Hiroshima, another atomic bomb, "", was dropped on nearby . The Japanese Government surrendered unconditionally on August 15, and signed the formal surrender on the on September 2 in . Approximately 140,000 people died within days from the initial blast of the Hiroshima bomb and during the following year from radiation. The total death toll was almost half of Hiroshima's population.
At least 12 people have been killed and 25 injured in what police say is a suicide bomb attack in the Hangu district of north-west Pakistan. The attack targeted a convoy of 140 vehicles travelling from Tall in the Hangu district to the town of Parachinar in the Kurram region. No-one has yet said they carried out the attack. Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has witnessed numerous bombings by insurgents over the past year. A suicide attack on a police station in the Karak area of north-west Pakistan killed three people last week. Volatile region Police said that the bomber detonated explosives near a bus full of passengers. The convoy was carrying groups of people as well as vehicles loaded with general provisions and other trade goods. Most of the passengers in the convoy were Shia Muslims. The Parachinar and Orakzai region is home to a large number of Shia Muslims and the area has suffered from sectarian violence in the past. The Tall-Parachinar road was closed to all traffic for nearly two years in 2008 and 2009 because of Taliban activity in the area and the frequency of attacks on Shia Muslims in the area, correspondents say. The road was re-opened about two months ago and traffic currently moves in convoys guarded by paramilitary security forces. Hangu borders Pakistan's volatile semi-autonomous tribal regions, where a number of militant groups are thought to be operating. But anti-militant operations by security forces in the area has improved security, correspondents say. \|\|\|\|\| A suicide bomber on foot targeted a group of Shiite Muslims on two buses in north-western Pakistan last night, killing at least five people and wounding 25 in the latest violence to rock the Afghan border region. The victims, some of them women, were at a petrol station in the town of Hangu. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals. Pakistan's north-west has been bedevilled for years by extremist violence fuelled by anger over the war in Afghanistan and Islamabad's alliance with Washington. An army offensive that began in October against the Pakistani Taliban spurred a wave of attacks across the country that killed more than 600.	At least twelve civilians have died and over 25 wounded in a suicide bombing in the of north-west Pakistan, Thursday night. A convoy of 140 vehicles running from , in Hangu District to the town of in , FATA was targeted. The victims, some of them women, were at a petrol station in Hangu. The wounded were taken to adjoining hospitals. According to police, the attacker detonated a bomb near a fully loaded bus. The convoy carried several people, vehicles filled with provisions and commodities for trading. A majority of the people in the group were Shia Muslims. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Several insurgents have attacked the country's North West Frontier Province in the last year. Earlier, three died in another suicide attack on a police station in Karak, located in the same area. Many Shi'as dwell in the Parachinar and Orakzai area which has been home to violence in the past. The Tall-Parachinar road was closed to the public in 2008 and 2009 due to Taliban activity. The latter targeted Shia Muslims, sources say. The road was re-opened about two months ago, with convoys guarded by security forces forming the bulk of the traffic. Hangu borders Pakistan's tribal regions, where several militant groups are believed to be operating. However, security forces say that arrangements have improved from the past.
NATO Stops Pirate Attack On Norwegian Ship NATO forces have foiled an attack by Somali pirates on a Norwegian tanker in the Gulf of Aden. Piracy in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia NATO officials say a warship and helicopters came to the rescue of the MV Front Ardenne late Saturday after it was attacked by pirates in a small skiff. The officials say the pirates fled but were hunted down in the dark by a Canadian ship. Forces aboard that ship briefly detained seven gunmen. The Associated Press quotes a NATO spokesman (Lieutenant Commander Alexandre Santos Fernandes) as saying the pirates were released because they cannot be prosecuted under Canadian law. On Saturday, Somali pirates hijacked a Belgian vessel (the Pompei) with 10 crew members as it traveled south to the Seychelles islands. In another incident, Dutch forces with NATO rescued 20 Yemeni hostages that pirates had been holding on a pirate "mother ship." The Dutch forces briefly detained the pirates in the Gulf of Aden after responding to a distress call from a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. Nearly a dozen countries are running naval patrols off Somalia to combat pirates who have hijacked more than 60 ships since the start of 2008. In some cases, the pirates have received ransom payments of more than a million dollars for releasing a ship. The pirates are believed to be holding about 17 ships at the moment with about 300 crew members. NATO officials say a warship and helicopters came to the rescue of the MV Front Ardenne late Saturday after it was attacked by pirates in a small skiff.The officials say the pirates fled but were hunted down in the dark by a Canadian ship.Forces aboard that ship briefly detained seven gunmen. The Associated Press quotes a NATO spokesman (Lieutenant Commander Alexandre Santos Fernandes) as saying the pirates were released because they cannot be prosecuted under Canadian law.On Saturday, Somali pirates hijacked a Belgian vessel (the Pompei) with 10 crew members as it traveled south to the Seychelles islands.In another incident, Dutch forces with NATO rescued 20 Yemeni hostages that pirates had been holding on a pirate "mother ship."The Dutch forces briefly detained the pirates in the Gulf of Aden after responding to a distress call from a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker.Nearly a dozen countries are running naval patrols off Somalia to combat pirates who have hijacked more than 60 ships since the start of 2008.In some cases, the pirates have received ransom payments of more than a million dollars for releasing a ship.The pirates are believed to be holding about 17 ships at the moment with about 300 crew members. Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- NATO forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden foiled a pirate attack on a Norwegian tanker this weekend, a NATO spokesman said. The Canadian navy's HMCS Winnipeg helped foil a pirate attack on a Norwegian tanker Sunday, NATO says. Pirates attempted to capture the MV Front Ardennes at 6 p.m. Saturday and were apprehended seven hours later, Commander Chris Davies told CNN. A NATO-supported Canadian navy ship, the HMCS Winnipeg, was returning from escorting a World Food Program vessel in the gulf when it saw the Norwegian ship under attack, Davies said. A British Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, the Wave Knight, was also in the area. The pirates were captured at 1 a.m. Sunday after they threw weapons, ladders and scaling equipment overboard, Davies said. Several rounds of ammunition were found on the pirates' boat. The pirates were detained, but allowed to go free after questioning. There is currently no formal procedure for NATO personnel to follow once they have apprehended pirates, Davies noted. Their weapons are confiscated and they are then typically given provisions and released. The Sunday incident is the latest in a string of hijackings off the Horn of Africa, which have received more attention since pirates attacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship on April 8 and took its captain hostage. See a map of pirate attacks » On Saturday, Dutch naval forces captured seven pirates and freed 20 captive fishermen after tracking the pirates to their "mother ship" in the western Gulf of Aden. The rescue came as pirates were capturing another vessel -- a Belgian ship -- off the coast of the Seychelles islands. On Wednesday, the French navy captured 11 suspected pirates off the coast of Kenya, the French Ministry of Defense announced. The French launched a helicopter from the frigate Nivose to head off an attack on a ship Tuesday night, then seized the suspected pirates Wednesday morning, the statement said. On Tuesday, the Liberty Sun, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship bound for Mombasa, Kenya, was attacked by Somali pirates, according to a NATO source with direct knowledge of the matter. The pirates never made it onto the ship. Also Tuesday, pirates in the Gulf of Aden hijacked the MV Irene EM, a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier, according to a NATO spokesman and the European Union's Maritime Security Center. Later Tuesday, pirates on four skiffs seized the 5,000-ton MV Sea Horse, a Lebanese-owned and Togo-flagged vessel, Davies said. On Monday, pirates hijacked two Egyptian fishing boats carrying a total of between 18 and 24 people, the Egyptian Information Ministry told CNN. The hijacking of the U.S.-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama, began when pirates attacked the vessel about 350 miles off Somalia's coast on April 8. The crew quickly regained control of the ship, but the captain, Richard Phillips, was taken hostage and held for five days in a covered lifeboat. On April 12, U.S. Navy snipers killed three pirates holding Phillips. A fourth pirate was taken into custody. Pirates in Somalia said later that Tuesday's attack on the Liberty Sun was a response to the killing of Phillips' captors. CNN's Carol Jordan in London, England, contributed to this report. All About Pirates • NATO • Somalia	According to a spokesman for NATO, an attempted hijacking of a Norwegian tanker in the Gulf of Aden by Somali pirates has been thwarted by NATO forces. The MV Front Ardennes came under attack by pirates in a small skiff at about 6:00 PM on Saturday. Helicopters and a warship were dispatched to rescue the vessel, and the pirates were apprehended seven hours after the initial hijacking. Officials said that pirates tried to flee in the dark, but were caught by a Canadian vessel. Seven of the pirate gunmen were temporarily detained, but were later released. NATO spokesman Lieutenant Commander Alexandre Santos Fernandes stated that since there was no Canadian law that could have prosecuted the pirates, they had to be released. Piracy is rife off the eastern coast of Africa; on Saturday, Somali pirates seized a Belgian ship, the ''Pompei'', with its ten crew members, as it was headed south for the Seychelles islands. Over sixty ships, in total have been hijacked by pirates since the start of last year. Currently, pirates are thought to be holding about three hundred crew members from seventeen ships.
Australian authorities could learn from the report into March's Garuda plane crash in central Java, a Canberra coroner has recommended. Chief coroner Ron Cahill said the inquiry could shed light on air safety issues in Australia, a Fairfax newspaper reports. "I recommend that CASA and Air Services Australia and all Australian airlines review the report to consider whether any of the safety deficiencies identified have relevance to Australian aviation operations and therefore need to be addressed," he said. In the Garuda accident on March 7, 21 people died, including five Australians, when the aircraft crashed on landing at Yogyakarta in central Java. Mr Cahill told the newspaper he believed if the crash had happened in Australia, prosecutors would be involved. Mr Cahill endorsed a report last month by Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee which found the Garuda flight came in too fast, with the pilot not responding to 15 alarms before the crash. "It is of some concern that the Indonesian regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, did not provide the National Transportation Safety Committee with details of safety action to address the recommendations which were in the draft report," Mr Cahill said. \|\|\|\|\| Updated 19 December 2011, 12:34 AEDT The Chief Coroner of the Australian Capital Territory has officially concluded that three Australians killed in an Indonesian air crash earlier this year died from multiple injuries. Alison Sudradjat, Brice Steele and Mark Scott where among five Australians who died when a Garuda plane overshot the runway in Yogyakarta in March. Their bodies were repatriated to Canberra where the Chief Coroner Ron Cahill was asked to investigate the deaths at the request of the families. Mr Cahill echoed Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee report into the crash, saying pilot error significantly contributed to the accident. Alison Sudrajat's husband, Ris spoke outside the court. "It was clear that it was the pilot's fault with 5 warnings before the landing," he said. The Coroner said the findings would also apply to the other Australians who died. \|\|\|\|\| Garuda pilot significantly contributed to crash, inquest hears Posted The ACT's Chief Coroner has handed down his findings in an inquiry investigating the deaths of three Australians in an Indonesian air crash earlier this year. Alison Sudrajat, Brice Steele and Mark Scott died in March when a Garuda plane overshot the runway in Yogyakarta. Today Chief Coroner Ron Cahill echoed the findings of Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee, saying the pilot's actions had significantly contributed to the accident. Outside the court, the daughter of Ms Sudrajat said the hearing gave her family more detail about the last moments of the flight. "It was very informative and it was nice to know what exactly happened, because he went into quite some detail about everything," she said. "It was quite comforting, but it's not going to bring anyone back." Topics: accidents, air-and-space, disasters-and-accidents, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, indonesia, australia	Singapore Changi Airport on February 4, 2007. It is nearly identical to the one that crashed. Ron Cahill, a Canberra resident and chief coroner of the Australian Capital Territory, has concluded the inquest into the deaths of three Australian nationals who were amongst the 21 people killed in the crash of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200. The Boeing 737-400 aircraft overshot a runway at Yogyakarta, Indonesia on March 7. The inquest indicated that Alison Sudradjat, Brice Steele and Mark Scott died from injuries sustained in the crash. Cahill commented that this finding would also apply to the deaths of two other Australians on the flight; the remaining fatal injuries were sustained by Indonesians. The inquest was opened at the request of families of the three victims involved in this inquest after the repatriation of their bodies. Cahill agreed fully with a recent report issued by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee, which indicated that the pilot-in-command attempted to land the aircraft at extreme speed despite 15 automated cockpit warnings and a request from the co-pilot to perform a go-around. He went on to suggest that the pilot should be prosecuted over his mistakes. "I recommend that CASA and Air Services Australia and all Australian airlines review the report to consider whether any of the safety deficiencies identified have relevance to Australian aviation operations and therefore need to be addressed," he said. He went on to describe concerns with how these deficiencies are being addressed in Indonesia: "It is of some concern that the Indonesian regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, did not provide the National Transportation Safety Committee with details of safety action to address the recommendations which were in the draft report." Alison Sudrajat's daughter had this to say in light of the findings: "It was very informative and it was nice to know what exactly happened, because he went into quite some detail about everything." "It was quite comforting, but it's not going to bring anyone back."
Publicity Images Most of the content on this website, including the images and music is freely distributable under a Creative Commons license. See the copyright and sharing info for more details. Press Release May 18, 2006 For Immediate Release Elephants Dream, internet release of the first 3D ‘Open Movie’ (Blender Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) - The 3D animated short ‘Elephants Dream’ will today be released as a free and public download. This is the final stage of a successfully completed Open Movie project which has been community-financed, using only Open Source tools, and opening up the movie itself as well as the entire studio database for everyone to re-use and learn from. The movie and production files are licensed as “Creative Commons Attribution 2.5″, which only requires a proper crediting for public screening, re-using and distribution. In the past weeks, the donating sponsors have received the dual DVD set of this project in their mailbox. This DVD set remains for sale via the blender.org e-shop as support product for future Open Movie projects. The Blender Foundation is committed to start working on similar projects soon. The movie files and download mirrors can be accessed here: http://www.elephantsdream.org/download Elephants Dream is the culmination of the Orange Open Movie Project, produced by the Blender Foundation and the Netherlands Media Art Institute. The project was conceived to help develop and establish the capabilities of the Blender 3D open source tool for the creation of cinema quality animation. The film tells the story of Emo and Proog, two people with different visions of the surreal world in which they live. Viewers are taken on a journey through that world, full of strange mechanical birds, stunning technological vistas and machinery that seems to have a life of its own. ‘Elephants Dream’ features the voice talents of renowned Dutch movie actors Tygo Gernandt and Cas Jansen, as well as an original score by German composer Jan Morgenstern. The short brought together the talents of a team of artists from countries as diverse as Syria, Germany, Australia, Finland, and the Netherlands. In addition to the performances of the cast and creative efforts of the lead artists, Elephants Dream has had the assistance of hundreds of individuals across the world who contributed a variety of work such as programming additional functionality for Blender, creating textures used in some of the scenes, and providing international translations for the DVD release. The files have been released on two DVDs with the movie in PAL, NTSC and HD formats, a making-of documentary, and all of the studio files. The DVDs were shipped in early May 2006. As promised, shortly after, the movie and database of source material is now available for public download as well. Studio Orange team: Director: Bassam Kurdali (Syria /USA), Art Director: Andreas Goralczyk (Germany) Lead Artists: Matt Ebb (Australia), Bastian Salmela (Finland), Lee Salvemini (Australia) Technical Director: Toni Alatalo (Finland) For more information: http://www.elephantsdream.org http://www.blender.org Contact: Ton Roosendaal Chairman, Blender Foundation Email: ton(at)blender.org \|\|\|\|\| You seem to have CSS turned off. Please don't fill out this field. You seem to have CSS turned off. Please don't fill out this field. Briefly describe the problem (required):	Emo and Proog, the lead characters of the movie The 3D animated short film ''Elephants Dream'', formerly known as ''Project Orange'', was released to the Internet yesterday. The film is available under the Creative Commons Attribution License, allowing anyone to download, modify and distribute it. The 10-minute film has been called "the first open source movie" by ''NewsForge''. Not only is the movie itself free content, even the computer files containing the 3D models used in the film are available under the same terms. The project was first announced one year ago and was jointly produced by the Blender Foundation and the Netherlands Media Art Institute. The film tells the story of Emo and Proog, two men trapped inside a surreal machine world. Only freely available open source software was used to create the movie. Most of the work was done using Blender, a 3D modelling and rendering tool. The Blender Foundation is selling an extended edition on DVD, which includes subtitles in 34 languages, a ''Making Of'' documentary, commentary tracks, and all files used to create the movie. In spite of the successful completion of the project, the Blender Foundation "has no intention to grow or expand into a company or studio" according to the project website. "Instead, the Foundation aims at endorsing and supporting activities within (educational) institutes, universities and companies."
China, the world's biggest censor, is planning to tighten its controls on the media with a new law that would impose financial penalties on news organisations that report on emergencies without permission. Despite opposition from mainland and Hong Kong journalists who say it is a step backwards for press freedom, state council officials expect the legislation to be adopted by the end of the year. Under the draft law, newspapers and TV channels face fines of up to £7,000 for unauthorised reports on natural disasters, accidents, public health incidents and public safety disturbances deemed misleading or harmful to social order. If adopted, this would close the biggest loophole for domestic reporters who try to beat the censors by putting out stories before they are banned. Foreign and Hong Kong news outlets, which have previously faced fewer restrictions than their mainland Chinese counterparts, will also be liable to fines. The controversial bill has been more than two years in the drafting. It was first mooted in the aftermath of the Sars crisis, when China's most daring news organisations broke new ground in exposing official cover-ups of the disease. Their reports, which were constantly a step ahead of the censors, led to the resignation of the health minister and Beijing's mayor. In the years since, the Communist authorities have responded by rolling back media freedoms, closing down publications and locking up some of the most prominent editors who exposed the Sars outbreak. According to one international organisation, the Committee to Protect Journalists, China imprisons more journalists than any other country, with 32 domestic reporters currently in jail. In addition, Reporters without Borders says 64 cyber-dissidents are in prison. Several newspapers, websites and blogs have been shut down, editors have been fired, and more sophisticated restrictions have been imposed on online content and the use of internet cafes. Chinese officials said the new law was primarily intended to penalise local governments that are slow to release information about public emergencies. They said news outlets would be punished only if they made mistakes or their reporting had "grave social consequences". Wang Yongqing, vice-minister of the state council's legislative affairs office, told reporters: "Journalists and media organisations have worked very hard to contribute to covering emergencies but I must say that some individual journalists have filed wrong reports or even fabricated facts." News organisations fear the vague wording of the law will allow local officials to interpret it in a way that prevents corruption scandals, land protests, disease outbreaks and mining accidents from coming to light. Several of the bolder mainland news organisations have publicly criticised the legislation. A commentator with the Southern Metropolis Daily wrote: "We believe that the spirit of watchdog journalism should be upheld in this law. But in fact this draft in its present form does exactly the opposite and doubtless represents a step back." Hong Kong news organisations - which break many stories that the censors block on the mainland - say the new law would erode the freedom they enjoy under the "one-party, two-systems" arrangement covering the territory's relationship with the rest of China. Serenade Woo Lai-wan, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, told the South China Morning Post: "The public has the right to know and reporters have the right to report. We are under one country, two systems. The two legal systems are different. I don't see why Hong Kong journalists have to follow this regulation." \|\|\|\|\| China - Hong Kong 6 July 2006 Bill increasing censorship could apply to foreign media as well Reacting to local press criticism of a bill that would impose fines on news media that publish unauthorised reports in situations of crisis, vice-minister of the State Council’s Legislative Affairs Office Wang Yongqing gave a news conference in which he denied that this was an attempt to censor the media and said it would apply only to reports with “serious social consequences.” He did not however explain what he meant by this. Wang said foreign news organisations could also be covered by the law. This was interpreted by Marie-Anne Toy, the China correspondent of the Australian daily The Age, as being a way for Beijing to censor the Hong Kong press, which still enjoys a degree of freedom and has in the past reported many developments which the government wanted to hide. Media voices cautious opposition to draft law tightening censorship 29.06.06 Several newspapers have expressed their concern as the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) examines a draft law on the management of emergencies, which aims to tighten censorship. Zhang Ping, in an editorial in Nanfang Dushi Bao (Southern Metropolis Daily), wrote that “in the instance of a coal-mining disaster this might be characterised [under this law] as a small-scale incident that need only be handled by local authorities.” He added that “What this essentially means is that the release of all information is in the hands of local government.” He added, “We believe as a matter of course that the spirit of watchdog journalism should be upheld in this law on emergency management but in fact this draft in its present form does exactly the opposite and doubtless represents a step back.” Another newspaper, the Xin Kuaibao (New Express), condemns the fact that the law does not take into account the fact that “there is no way of verifying that the information in the hands of the government is the truest and most accurate.” “The clause does not take into account the possibility that there are man-made calamities’ amidst natural disasters’. In such cases this clause of the draft law would actually become a tool for corrupt officials who want to cover up their dirty deeds.” The financial magazine Caijing interviewed experts and members of the National People’s Congress. Yu An, a university professor from Tsinghua and member of the committee which drafted the law, said that aspects to do with the media were not in the draft when the group had first met and he did not know how they had been added. Zhang Qianfan, who teaches law at Beijing University, said he thought the measure “inappropriate” because media coverage almost never had a negative effect. For more information about the articles : China Media Project Non-violence Resistance blog Bill would step up censorship during crises 26.06.2006 Reporters Without Borders today condemned proposals to step up censorship of the media’s coverage of natural catastrophes, public health crises and industrial accidents contained in a crisis management bill that came before the standing committee of the National People’s Congress on 24 June 2006. The bill envisages fines of 50,000 to 100,000 yuan (5,000 to 10,000 euros) for media that publish unauthorised information on such subjects. "Adopting a law on crisis situations is not a bad thing in itself, but it is unacceptable to turn such a law into a instrument of censorship," the press freedom organisation said. "The government views the media as enemies in the struggle against epidemics, accidents and natural catastrophes. But lives would have undoubtedly been saved if the media had been free during the SARS crisis in 2003." Reporters Without Borders added: "This bill returns China’s journalists to the situation of censorship and self-censorship that prevailed before the SARS crisis. This is shocking. We call on the national assembly not to approve this bill as it stands." The Thebeijingnews.com website said the media risk fines if they publish news reports about "the management or development of emergencies [without the approval of the authorities] or if they publish false reports." Local authorities have the job of distributing news, and of supervising and managing the media in times of crisis. They are to "publish information about emergency situations only if it has no impact on their management." A Chinese journalist with an international radio station said: "This law will discourage journalists. More and more media want to work for the general interest on these issues but they are being sidelined by the authorities." The official news agency Xinhua said the bill was drafted as a result of the SARS epidemic. Censorship imposed by the government’s publicity department (the former propaganda department) during the SARS epidemic kept the public in ignorance of the real situation for several months. \|\|\|\|\| New York, June 26, 2006The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by a proposed law that would subject news outlets to fines for reporting on natural disasters, riots, and other emergencies without official approval. The draft law is under review by the country’s legislature, according to state media. "The media have an important and potentially life-saving role in reporting health crises, natural disasters and other incidents of public concern that officials often have an interest in concealing," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said. “We stand by our colleagues in China who have urged authorities to scrap this proposal and allow journalists to do their job.” Under the draft law, news outlets face fines up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,500) for the unauthorized reporting of public emergencies. They would also be fined for falsely reporting news of disasters. The proposal stipulates that officials would be fined if they failed to report emergencies to their superiors. It goes on to say that the news should not be released to the public if the information could “jeopardize the handling of emergencies,” Xinhua News Agency reported. These events could include news of health and environmental crises, mining disasters, riots and demonstrations, and natural disasters, according to international news reports. Several bloggers and media critics in mainland China blasted the proposal. The Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis News published an editorial calling the draft law “a step backward” and citing the media’s role in exposing government cover-ups of recent mining disasters. “Using the law to affirm government control over the administration of news outlets is an utterly dangerous endeavor,” said the editorial, attributed to writer Chang Ping, possibly a pseudonym. Two former staff members of Southern Metropolis News, Yu Huafeng and Li Minying, are currently serving prison terms of eight and six years, respectively, after the newspaper’s aggressive reporting on public issues, including SARS, sparked the ire of authorities. The proposal furthers attempts by the administration of Chinese President Hu Jintao to restrict reporting by China’s increasingly market-driven press. In May, CPJ reported that the government has undertaken a massive campaign to conceal news of increasingly common “mass incidents”riots, demonstrations, and unrest that have marked China’s booming development. Read the story. \|\|\|\|\| The April outbreak has been blamed on human error One person was killed during the April outbreak, which came a year after Sars killed nearly 800 people worldwide. The resignation is being seen as part of a push for greater accountability. China's leaders want its bureaucracy, better known for high-handedness and widespread corruption, to be seen to respond to public criticism. The official Xinhua news agency said Li Liming, director of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, had resigned for "mismanagement of the Sars virus" at the nation's most important infectious disease laboratory. "Poor management of the virus triggered the Sars outbreak," Xinhua said, quoting sources at the health ministry. Four other officials were disciplined, Xinhua added. The BBC's Louisa Lim in Beijing says the case is the latest in a series of resignations by officials held responsible for disasters that could have been prevented. Mr Li's resignation follows the publication of a government report on the outbreak. China's media said the outbreak might have been triggered by scientists at the National Institute of Virology in Beijing experimenting inside the institute's laboratory. Parts of the institute and laboratory could have become contaminated, which would explain why people whose work did not involve handling the virus became infected, the Beijing News said. \|\|\|\|\| By Tim Luard Newspapers are looking to please readers, not the censor But today's Communist Party bosses are as determined as ever to maintain control over every word published or broadcast in the world's most populous country. A media clampdown - the latest of many over the years - has seen a string of journalists disciplined, dismissed or even jailed for violating official guidelines. Some of the campaign's targets, however, are refusing to be silenced. And they have found plenty of supporters - some in unlikely quarters - willing to speak up on their behalf. "There is now an unstoppable wave of demands for more freedom of expression and resistance to the old propaganda policies," said Jiao Guobiao, who was forced to resign his post as a journalism professor last year after accusing the government of handling the press in a manner worthy of Nazi Germany. The row over the extent of people's right to know shows that the Communist Party's authority is ebbing away, he said. But without censorship, the party could not maintain its rule for a day, he added. Climbdown The international storm over the self-censorship of Google and other internet companies in China has probably caused little more than a ripple of amusement in the corridors of Beijing's propaganda department. Among 10,000 horses, there was only one left - and now its throat has been cut Lung Ying-tai, on the closure of Bing Dian Far more embarrassing, not to say ominous, has been the chorus of domestic protest over the closure in late January of Bing Dian (Freezing Point), a weekly publication noted for its cutting-edge reporting on sensitive topics. In an apparent climbdown, it was later announced that the magazine would reopen on 1 March, but without its two chief editors. Unlike most journalists punished in the past, the two editors loudly disputed the move to censor them. In comments widely aired on the internet, they called it an "illegal abuse of power" aimed at preventing the growth of a civil society. The reopened magazine would be an empty shell of its previous self, they said, and had been ordered to print a full rebuttal of the article on historical censorship which triggered the closure. Among those who have rallied behind the editors are a group of former senior party and media officials, including Mao Zedong's secretary and a former editor-in-chief of the People's Daily. The Taiwanese-born columnist Lung Ying-tai, whose controversial articles for Bing Dian may have been the real reason for the closure, has sent an open letter of protest to President Hu Jintao. "Among 10,000 horses, there was only one left - and now its throat has been cut", she wrote. It's such an information age. There's no way anyone can block everything Jiang He She believes the move against the influential magazine was a calculated one made by the president himself. His power base lies in the Communist Party Youth League, whose newspaper, China Youth Daily, publishes Bing Dian as a weekly supplement. The decision to reopen the supplement was an attempt to ease the anger about the closure, she told the BBC. "Freezing out the two prominent and courageous editors", she added, was designed to "warn all other journalists to behave". Force for change Propaganda officials have also faced other public challenges to their authority, including a rare strike by reporters in support of three editors dismissed from a leading daily, the Beijing News, late last year. But what really worries them is that those now pushing for a lifting of censorship include not just journalists and activists, but also people in business, government and law who believe media reform is a necessary part of China's modernisation. Campaigning publications like the Beijing News have been targeted "It is not good for the Communist Party to keep to its old ways", said Jiang He, who runs a hi-tech company in the western city of Chongqing. China's rapid economic growth is proving a strong force for change, he said, pointing out that the media was already far more open in many ways than in the past. "It's such an information age. There's no way anyone can block everything," he said. China's 11,000 newspapers and periodicals, along with its 600-plus radio and TV stations, are more intent these days on satisfying the demands of the market than the state censor, who no longer pays their bills. "People are not interested in reading politically-correct communiques in their newspapers," according to John Kennedy, a Canadian journalism graduate based in the southern province of Guangdong. "The media have seized upon pushing harder and digging deeper, writing about corruption and Communist Party scandals as ways to sell more papers," he said. China's leaders are faced with a dilemma. They need the media to help keep a rein on local officials, whose abuses of power are already causing unrest. But they worry that too much exposure may cause still more unrest.	The Chinese Government has announced plans to impose fines of over US$12,000 on media outlets if they report domestic disasters without permission. Two years in the planning, the law is expected to be in force by the end of the year and would affect reporting of natural and industrial disasters or anything that could “jeopardize the handling of emergencies,” or threaten social order. In a country which is infamous for its censorship there’s been outcry from press freedom campaign groups, but the Chinese government insist that the laws are primarily to give local governments more control in releasing information to the public. A government spokesperson said: "Journalists and media organisations have worked very hard to contribute to covering emergencies but I must say that some individual journalists have filed wrong reports or even fabricated facts." Chinese journalists on the mainland Hong Kong have criticised the law, calling it a “step backward.” The Xin Kuaibao (New Express) said it was concerned that local government would control information saying “there is no way of verifying that the information in the hands of the government is the truest and most accurate.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) meanwhile has expressed its concern. "The media have an important and potentially life-saving role in reporting health crises, natural disasters and other incidents of public concern that officials often have an interest in concealing," CPJ director Ann Cooper said last week. The proposed law is a worry for some in light of the Chinese government’s handling of previous disasters that were widely criticised. In 2004 several officials resigned for their handling of the SARS outbreak, after public pressure sparked by domestic media. According to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, China imprisons more journalists than any other country, including two from the Southern Metropolis News for their reportage of the SARS crisis.
Conservative concedes Salvadoran presidency SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A conservative candidate has conceded defeat in El Salvador's presidential vote to the party of former guerrillas, who have gained power for the first time since a bloody civil war ended 17 years ago. Rodrigo Avila of the conservative Arena party says he recognizes the victory of Mauricio Funes of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. He says he wishes him luck and plans to lead a formidable opposition. Funes' victory Sunday extends a string of leftist triumphs in Latin America at a time of uncertainty over how President Barack Obama will approach the region. It ends two decades of conservative rule that have made El Salvador one of the staunchest U.S. allies in the region. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Mauricio Funes, a member of a political party that waged guerrilla war against the government 17 years ago, claimed the presidency of El Salvador on Sunday night. FMLN's Mauricio Funes shows his ballot before voting Sunday in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. "This is the happiest night of my life," Funes told a jubilant crowd at his election headquarters. "It's also the night of greatest hope for El Salvador." With 90.68 percent of the votes counted, the FMLN party's Funes had 51.27 percent, while the ARENA party's Rodrigo Avila had 48.73 percent, the country's Supreme Electoral Tribunal said. The final tally will be certified within 48 hours, the electoral council's Walter Araujo said in a nationally televised news conference. Funes' victory ended a 20-year hold on the presidency by the right-leaning ARENA. "Now the ARENA party passes into opposition," Funes said. "ARENA ... can be assured that it will be listened to and respected." Although polls had indicated the race had tightened considerably in the past few weeks, most analysts had predicted that Funes would win. "It's a sign that there's democracy in that country, which is something the United States tried to foster," said Bernard Aronson, who as President George H.W. Bush's assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs from 1989-93 was heavily involved in ending El Salvador's 12-year civil war. The FMLN, which is the Spanish acronym for the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, was formed in late 1980 as an umbrella group for five leftist guerilla organizations fighting a U.S.-backed military dictatorship. The guerrillas and the government signed a peace pact in 1992 and the FMLN became a legitimate political party. By some estimates, 75,000 Salvadorans died during the war. The new president will find "a country that still retains a lot of bitterness, a lot of division," said Peter Hakim, president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue policy institute. "This country is completely divided," ARENA party official Adolfo Torres said on CNN affiliate TCS TV station Sunday night. The election, Hakim said, was "an important test of how far El Salvador has come." The result also will be an important test of how far El Salvador will go. With an economy in deep trouble and neither party having enough seats to control the national Legislative Assembly, much will depend on the party that lost. "Conflict occurs when one person wants to force a conflict," Hakim said. "Compromise requires both sides." No one is certain how ARENA will handle the loss. "That's a big unknown," said Heather Berkman, a Latin America analyst with the consulting firm Eurasia Group. "I still think they'll play ball. They have an incentive to get along with the new administration. They certainly don't want to be shut out of the process." Otto Reich, who served in high-level Latin American posts for Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, sees the possibility of a spirited fight from ARENA. "If I had to guess, I'd say ARENA will try to put democratic obstacles in the way of an FMLN consolidation of power," Reich said. Although ARENA, which are the Spanish initials for the Nationalist Republican Alliance, has come back from a 14-point deficit in some polls two months ago, Reich said winning a fifth consecutive term was "swimming against the tide." "People in El Salvador are weighing risks and opportunities," Reich said. "They have an opportunity to replace a party with which they have gotten tired." Hakim also saw voter fatigue with ARENA, saying, "One party has managed the country forever and ever." Many of the 2.4 million Salvadorans who voted weighed competing doubts. "The uncertainty is that the FMLN has never been in power," Berkman said. But voters also asked themselves, she said, whether they were "better off than they were five years ago, 10 years ago." Avila, she said, could not run on a message of change. Funes' message of change and putting new people in power was more effective. Since the war ended, Salvadorans have mostly supported ARENA because of concerns over the FMLN's left-wing agenda and the group's guerrilla background. There also have been outside influences. "The country has been afraid to vote for the left because of fears from Washington," Larry Birns, director of the nonprofit Council on Hemispheric Affairs, said recently. With the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, Salvadorans may expect a different attitude from Washington. El Salvador, Colombia and Peru have been the United States' closest allies in Latin America. Birns calls the three nations "Washington's street-corner guys." With an FMLN victory, El Salvador joins other Latin American countries that have elected leftist leaders in recent years -- Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Argentina, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador and Brazil. But Berkman and others warn that the United States must not lump everyone together. "People tend to look at the left in Latin America and oversimplify it," Berkman said. "There's the good left and the bad left." Or as Aronson put it, "There's leftists, and there's leftists." Aronson sees two types of leftist governments in Latin America: "institutional" governments like Brazil's that "have made peace with the free market" while still championing social programs, and populist, more-radical governments like Venezuela's. Analysts are not sure what to make of Funes, a former freelance journalist for CNN en Español who is projecting a moderate image. "The FMLN did something very clever," Reich said. "They put somebody at the head of the party who is not a guerrilla, not a terrorist." Even the FMLN may not know what to expect from Funes. Berkman calls it "an issue of uncertainty" between the former journalist and the former guerrilla group. "There's a lot of unknowns about how the relationship between Funes and the FMLN will proceed," she said, adding that she will watch his Cabinet picks and whether he brings in people from other parties. Funes' victory was a defining moment for the FMLN. "It's an important transformation," Hakim said. "The ex-guerrillas have to make a decision: Are they going to try to bring about revolutionary, radical change or manage the whole country and have step-by-step reform?" Aronson sees it as "a test of whether they will be pragmatic or ideological." The FMLN may not have a choice but to be pragmatic. The party holds 35 seats in the 84-member National Assembly. ARENA has 32 seats. Forty-three votes are needed to pass most legislation and some measures require "supermajority" approval of 56 votes. That means that, if ARENA and the FMLN cannot agree on a measure, they have to look to one of the minor parties for support. The PCN, which is the National Conciliation Party, has 11 seats and could emerge as a power broker. Two others parties hold six seats. "It is in the PCN's interest to play ball as well," Berkman said. "The PCN will act as a moderating force." Berkman also said the FMLN will likely take a moderate approach because the nation relies too much on outside investments and remittances from Salvadorans living abroad for the former guerrillas to adopt too much of a radical approach. But Hakim worries about something else. "I think ARENA may be prepared for this [loss]," he said. "I'm concerned that the FMLN may not be prepared to govern." All About El Salvador \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Leftist Mauricio Funes of El Salvador's former Marxist rebel FMLN party has won the country's presidential election. He defeated his conservative rival, the Arena party's Rodrigo Avila, who has admitted defeat. Arena had won every presidential election since the end of El Salvador's civil war 18 years ago. Addressing jubilant supporters, Mr Funes said it was the happiest day of his life and the beginning of a new chapter of peace for the country. Branded by his opponents as a puppet of Venezuala's President Hugo Chavez, Mr Funes vowed to respect all Salvadorian democratic institutions. The FMLN won 51.3% of the vote against Arena's 48.7%, Reuters news agency reported. Break with tradition "This is the happiest night of my life, and I want it to be the night of El Salvador's greatest hope," said Mr Funes. Mauricio Funes is the first FMLN leader who has not been a combatant "I want to thank all the people who voted for me and chose that path of hope and change." His FMLN (Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front) party was founded by Marxist guerrilla fighters from the civil war. The conflict ended in a UN-sponsored peace accord in 1991, after the loss of some 70,000 lives over less than two decades. Mr Funes, a former television journalist, marks a break of tradition for the party as he is the first of its leaders not to have been a combatant in that war, says the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in El Salvador. He stressed his moderate policies during his campaign and says he intends to maintain good relations with the United States. He strongly rejected suggestions put forward by his political opponents that El Salvador under his watch would become a Venezuelan satellite state. Supporters of Mr Avila, a former police chief, dismissed the FMLN as "communists". Mr Funes will take over a country plagued with problems, our correspondent notes. El Salvador has one of the world's highest murder rates. It has also been badly hit by the world economic downturn, with remittances from Salvadorians living abroad falling dramatically. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| Breaking News World World Leftist Mauricio Funes has completed a historic journey for his party of former rebels after winning El Salvador's presidential elections and ending two decades of right-wing rule. The former television journalist declared himself president-elect of the tiny Central American nation as a majority of exit polls handed him victory, late Sunday. His only rival, ruling right-wing candidate Rodrigo Avila, shortly afterwards conceded defeat. The win represents a seismic power shift in the poverty and crime stricken country, where former Marxist rebels have grabbed power 17 years after a devastating civil war. Advertisement Funes led Sunday's polls, which were peaceful, with 51.2 per cent of the vote after more than 90 per cent of ballots were counted, electoral authorities said. The head of the ex-guerilla Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) pulled ahead of Avila, from the ARENA party, who garnered 48.7 per cent of votes as counting neared a close. "I'm the president-elect of the Salvadorans," Funes told a news conference in a hotel in the capital. "Yes, we could!" his red-clad supporters shouted in streets across the country, clearly euphoric after having made three failed bids at the presidency since the end of the 12-year civil war in 1992. "I want to be the real president of the real reconstruction of the country, which starts with the reconstruction of people," Funes said. Avila, a former police chief and protege of outgoing president Elias Antonio Saca, had warned on the campaign trail in the polarised country that a leftist victory would turn the country into a satellite of Venezuela. "I want to make it known to Mauricio Funes ... that in this close battle the margin of difference has given him the advantage," Avila conceded, late Sunday. Now a leftist party, the FMLN was a coalition of Marxist guerrillas who battled the government during the civil war in which more than 70,000 people died. Funes identifies himself with moderates, such as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil as opposed to Venezuela's firebrand President Hugo Chavez, and is the first FMLN presidential candidate who has never served as an armed combatant. "Our plan is to make El Salvador the most dynamic economy of Central America," he said on Sunday, addressing a key issue for the country closely tied to the United States and expecting to be hard hit by the financial crisis. Thousands of the 2.5 million US-based Salvadorans came home to vote in an election watched closely by the United States, which backed a repressive military government during the civil war. The United States will respect the choice Salvadorans make in their election, the State Department's top diplomat for Latin America, Tom Shannon, said on Friday, after several US politicians warned that a Funes victory would jeopardise US national security interests in the region. El Salvador last weekend welcomed its last returning soldiers from Iraq, where it once had 6,000 troops. Its economy also depends heavily on money sent home from mainly US-based Salvadorans, which has dropped in recent months. Funes has tough negotiations expected ahead in a congress where no party has a majority, despite his party's victory in parliamentary polls six weeks ago. \|\|\|\|\| Jose Cabezas / AFP/Getty Images Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front candidate Mauricio Funes, center, with wife Vanda, and running mate Salvador Sanchez Ceren, claimed victory for the leftist party. Experts called his lead insurmountable. He has compared himself to Obama. El Salvador elects first leftist president Email Picture Jose Cabezas / AFP/Getty Images Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front candidate Mauricio Funes, center, with wife Vanda, and running mate Salvador Sanchez Ceren, claimed victory for the leftist party. Experts called his lead insurmountable. He has compared himself to Obama. A party led by former guerrillas unseats the conservative party that's governed for two decades. 'Thank you for choosing the path of hope and for overcoming fear,' says victorious Mauricio Funes. Reporting from San Salvador -- Salvadorans on Sunday elected a former TV reporter as the country's first leftist president, unseating a conservative party that ruled for two decades and choosing a government that will be dominated by former guerrillas. Mauricio Funes, an affable political moderate running on behalf of the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, or FMLN, claimed victory after nearly complete returns gave him a lead that experts said was insurmountable. Election time in El Salvador In El Salvador election, old battle lines have been erased "This is the happiest night of my life, and I also want it to be the night of greatest hope for El Salvador," an emotional Funes said in a crowded hotel conference room, as cameras flashed and supporters cheered. "Thank you for choosing the path of hope and for overcoming fear." He called for a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration similar to that which helped end El Salvador's bloody civil war 17 years ago. With this victory, the FMLN completed its evolution from a coalition of Marxist rebels fighting U.S.-backed regimes in El Salvador's rugged hills to a broad-based party. Funes, 49, who helped give the FMLN a following beyond its traditional militant base, frequently compared himself to President Obama as an agent of change and promised to maintain good relations with Washington. Instead of the FMLN red, he wore white guayabera shirts and dark business suits as he traversed the nation and pressed his message of national unity. The Arena party's candidate, Rodrigo Avila, acknowledged defeat Sunday night. Armando Calderon Sol, an Arena leader and former president, told The Times: "It is irreversible. History is written." FMLN supporters took to the streets in celebration. They filled downtown plazas here in the capital, waving red flags and posters of their candidate and chanting "Mauricio! Mauricio!" -- as well as the old standard, "The left, united, will never be defeated." Analysts said a leftist win would indicate that voters were more concerned with poverty, unemployment and raging crime than the fear, fanned by the right, that Funes and the FMLN would push El Salvador down a radical communist path. "The campaign of fear did not work 100% because the desire for change, even among conservatives, was so strong," said Raymundo Calderon, dean of the social studies institute of the University of El Salvador. "We were in such a difficult situation but always supporting the same politics. There's a limit. People decided they had put up with it 20 years and said, 'Enough.' " U.N.-brokered peace accords ended El Salvador's civil war in 1992. About 75,000 people were killed in 12 years of fighting and atrocities by death squads, some of which were associated with founders of the ruling Arena party. During the war years and since, around a quarter of El Salvador's population -- about 2.5 million people -- fled or was driven to the U.S., with many ending up in Southern California. Despite widespread disenchantment with the Arena-led government, the party enjoys the backing of major media and big business, and in its closing days the race was too close to call. Avila, Arena's candidate, is a former police commander who repeatedly invoked his Catholic beliefs and warned that a leftist victory would align El Salvador perilously with Cuba and Venezuela. About 60% of the electorate cast ballots. Walking, riding in dark-windowed SUVs or piled in the backs of pickup trucks, Salvadorans surged to polling stations. Buses festooned with the flags of one party or another clogged streets. Thousands of Salvadorans returned to their homeland from the United States to vote, including Tere Torres and her two adult sons, who flew into town Saturday from Los Angeles and were up at dawn to head to the fairgrounds to vote. "It was worth making the trip so that we don't forget why people like us left in the first place," said William Torres, 24, a graphic designer in Los Angeles. "The economic situation is really bad and people need to know they have opportunity based not just on privilege and what party you belong to." His mother, who left El Salvador while the war raged and now cleans houses in Culver City, said the election was too important to skip. "It could be that the change we wanted for so long is possible this time," she said. El Salvador remains divided by great social and economic inequity, with a vast underclass struggling to afford food and medicine. But the idea of dramatic change is exactly what scared some voters. "What do we need a revolution for?" asked Alex Aviles, 18, a first-time voter and law student, dressed in a red, white and blue Arena T-shirt. "People don't have money because they don't work." Arena conjured up images of the war to paint the FMLN as violent radicals and plastered San Salvador with posters linking Funes with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro. El Salvador has been a staunch U.S. ally. Washington backed repressive Salvadoran governments in the 1970s and 1980s, and equipped and trained its army against the guerrillas. El Salvador sent troops to Iraq at President Bush's request, and under Arena made the U.S. dollar its currency.	President-elect of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes Sunday night, Mauricio Funes of the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) party declared victory in El Salvador's 2009 presidential elections. Although El Salvador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal has not yet certified a winner, Funes shows an insurmountable lead in the results, besting Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA) candidate Rodrigo Ávila by a margin of 51.27% to 48.73%, with 90.68% of votes counted. Ávila conceded defeat, vowing that ARENA would remain vigorous in opposition. Funes' victory marks a major shift in the politics of the country: ARENA has controlled the presidency of El Salvador since the end of El Salvador's civil war in 1991. The FMLN was founded by Marxist guerrillas who fought in the civil war. When the guerrillas and the government signed a peace agreement in 1992, the FMLN became a political party. Funes, a former television journalist, is the first FMLN leader not to have been an combatant in the war. In his victory speech in San Salvador Sunday night, he said: "I want to be the real president of the real reconstruction of the country, which starts with the reconstruction of people." "I want to thank all the people who voted for me and chose that path of hope and change," added Funes. During the polarizing electoral campaign, Ávila tied the FMLN to communism and said that an FMLN victory would turn El Salvador into a satellite of Hugo Chávez's Venezuela. Discontent with unemployment, gang violence and corruption under the government of ARENA president Antonio "Tony" Saca trumped concerns that the FMLN would return to its radical roots or spoil El Salvador's historically close relationship with the United States. About 60% of the electorate voted, including thousands who returned to the country from the United States in order to cast ballots.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A South Korean rocket appears to have exploded moments after take-off, ending the country's latest attempt to join the space-launch industry. The Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1 is thought to have blown up 137 seconds after take-off, said science minister Ahn Byong-man. The rocket lifted off from Goheung's Naro Space Centre at 1701 (0801 GMT). But contact was lost as the rocket reached an altitude of 70 kilometres (44 miles). "Looking from the bright flash seen on the camera mounted on the tip of the rocket, it appears [the KSLV-1] exploded in flight during the first-stage ignition," said Mr Ahn. Pictures on South Korean television appear to show the rocket's final moments, with the cameras following a white speck on its downward trajectory into the sea. Analysts say the reported failure is a major setback for South Korea in what some observers have described as an "Asian space race". Malfunction The launch was South Korea's second attempt to put a satellite in space, after a launch in August 2009 failed. The country had been hoping to become only the 10th in the world able to put satellites into space, and thereby gain a lucrative slice of the growing space launch industry. Analysis Continue reading the main story This was South Korea's second attempt after the first, in August last year, also failed to place a satellite into orbit. There were high expectations. The launch was carried live on major news networks, and crowds of people on beaches along the south coast whooped and danced as the rocket lifted off from the nearby launch base. But failure is commonplace for any nation trying to develop a new rocket; some estimates put it as high as 50%. South Korea had spent $400m on what was always known to be a high-risk mission to become one of only a handful of countries with an independent satellite launch capability. So far it has come to nothing. China, India and Japan have developed a launch capability; China has also sent three manned missions into space. The KSLV-1, built partly in Russia and partly in South Korea, had cost 500 billion won ($400m; £275m). The satellite - which had been intended to study the effects of climate change - should have separated from the rocket and deployed its solar panels some nine minutes after take-off, at an altitude of 302km. The rocket had been due to take off on Wednesday, but lift-off was cancelled three hours before launch after fire extinguishing fluids were detected leaking from parts of the equipment. South Korea's Ministry for Education, Science and Technology said thorough checks had confirmed the leaks did not affect the safety of the rocket and the launch had been rescheduled. Weather conditions had been closely checked in the final hours before the latest launch. A spokesman for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (Kari) said all faulty hardware had been replaced and steps taken to prevent a repeat of the earlier faults. The rocket stood 33m (108ft) tall and was launched from the country's new spaceport on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. South Korea's first launch of the two-stage KSLV-1, in August last year, failed to place its satellite payload into the proper orbit. Four months previously, an attempted space launch by North Korea was deemed to have failed when the US reported that both rocket stages had fallen into the Pacific Ocean. The North's launch was seen as a cover for a long-range missile test, and prompted UN sanctions. Pyongyang had voiced irritation at the South's rocket development, but most other powers in the region accepted that its attempt was part of a peaceful civilian programme. \|\|\|\|\| South Korea delays satellite launch SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's planned launch of a space satellite was delayed Wednesday due to a technical glitch and was likely to be postponed to another day, a government official said. The two-stage Naro rocket was supposed to blast off carrying an observation satellite to study global warming and climate change. The process was halted due to the malfunction of fire safety facilities at the launch pad, Science Ministry spokesman Pyun Kyung-bum said. South Korean and Russian experts were trying to find the cause of the problem and planned to consult on a new launch date, he said. "We expect that it will be difficult to launch today," he said. The first stage of the two-stage rocket was designed and built by Russia and the second by South Korea. The snag came after officials had announced that launch preparations were complete and that the rocket would lift off at 5 p.m. local time (0800 GMT). The planned liftoff at the coastal Naro space center in Goheung, about 290 miles (465 kilometers) south of Seoul, would have been the country's second launch of a rocket from its own territory in a less than year. In the first attempt last August, the satellite failed to go into orbit because one of its two covers apparently failed to come off after liftoff. Since 1992, South Korea has launched 11 satellites from overseas sites, all on foreign-made rockets. The launch preparations came amid heightened tension on the Korean peninsula after South Korea referred North Korea to the U.N. Security Council over the sinking of a navy ship that killed 46 South Korean sailors. North Korea — which denies involvement in the sinking — has threatened to retaliate against South Korea for taking it to the U.N. body, saying the South's action will intensify military tension and could trigger a war on the divided peninsula. There was no immediate North Korean reaction to the planned liftoff from rival South Korea. Last year, North Korea warned it would closely watch the international response to South Korea's launch after a North Korean launch drew a U.N. rebuke. Pyongyang has developed a variety of missiles and launched a long-range rocket from a domestic launch site in April last year in defiance of international warnings. Pyongyang said the rocket carried a satellite into orbit as part of a peaceful space development program, but the U.S. and its allies said nothing reached space and the launch was actually a test of the country's missile technology. North Korea, unlike the South, is banned from any ballistic activity by U.N. Security Council resolutions as part of efforts to eliminate its nuclear and long-range missile programs. The two Koreas are still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. The Science Ministry said South Korea plans to develop a space launch vehicle with its own technology by 2020. China, Japan and India are Asia's current space powers. Japan has launched numerous satellites while China sent astronaut Yang Liwei into space in 2003 and carried out its first spacewalk in 2008. India launched a satellite orbiting the moon in 2008, but had to abandon it nearly a year later after communication links snapped and scientists lost control of it. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| South Korea Fails Again in Rocket Launch Photo: AP South Korea has failed in its second attempt to join the elite league of nations able, from home soil, to launch a rocket into space and place a satellite into orbit. Spectators along a southern coastal beach and millions more South Koreans television viewers watched Thursday's blast-off of the 33-meter-long two-stage launch vehicle, the Naro-1. Atop the 140-ton rocket, a research satellite whose successful deployment would achieve history. But 137 seconds after it departed the launch pad, communications with the rocket were lost. Ground controllers saw an unexpected flash on their monitors. Officials say the rocket may have exploded during the ascent. Education, Science and Technology Minister Ahn Byong-man lamented this latest failure. The minister says it is regrettable that the mission again did not live up to people's expectations and this is a humbling lesson. He adds the country will keep trying. There was an attempt last August to deploy a similar satellite, the size of a washing machine, designed to measure radiation energy in the atmosphere. But the satellite did not release from the rocket after shields protecting it failed to retract. North Korea has previously claimed to have launched its own satellites. But international space watchers say there is no evidence Pyonygang's missile technology, illegal under U.N. sanctions, has successfully deployed a payload. In Tokyo, aerospace consultant Lance Gatling says national space programs remain expensive and difficult, a half century after the initial forays by the Soviet Union and United States. "The development does, in fact, cost a tremendous amount of money. It's one of the harder things that a group of people can get together to do - to actually launch a large mass into orbit and to put it where you need it and not blow it up," said Gatling. South Korea hopes to eventually take part in the $250 billion global space-services market. Its indigenous program is a collaboration among 160 South Korean companies, with rocket technology partly designed by Russia.	Real size replica of (left) South Korea has lost contact with its Naro-1 rocket, just 137 seconds after take-off. Officials believe the rocket exploded. (KARI) and had hoped to use a , South Korea's first carrier rocket, to launch a satellite. South Korea had postponed the launch on Wednesday due to problems with the rocket's fire extinguisher system. Science Ministry spokesman Pyun Kyung-bum said, "We expect that it will be difficult to launch today". The rocket lifted off from Goheung's at 1701 (0801 GMT) today. The rocket apparently exploded 137 seconds after launch, when a flash was seen from an on-board camera and communication was lost. The loss of communication occurred when the rocket had achieved an altitude of around . Television cameras captured a white speck, presumably part of the rocket, falling into the sea. Analysts say the failure is a setback for South Korea. If it had been successful, it would have been the first Naro-1 launch to reach orbit. The launch cost South Korea an estimated US$400 million, and if successful, would have launched a satellite called the into orbit. The satellite was designed to examine climate change and its effects. The incident is seen as a major setback for South Korea's space program, which had been aiming to become the 10th country to achieve the capability to launch satellites, and the fourth Asian country, after China, Japan, and India. A successful launch would have helped South Korea to become a player in commercial space launches, an industry valued at around US$250 billion. Since 1992, South Korea has launched 11 satellites from overseas sites with foreign-made rockets.
By Nick Clark The Government has scrapped plans to force big businesses to disclose the difference in pay for men and women they employ, on the day it emerged that little progress had been made in bringing women into the boardroom. The equalities minister, Lynne Featherstone, said yesterday she had ditched plans drawn up by the previous government and due to come into force in 2013, calling it a "blueprint for change". Employers will now be asked to publish gender pay data on a voluntary basis only. A spokesman for the Home Office said the Government would work closely with business to make sure the approach was successful. This marks a stark U-turn from Ms Featherstone, who said in opposition that a voluntary audit system "is hardly worth the paper it's printed on". The Government said it would monitor the number of companies releasing pay information each year, to assess whether the voluntary approach had been a success. Mandatory reporting has not been ruled out if the results are unsatisfactory. Speaking at the launch of the 2010 Female FTSE 100 report, drawn up by the Cranfield School of Management, Ms Featherstone said: "We want to move away from the arrogant notion that government knows best, to one where government empowers individuals, businesses and communities to make change happen." She criticised Labour's plans as bringing in red tape, adding that it "wasn't just a futile approach, it was a damaging one". She said: "Bucketloads of regulations were being dumped on businesses already struggling to keep their heads above water in the recession." Ceri Goddard, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for equal pay, pointed out that women in the UK were paid, on average, one sixth less than men. There were also currently 45,000 women bringing claims against their employers over equal pay. She said the decision was "a huge disappointment, and means this injustice will continue for a long time to come. The Government has today consigned another generation of women to lower pay". However the news was welcomed by the Confederation of British Industry. Katja Hall, the CBI's director of employment policy, said the body would work with ministers "to develop a system that works for employers and delivers results". Miles Templeman, the director general of the Institute of Directors, also welcomed the plan, saying: "While there may be some instances of illegal discrimination still taking place, we believe this is very uncommon." Ms Featherstone said the Home Office would lead by example, pledging that by the end of this Parliament at least half of new hires to the boards of public bodies would be women. She added that the Government would push ahead with some Equality Act measures, including allowing employers to choose a candidate from a group that is under-represented in the workforce, where there are two applicants of equal merit. The latest Female FTSE 100 report showed disappointing results yesterday, as the number of women in the boardroom hardly improved. Of 1,076 directors on the boards of the largest listed companies in the UK, just 135, or 12.5 per cent, were women. This marks a rise from 12.2 per cent last year and 12 per cent the year before. Ms Featherstone called the progress "painfully slow". The report hailed Burberry, where three of eight board members are women. The Government has appointed Lord Davies to work with FTSE 100 companies to improve the representation of women on their boards, Ms Featherstone pointed out. \|\|\|\|\| Outlook Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, picked a curious venue to announce the Government is reversing plans for compulsory audits of what companies pay their male and female staff. The announcement came in a speech at Cranfield University's School of Management, as part of an event to promote its latest research into the progress of women in the boardroom. The venue was odd because Cranfield's research shows exactly what happens when organisations are left to tackle inequality by themselves. Those who worry about the remarkably low number of women in the boardrooms of Britain's biggest businesses will no doubt be pleased to hear there has been an improvement over the past year: women now account for 12.5 per cent of FTSE 100 directors, up from 12.2 per cent. The glacially slow progress that has been made on getting women on to boards underlines the limitations of the discretionary approach. Companies talk a very good game, but they fail to act unless they are forced to. Ms Featherstone explained that the Government had decided to reverse its predecessor's plans to require companies to publish gender pay audits because it wants "to move away from the arrogant notion that government knows best". Well, businesses would certainly benefit from the widescale adoption of that policy. But if the equalities minister is suggesting the Government doesn't know best when it comes to requiring companies to do everything possible to ensure women are paid as well as men, she's in the wrong job. The good news is that corporate governance authorities are prepared to be bolder than Ms Featherstone. The latest combined code requires companies to offer an explanation if women represent fewer than 20 per cent of their directors and there are plans to increase that threshold. The code operates on the "comply or explain" basis, which falls short of compulsory legislation. Still, it's a more forward-thinking approach than the one Ms Featherstone adopted yesterday. \|\|\|\|\| Under new plans announced by the equalities minister, Lynne Featherstone, businesses will be expected to reduce the pay gap by voluntary means. Photograph: Simon James/Alamy Plans to force businesses to disclose the pay gap between male and female employees in Britain have been abandoned by the coalition government, in a reversal of a Liberal Democrat manifesto pledge. Instead, businesses will be expected to reduce the pay gap, which is one of the biggest in Europe, by voluntary means. This will be part of a new strategy under which the government department dedicated to equalities will lose its independence and be brought into the Home Office. The decision was criticised by equalities campaigners, who called it a huge disappointment and accused the government of watering down an already weak proposal on tackling equal pay. In an interview with the Guardian to unveil the strategy, equalities minister Lynne Featherstone explained her own change of heart on the issue by saying: "Right at this moment of financial peril to the nation is perhaps not the moment to introduce mandatory pay audits." Just two years ago, the Liberal Democrat MP backed mandatory measures, saying: "A voluntary audit system for private industry is hardly worth the paper it's printed on. We need to know when the government actually plans to step in if progress isn't made." The Liberal Democrat manifesto pledged to introduce fair-pay audits for all but the smallest companies. Today Featherstone said: "It was a different world two years ago – financially and in terms of pressures on business. We are in a completely new landscape now … Much more of partnership working, no longer government dictates, this is absolutely the time to make voluntary pay-reporting work." Asked whether the U-turn compared with the government's controversial decision to abandon the Lib Dems' manifesto pledge on tuition fees, she said: "You can go back to everything pre-election and say, Liberal Democrats said this and Liberal Democrats said that. Of course, had we won the election there might be a slightly different angle on this. In coalition we agreed this is the way forward." Section 78 of the Equalities Act gave the government powers to make companies disclose pay differences if, by 2013, they continued to show no evidence of tackling them. Businesses welcomed the abandonment of this threat, after lobbying vociferously for voluntary measures. Instead, under the new proposals, the government will work with the private sector to increase the amount of equality data that is reported. Featherstone denied that the change marked a weakening of existing legislation, saying an annual review by the government would check to see whether any changes were being made. "We expect them to do it voluntarily because it's the right thing to do and a good thing to do and it will improve business. We know that businesses that are more diverse, have more women in them, do better. It is in their own interest." However, campaigners warn that in the 40 years since the introduction of the Equal Pay Act, voluntary measures have failed and women are still paid 16% less than men on average. There is also concern that companies will not choose voluntarily to pay for the cost of gathering and disseminating the information, especially in the current climate. Ceri Goddard, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for equality between the sexes, said: "The persistent gap in pay between men and women is one of the starkest examples of inequality in the UK today. The government's decision not to bring into force section 78 is a huge disappointment and means this injustice will continue for a long time to come. The government has today consigned another generation of women to lower pay. "Their proposal to rely only on voluntary business action on pay isn't just naive, it sends a dangerous signal that tackling discrimination against women is a choice, not a requirement." Yvette Cooper, the shadow minister for women and equalities, said: "This is another broken promise from the government. "Whatever happened to the Lib Dem pledge to introduce mandatory pay audits? Scrapping Labour's plan to increase transparency in pay is a backwards step for women's equality."The new strategy keeps a provision encouraging positive action in recruitment, although this too is voluntary. In contrast to positive discrimination, the illegality of which was marked in capital letters in today's press release, positive action means that an employer can choose an equally qualified candidate who is "disproportionately underrepresented". The example given was a primary school choosing a man when faced with two candidates with the same merits when all other staff are women. The government set an "aspiration" that half of all new appointments to public boards should be women by 2015. Featherstone said that the decision to cease having a government equalities office as a separate department did not represent a downgrading. "I'm hoping that it's an upgrading, in that it's being brought into the heart of government. It will be mainstream, not added on to departments. It has to work integrally." Katja Hall, CBI director of employment policy, said: "We welcome the government's commitment to working with businesses to develop a voluntary framework to improve gender diversity. Greater transparency could help companies identify areas of the business where women are underrepresented and take steps to redress the balance." \|\|\|\|\| Gender pay disclosure plans eased by coalition Not forcing firms to disclose pay undermines attempts to reduce the gender pay gap, unions say The government has altered plans set out by the previous Labour administration to force companies to disclose the differences in pay between the men and women they employ. Labour had given firms until 2013, after which they would have come under pressure to publish pay details. The coalition government has said firms will now only have to publish these details on a voluntary basis. Employment unions criticised the Home Office's stance. 'Fairness test' Under the government's new equality strategy, it will now only ask firms to publish pay data on a voluntary basis. The Equality Act 2010 had included a clause allowing the government to force businesses to measure and publish gender pay data. The Home Office told the BBC that this clause was not currently being implemented, but that it would monitor voluntary reporting to see what effect on gender pay it has. "We want to move away from the arrogant notion that government knows best, to one where government empowers individuals, businesses and communities to make change happen," said Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone. But unions said the measures were a backwards step. "The government fails the fairness test and is stripping down its commitment to equality," said Dave Prentis, general secretary at Unison. "It is a disgrace that women are still getting paid less than men. This move threatens to turn the clock back on all the progress already made with equal pay." At the beginning of October, the new Equality Act came into force in England, Wales and Scotland, with new rules aimed at banning discrimination by employers, covering areas such as age, disability and pay. Some business groups criticised the legislation for putting a heavy burden on employers. And observers say the decision not to force companies to disclose pay suggests the government has listened to such groups. "This is bound to limit the overall rate at which pay inequalities are addressed in the UK," said Matt Tom, employment partner at Candey LLP. "Rather than take all effective steps to address pay inequality, it is clear that the government has given priority to the overall economic recovery, by reducing employers' administrative burdens."	The British has scrapped plans by the previous government to change the rules on . Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone The previous Labour government included a provision in the —Section 78—to allow the government the option to introduce regulations that would require companies to publish details of the difference in pay between male and female employees. If the government had activated such regulations, they would have come into force in 2013. The current government have decided not to activate this requirement and instead will only ask businesses to provide this data voluntarily and will set an "aspiration" to dramatically increase the number of women in senior positions in business. , the Liberal Democrat MP and coalition Equalities Minister, in announcing the plans stated that the government wishes "to move away from the arrogant notion that government knows best, to one where government empowers individuals, businesses and communities to make change happen." Featherstone announced the policy at the School of Management at , who have conducted research finding that only 12.5% of directors of FTSE 100 companies are women, up from 12.2% last year—"glacially slow" progress according to business commentator David Prosser. Featherstone justified not implementing the pay audits due to the economic costs: "Right at this moment of financial peril to the nation is perhaps not the moment to introduce mandatory pay audits." This breaks with a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment, as well as contradicting Featherstone's own words two years ago in support of the audit: "A voluntary audit system for private industry is hardly worth the paper it's printed on. We need to know when the government actually plans to step in if progress isn't made." Women's groups and trade unions have condemned this move. Dave Prentis, the general secretary of , Britain's second largest trade union, said that this is an example of the government "stripping down its commitment to equality". Prentis continued: "It is a disgrace that women are still getting paid less than men. This move threatens to turn the clock back on all the progress already made with equal pay." Ceri Goddard, the chief executive of the feminist campaigning group the , condemned the plans: "The persistent gap in pay between men and women is one of the starkest examples of inequality in the UK today. The government's decision not to bring into force section 78 is a huge disappointment and means this injustice will continue for a long time to come. The government has today consigned another generation of women to lower pay. Their proposal to rely only on voluntary business action on pay isn't just naive, it sends a dangerous signal that tackling discrimination against women is a choice, not a requirement." , Featherstone's shadow minister on the Labour benches, called the news "another broken promise from the government" and said that "scrapping Labour's plan to increase transparency in pay is a backwards step for women's equality." == Sources == * * * *
The fatal shooting of eight people at day spas in and around Atlanta have intensified fears in Asian-American communities that have been the target of attacks since the onset of the coronavirus. Six of the eight victims were Asian women. The 21-year-old suspect, Robert Aaron Long, has been charged with four counts of murder according to media reports. \|\|\|\|\| ABC Queensland \| Local News \| Story Police pleased with drug smugglers' jail terms Friday, 19 May 2006. 12:07 (AEDT) Friday, 19 May 2006. 11:07 (ACST) Friday, 19 May 2006. 11:07 (AEST) Friday, 19 May 2006. 12:07 (ACDT) Friday, 19 May 2006. 09:07 (AWST) Australian Federal Police (AFP) have welcomed the jail terms handed down to three men who smuggled almost $10 million worth of drugs into north Queensland on a US Navy ship. Two sailors from the USS Boxer and a Canadian living on the Gold Coast have been sentenced to between six and 14 years jail for bringing seven kilos of the narcotic 'ice' into Townsville, in the state's north, last June. AFP spokesman Jason Byrnes says it is a setback to drugs crime organisers. "We've taken almost seven kilos of ice off Australian streets ... Australian police ... [are] very satisfied with the three convictions and this was another great example of federal police with Customs' support targeting main offenders of drug crime against Australia and Australians," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Canadian, 2 US sailors get lengthy Australian prison terms for drug smuggling 06:26:07 EDT May 18, 2006 SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - A Canadian citizen and two U.S. navy sailors were handed lengthy prison sentences Thursday for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into Australia stashed in the radar dome of a visiting warship. Canadian Mehdi Mohammadi, along with Americans Daniel Maio, 36, and Andrew Labanon, 39, were sentenced at Townsville Supreme Court for their roles in the attempted importation of $760,000 US of the drug. Prosecutors said Maio, a chief petty officer on the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, left the crew some weeks before his arrest last July, but while on board he hid a blue bag containing three packages of methamphetamine in the ship's radar dome. Maio had arranged to pay Labanon $10,000 to bring the drugs ashore when the Boxer was visiting Townsville, a port in northeastern Australia. Justice Kerry Cullinane sentenced Maio, who changed his plea to guilty during his trial, to 12 and a half years and Labanon to six years. Mohammadi, a Canadian born in Iran who lives in Australia, was sentenced to 14 years for serving as the local contact for the smuggling. North Queensland Australian Federal Police operations manager Jason Byrnes said agents were delighted with the outcome. "This is a great victory for the Australian Federal Police. We managed to intercept the ice before it hit the streets," he said. A task force of more than 20 undercover federal police agents foiled the drug smuggling operation last June. Agents tracked Maio and Mohammadi from Queensland state capital Brisbane to Townsville, where Labanon, who had just arrived in the city on board the USS Boxer, handed them the drugs before all three were arrested. © The Canadian Press, 2006	USS Boxer Two sailors from the ship USS Boxer, and a Canadian man living on Queensland's Gold Coast have been sentenced to jail for bringing seven kilos of the drug commonly known as 'ice' (methamphetamine), valued at about A$1 million, into Australia in June last year. A court in Townsville, Queensland heard that seven kilograms of methamphetamine were hidden in the radar compartment of the USS Boxer. ABC radio reported that the drugs were taken ashore by sailor Andrew Labanon and handed to Chief Petty Officer Daniel Maio at a Townsville motel. Maio had arranged to pay Labanon $10,000 to bring the drugs ashore when the Boxer was visiting Townsville. Maio and a third man, Iranian-born Canadian Mehdi Mohammadi, attempted to travel to the Gold Coast before Australian police arrested them. Maio, changed his plea to guilty during the trial, and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in jail, with a non-parole period of six years. Judge Kerry Cullinane sentenced Labanon to six years jail, He was ordered to serve at least three years before being eligible for parole. Mohammadi was given a sentence of 14 years, with a minimum non-parole period of seven years. A task force of more than 20 undercover federal police agents intercepted the drug smuggling operation last June. Australian Federal Police (AFP) welcomed the jail terms. AFP spokesman Jason Byrnes said: "We've taken almost seven kilos of ice off Australian streets..." He said the Australian police were "very satisfied with the three convictions and this was another great example of federal police with Customs' support targeting main offenders of drug crime against Australia and Australians."
404 We're sorry but the page you requested could not be found.Please try again from the home page or contact us \|\|\|\|\| AUSTRALIANS have spoken of their pain and distress at the release of militant Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir after 25 months in jail for giving his blessing to the 2002 Bali bombings. Prime Minister John Howard sent a message to Indonesians that Australia was extremely disappointed that Bashir was today a free man. "I want them to understand from me, on behalf of the Government, how extremely disappointed, even distressed, millions of Australians will be at the release of Abu Bakar Bashir," he told Parliament. "Many Australians will see that particular outcome, although a product of the Indonesian justice system, as an extremely disappointing result." Indonesian politician Muhammad Hikam revived claims Bashir may have got a longer term if the United States had granted Jakarta access to senior al-Qaeda operative Riduan Isamuddin Hambali, who is believed to be the mastermind of the Bali bombings and has been linked to Bashir. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer promised the families of the 88 Australians killed in the 2002 blasts that the Federal Government shared their pain over Bashir's release. "We ... accept the decisions of the Indonesian courts, but we are deeply disappointed with that release today and we share the pain with those families that suffered so much as a result of the Bali bombing," Mr Downer told Parliament. Wearing a white skull cap, grey suit and red checked scarf, the bespectacled 68-year-old today walked out of Jakarta's main prison and into the arms of hundreds of jubilant militant supporters. The firebrand cleric was arrested in 2004 for giving blessings as emir, or leader, of the Jemaah Islamiah terror network to the Bali attacks which killed 202 victims. Families of the victims were unsurprisingly upset that Bashir was now free. Brian Deegan, who lost his son Joshua, said he was dismayed over Bashir's release but accepted it was inevitable. "(But) it doesn't take away the hurt, the anguish, the disgust (and) the dismay," he said. Monica Sanderson, who lost her son Greg in the attack, was trying to avoid news of Bashir's release. "I don't even want to know about it because it can't bring Greg back," she said. "I feel we cope better if we just turn it off and just turn away ... just putting all that horror behind us and just trying to think of Greg as he was." But Dr Hikam, leading a political delegation to Australia, stresses Bashir's relatively light sentence is not Jakarta's fault. He blamed the US for preventing Indonesia access to Hambali. "Had we have more evidence that's still withheld by the United States Government then probably we can have much more satisfied proceeding," Dr Hikam said. "If we still lacking in evidence then we cannot do anything. "If the US release in a proper manner Hambali and (Omar) Farouk and others then probably this is going to be very different." Hambali was arrested by Thai authorities in 2003 but was handed over to the US, which has refused Indonesia access to the terrorist believed to be the mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings. Labor has suggested Indonesia put Bashir under 24 hour watch to ensure he can't be involved in further terrorist attacks. "We hope that he's put under 24 hour surveillance by the Indonesians so that he can be permitted no further mischief," Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said. But is hopeful he will be hamstrung by a UN decision to list him as a terrorist, forcing Indonesia to place severe restrictions on his finances, travel and access to weapons. "Those restrictions will severely limit any capacity Abu Bakar Bashir might have to commit harm," Mr Downer said. \|\|\|\|\| Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has been released after 25 months in jail for the role he played in the deadly 2002 Bali bombings. Abu Bakar Bashir waves to supporters who surround him as he walks out of Cipinang prison, Wednesday Hundreds of supporters shouted "God is great" outside Jakarta's Cipinang prison early Wednesday while police blew whistles to clear the way as Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir walks out of jail. Bashir spoke briefly to the crowd. He promised to continue his fight to "uphold Islamic sharia" and said this law was needed to help Indonesia, which is now shrouded "in darkness." The 68-year-old was convicted two years ago of being part of a conspiracy behind the 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 202 people. Bashir is accused of being the spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian group Jemaah Islamiyah, which is linked to the al Qaida terror network. J.I. has been blamed for a series of terrorist bombings in Indonesia over the past several years. Several J.I. leaders convicted in the attacks attended an Islamic boarding school Bashir founded. Bashir, a hard-line Islamist, was originally sentenced to 30 months in jail. The sentence was cut last year as part of regular remissions given to prisoners to mark Indonesia's Independence Day. The United States and Australia - which lost 88 citizens in the Bali attack - have expressed disappointment over what they view as too lenient a jail term. Bashir denies any wrongdoing, saying J.I. does not exist. Anti-terrorism experts have said the group wants to create an Islamic state across much of Southeast Asia. Indonesia has arrested more than 200 people, sentencing three to death, for the roles they played in terrorist attacks in the country. But none of the trials has produced evidence linking Bashir directly to the preparation or execution of terrorist attacks in Indonesia. Many security experts say he has little operational role in J.I. Bashir's lawyer, Adnan Wirawan, says the cleric simply wants to spend his remaining years teaching at his school. "He's going to spend the remaining time of his life to do good for others," he said. "To preach and to teach in his school that he was a founder of … he's going to prove that he's a man of peace, that he does not believe in violence to achieve his goals." After he walked out of prison, Bashir was whisked away by car for the 600-kilometer drive to his home in Solo in West Java, where he will undergo a medical check-up before he returns to his school. \|\|\|\|\| The types of cookies we, our ad network and technology partners use are listed below: Revenue Science ► A tool used by some of our advertisers to target adverts to you based on pages you have visited in the past. 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This widget gives you the tools to bookmark our websites, blog, share, tweet and email our content to a friend.	, 68, the accused spiritual leader of a organisation with links to Al-Qaeda has been released from an Indonesian prison after serving his 25 month sentence. Bashir was convicted for conspiracy, in connection with the . Bashir was accused of playing a pivotal role in planning the attack which killed 202 people, 88 of whom were from Australia. The Judges ruled that he was not involved in the attacks, but had approved of it. Bashir has denied having links to JI or any other militant organisation and has denied all charges against him. He has also condemned the Bali bombing as a "brutal act". As Bashir was released from prison in Jakarta, he was greeted by hundreds of supporters who yelled, "God is great". Bashir gave a brief address to his supporters, thanking for his freedom, vowing to uphold "Islamic sharia (law)" and said Indonesia needed to the law and was shrouded "in darkness". The Australian government has expressed its disappointment at the release of Mr Bashir. Speaking before the Australian House of Representatives, John Howard said "I want them (the Indonesian government) to understand from me, on behalf of the Government, how extremely disappointed, even distressed, millions of Australians will be at the release of Abu Bakar Bashir," he said. "Many Australians will see that particular outcome, although a product of the Indonesian justice system, as an extremely disappointing result." Australia's foreign minister, assured the families of those killed in the attacks that the government shares their pain. "We ... accept the decisions of the Indonesian courts, but we are deeply disappointed with that release today and we share the pain with those families that suffered so much as a result of the Bali bombing," Mr Downer said. The United States has also expressed dismay at Bashir's release. Speaking in Jakarta, US embassy spokesman Max Kwak said, "we were deeply disappointed that a person convicted of a sinister conspiracy was given such a short prison sentence". Muhammad Hikam, an Indonesian politician claimed Bashir would have got a longer term if Indonesia was given access to by the United States who have him imprisoned. Hambali is believed to be mastermind of the Bali bombings and is alleged to have links to Bashir.
Indonesia grounds nine airlines over safety standards Jakarta - Indonesian authorities have revoked the licences of four airlines and suspended a further five from operating for failing to comply basic safety standards, local media reports said Tuesday. Transport Ministry's Director General for Aviation Budi Mulyawan Suyitno said that only the national flag carrier Garuda had managed to improve and was elevated to the highest category, after fulfilling 84 per cent of aviation standards, reported Media Indonesia, an Indonesian daily. The government intensified safety efforts following a string of airlinea ccidents and near-misses, including the crash-landing of a Garuda Airlines plane in Yogyakarta in March that left 21 dead, including five Australians. Suyitno said Jatayu Air, one of the low-cost commercial airlines, is among the four that have been their licences revoked, while three others are charter or small airlines with planes that carry less than 30 passengers. The five airlines that had their licences suspended - SMAC, Kura-Kura Aviation, Germania Trisila, Atlas Deltasatya and Survei Udara Penas - have three months to improve their safety, he added. Indonesia has dozens of low-cost airlines following the deregulation of the industry in late 1990s, leading to a quadrupling of passenger numbers in the past seven years. But the industry has been beset by crashes, which prompted the Indonesian government to announce the new ratings system. On New Year's Day, a budget airline Adam Air plane with 102 people onboard plunged into the ocean off the coast of Sulawesi island en route from the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya to Manado, the capital of North Sulwesi, killing all on board. Deutsche Presse-Agentur \|\|\|\|\| Safety concerns ground 9 Indonesian airlines Posted Indonesia's Transport Ministry says authorities have grounded nine airlines which failed to improve their safety record. An official at the transport directorate-general's office says four airlines have had their operating licences revoked and five other small airlines have been suspended for failing to improve their safety in the past three months. "The air operating license of Jatayu Gelang Sejahtera has been revoked after it failed to meet minimum safety regulations," the official said. She says this is the largest company to lose its licence. The others were Aviasi Upataraksa, Alfa Trans Dirgantara and Prodexim, which have aircraft that carry fewer than 30 passengers. Authorities have also suspended the licences of five other small airlines, all with planes seating under 30 passengers, and given them three months to improve their safety standards. These were Germania Trisila Air, Atlas Delta Setia, Survey Udara Penas, Kura-kura Aviation and SMAC. The groundings follow the transport ministry's latest quarterly review of airline safety and come after a series of accidents in Indonesia's rapidly growing airline industry. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has improved its safety standards and is now ranked alone in the top category after being upgraded a tier. A Garuda plane crash-landed in Yogyakarta in March, killing 22 people, including five Australians. - AFP \|\|\|\|\| Indonesian airlines beset by safety glitches Malaysia Sun Tuesday 26th June, 2007 Indonesian authorities have told nine airlines, which have failed safety tests, to stay on the ground. The Indonesian Transport Ministry says four of the airlines have had their operating licences revoked and five other small airlines were suspended for failing to improve their safety in the past three months. The largest company to lose its license is Jatayu Gelang Sejahtera, which has failed to meet minimum safety regulations. The others were Aviasi Upataraksa, Alfa Trans Dirgantara and Prodexim, which have aircraft that carry fewer than 30 passengers. Five other small airlines, all with planes seating less than 30 passengers, and given them three months to improve their safety standards. These were Germania Trisila Air, Atlas Delta Setia, Survey Udara Penas, Kura-kura Aviation and SMAC. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, has improved its safety standards and is now ranked alone in the top category, after one of its planes crashed in March, killing 22 people. Email this story to a friend Comments on this story By Lord Iain Paysant, 06-28-07, 02:37 PM Indonesian airlines beset by safety glitches I think that it is disgraceful that Adam Air has not been shut down - check the Wikipedia articles on Adam Air, Adam Air Flight 574 and Adam Air Flight 172, and see what I mean - dispicable maintenance/safety record. Have your say on this story Your nickname (optional) Message title Message Image verification (enter the verification code from the image above) \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia cancels nine airline AOCs following safety audit Indonesia has suspended the air operator’s certificate (AOC) of one well-known commercial airline and the AOCs of eight lesser known players that operated small regional aircraft. Directorate General of Air Communications (DGAC) director of air certification office, Yurlis Hasibuan, says the AOC of Jatayu Gelang Sejahtera “has been revoked effective today”. Jatayu, which used to be one of Indonesia’s major passenger airlines, as of August last year stopped operating but Hasibuan says the airline’s owners were planning to resume operations using one Boeing 737-200 for passenger services from Medan, on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, to Penang in Malaysia. The DGAC revoked its AOC because it only had one aircraft, the requirement in Indonesia is that airlines must have at least two aircraft, and it “was lacking in pilots and human resources”, says Hasibuan. He adds, the 737-200 was old and needed to undergo a ‘C-check’ which would have cost $120,000. While Jatayu is the most prominent airline to lose its AOC, because it was planning to operate 150-seat aircraft; Hasibuan says the DGAC also suspended some “charter and commuter” airlines that operate aircraft seating less than 30-passengers. News reports in Indonesia - quoting from a DGAC statement - say eight airlines, operating aircraft 30-seats or less, have just lost AOCs. The reports list the airlines as: Germania Trisila Air, PT SMAC, PT Kua-Kua Aviation, PT Atlas Deltasatya, Survei Udara Penas, Air Transport Services, PT Helizona and PT Sayap Garuda Indah. Hasibuan at the DGAC says his department is responsible for carrying out the airline safety audits that ultimately determine whether an airline’s AOC is suspended. He says the safety audits are quarterly and the June audit revealed Adam Air and Garuda Indonesia have improved since the March audit. The audits cover “20 criteria including whether the airline has developed [better] safety and human resources”, says Hasibuan. “Garuda’s safety improved because they have [better human] resources and training.” “Adam Air’s safety improved because they improved the culture” within the organisation and “hired a safety consultant from America” called GHS Aviation. He says Garuda aims to pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in August and “Adam Air also plans to have IATA IOSA after they complete with the safety consultant from America.” Hasibuan adds, the DGAC has been encouraging airlines in Indonesia to buy flight monitoring equipment and software from companies such as Canada’s Flightscape. The AOCs that have just been cancelled occurred after the June audit, while the four airline AOCs cancelled earlier this year occurred after the March audit. Related stories \|\|\|\|\| Twenty-one people were killed in the Garuda plane crash last March. The national carrier, Garuda Indonesia, was promoted to the top safety category, three months after one of its planes crashed, killing 21 people. The transport ministry also approved Adam Air. One of its jets vanished in January, along with 102 passengers. Nineteen out of 21 airlines audited were allowed to continue operating. Five Australians were among those killed in March when a Garuda plane overshot the runway and burst into flames in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta. The government review comes after the United States advised its citizens to avoid flying Indonesian airlines amid concerns about their safety standards. The Indonesian audit was based on criteria such as surveillance, ramp checks, personnel, department safety, number of accidents and number of serious incidents. \|\|\|\|\| Indonesia may expand inspection of Boeing jets Accident prompts scrutiny of 737-300s Indonesia may conduct safety checks on all Boeing Co. 737-300s operated by domestic airlines after an accident this week involving the same type of aircraft, its Transport Ministry said Friday. Indonesia may expand the inspection now under way on seven Adam Air 737-300s operated by PT Adam Skyconnection Airlines, Bambang Ervan, a spokesman at the Transport Ministry, said in a telephone interview in Jakarta, confirming a report Friday by Bisnis Indonesia. The move could disrupt airline operations in the Southeast Asian nation, where domestic passenger volume growth has averaged more than 25 percent since 1999. Local airlines operate 40 of the Boeing 737-300 planes, Bisnis Indonesia said in its report. Indonesia's government, which has allowed 70 companies to operate airlines, also plans to rate carriers based on their safety record and will shut those that rank the lowest, Transport Minister Hatta Rajasa said. Carriers with the best safety record will be ranked one; a rating of two will mean the airline has to fix problems, while those rated three will be forced to close, Rajasa said. Authorities are examining Adam Air's 737-300 fleet after one of the planes broke its fuselage when it made a hard landing in rainy weather at the Surabaya airport in East Java on Feb. 21. The aircraft was bent and its tail almost touched the runway. It should have withstood the hard landing, Ervan said. If Adam Air's other six planes show similar problems, the ministry will expand its inspection, he said. Planes under scrutiny will have to be suspended, he said. Boeing is providing technical support as required to help Adam Air ensure the airworthiness of its fleet, Mark Hooper, a Hong Kong-based spokesman at Boeing, said in an e-mailed statement Friday. "Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to Indonesian authorities as they investigate the cause of this accident," Hooper said. Ervan couldn't say how long it will take to inspect Adam Air's fleet. "We're looking for irregularities in the production, things that could lead to an accident," he said. Garuda Indonesia, the nation's largest carrier, has 17 Boeing 737-300s in its fleet of 52 planes, according to its Web site. A Garuda spokesman couldn't be reached for comment. Wednesday's accident marks the second for Adam Air in less then two months. An Adam Air plane disappeared off the coast of Sulawesi Jan. 1 with 102 people on board. Indonesian officials have said that the Boeing 737-400 plane probably crashed into the ocean and sank.	Indonesia has shut down four airlines and grounded five others with the potential of similar licence revocations for failing to meet safety standards. The largest company to lose its licence is Jatayu Gelang Sejahtera. The other companies are all small airlines operating only aircraft with a passenger capacity of fewer than thirty, and are Aviasi Upataraksa, Alfa Trans Dirgantara and Prodexim. The companies that were grounded pending either improvements or licence revokation are Germania Trisila Air, Atlas Delta Setia, Survey Udara Penas, Kura-kura Aviation and SMAC, all of which also operate only aircraft with under-30 passenger capacities. They have three months to improve, or their licences will be revoked. Jatayu had already ceased operations in August, but had intended to restart with a 150-seat Boeing 737. The licence was revoked because the state requires at least two aircraft to be commercially operated and because of the fact that it "was lacking in pilots and human resources". Also, the age of the jetliner meant that it would require a test called a 'C-Check' before it could begin commercial services, at a cost of $120,000. The action comes as the result of a number of air crashes, namely the Adam Air Flight 574 disaster in which 102 people were killed, and the Adam Air Flight 172 accident, in which a plane snapped in half during a hard landing, but managed to hold together, thus preventing any serious injuries. As a result, all 54 of Indonesia's airlines were given a safety rating, with a level-1 rating meaning no action was needed, a level-2 rating meaning the airline needed to make some improvements, and a level-3 rating requiring that the airline be shut down unless improvements were made within three months. Most airlines received a level-2 rating, while none received the top rating. Adam Air was among the airlines to receive the level-3 rating, but was upgraded to tier 2 at the same time as the groundings. Meanwhile, state-owned Garuda Indonesia is now the only airline to have a type-1 rating, despite the fatal crash of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 in March. According to the Indonesian Transport Ministry's Director General for Aviation Budi Mulyawan Suyitno, Garuda now satisfied 84 percent of civil aviation standards. The ratings have been based on such criteria as surveillance, ramp checks, personnel, department safety, number of accidents and number of serious incidents, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, ''Flight Global'' is reporting that, according to Directorate General of Air Communications (DGAC) director of air certification office, Yurlis Hasibuan “20 criteria including whether the airline has developed better safety and human resources” are checked.
Adjust font size: TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Tsunami alerts issued after an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Japan's northern coast have been lifted, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. However, Japan's Meteorological Agency, on its Web site, showed watches were still in effect for most of the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido. Residents along Japan's Pacific coast had been told to flee the tsunami after the quake hit Wednesday at 8:14 p.m. (1114 GMT) deep under the Pacific Ocean about 1,700 kilometers (1,000 miles) northeast of Tokyo. (How earthquakes are measured) A wave measuring about 40 centimenters (16 inches) did wash up on some eastern Pacific coastal areas of Japan, officials there said, but nothing like the wave of almost 2 meters (about 6 feet) that had been predicted as a possibility. Across the Pacific, all tsunami warnings and watches were canceled for the islands of Hawaii, as well as where they had been issued for the coastline of part of Washington state, British Columbia and Alaska, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The tsunami warning had been issued for eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said. ( How the tsunami alert system works) "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours," the NOAA said. (Watch as tsunami warning issued for Japan -- 2:50) According to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, a division of the NOAA, a tsunami warning was issued for the Alaska coastal areas from Sand Point to Attu. A tsunami watch was also issued for British Columbia and parts of Washington state. ( Read where tsunami warnings were issued after the quake) "A tsunami warning means that all coastal residents in the warning area who are near the beach or in low-lying regions should move immediately inland to higher ground," NOAA said. About 30,000 people live in the Kuril islands, which is located 1100 kilometers north of mainland Japan. Keiichi Kimura, a Hokkaido Prefectural (state) police officer, told The Associated Press there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the earthquake. Railway officials on Hokkaido stopped trains at nearby stations as a precautionary step, Japan's primary public broadcasting source NHK said. Tsunami waves -- generated by earthquakes -- are often barely noticeable in the ocean but can rise to great heights once they arrive at shore. A 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia on December 26, 2004 caused a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 11 countries. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| It said a 40cm (16 inches) wave hit Nemuro port in Hokkaido island. Another one of 20cm (8 inches) was recorded. The JMA initially expected a tsunami of at least two metres (6.5 feet) high after an 8.1 magnitude earthquake shook the Kuril Islands, north of Japan. Tsunami warnings for the area and for Russia's Pacific coast were later called off. Island threat The earthquake struck about 390km (240 miles) east of Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, at 2015 (1115 GMT), the JMA said. There have been no reports of injuries or damage following the earthquake. The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says in the past tsunamis have caused extensive damage in Japan but they were of a far greater magnitude than is being predicted. Japan's precarious geological position makes it one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations. As such, it has developed a sophisticated tsunami warning service, run by the JMA. If an earthquake looks as if it has the potential to trigger a tsunami, the JMA issues an alert within three minutes of it being identified.	The tsunami alert issued for certain areas of Russia and Japan after an 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the north coast of Japan have been lifted. While the tsunami alert has been lifted, Japan's Meteorological Agency's web site is still showing watches in affect for most of the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido. A small 40cm (15.7 inches) wave did wash up in some areas of the eastern coast of Japan, but this was nowhere near the 200cm (6.5 feet) wave that had been feared.
Afghan MP Escapes Assassination Attempt in Kabul Five bodyguards were killed. Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber killed at least 16 people in southwestern Afghanistan, while two roadside bombs killed 4 others in eastern Afghanistan. Photo: AFP Afghan police say a member of parliament escaped an assassination attempt Friday night near Kabul. Five bodyguards were killed. Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber killed at least 16 people in southwestern Afghanistan, while two roadside bombs killed 4 others in eastern Afghanistan. An Afghan district police chief tells VOA that a remote-controlled bomb targeted the convoy of Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf as it moved along roads outside the capital. Sayyaf is an influential member of parliament from Kabul province and a former warlord. This was not the first attempt on his life. Sayyat has survived at least one other similar attack. Sayyaf was one of the ex-mujahideen leaders who fought against the Taliban in the mid-1990s. He became a strong supporter of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government and the international forces after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban government in 2001. Meanwhile, Afghan officials say the suicide bomber in southwestern Afghanistan was on a motorcycle and targeted a busy area of Farah city, the capital of Farah province. The provincial governor, Rohullah Amin, tells VOA that the blast occurred near his compound and shattered his office's windows. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Amin says these incidents are the hallmark of the Taliban insurgency that has strengthened in recent months. Friday's violence comes a day after Hamid Karzai was sworn in for a second term as president. During his inaugural address, Mr. Karzai encouraged militants who do not have ties with international terrorism to work with his government in reconstructing Afghanistan. Amin says that while he agrees with President Karzai's offer of peace, it will never work if the attacks do not stop. "The Taliban who kill the same as like today, I think it will be difficult for the Afghan nation to accept those who are killing Afghan people," he said. President Karzai also said he will work to transfer the leading role for security from international forces to the Afghan army by the end of his five-year term. Amin says he believes that could be possible but not without more Afghan security force members. This year has been the deadliest for international troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban-led government in 2001. \|\|\|\|\| KABUL, Afghanistan A suicide bomber on a motorcycle attacked a crowded marketplace in a relatively peaceful part of western Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 15 people, while a well-known former warlord and member of Parliament narrowly survived an assassination attempt on the outskirts of Kabul. The legislator, Abdulrab Rasul Sayyaf, has many enemies from his days as a fighter, when he was accused of serious violations of human rights, and several people said privately that there were many besides the Taliban who might have wanted to kill him. The blast in western Afghanistan occurred around 9 a.m. Friday, close to the compound of the provincial governor, and also wounded 35 people. One of the dead was a police officer, said the governor, Rohul Ameen. “The suicide bomber just wanted to kill civilians,” Mr. Ameen said. “This is inhuman and an un-Islamic act being carried out by cowardly people.”	Afghan police said today that a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in the southwestern part of the country today, killing at least sixteen people. Two children and one police officer were among the dead, and dozens of others were injured. Location of Afghanistan on globe Afghan officials say the suicide bomber targeted a busy area of the city of Farah, which is the capital of a province by the same name. The provincial governor, Rohullah Amin, told the Voice of America news agency that the blast occurred near his compound and shattered his office's windows. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Amin suggested that attacks such as these are the hallmark of the Taliban. In two separate incidents in the eastern part of Afghanistan, two roadside bombs also killed at least four people. The violence comes a day after Hamid Karzai was sworn in for a second term as president.
FILE PHOTO: Greek university students clash with riot police during a demonstration against government plans to set up university police, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Athens, Greece, February 10, 2021. REUTERS/Costas Baltas ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek lawmakers passed legislation on Thursday that allows special police on university campuses as part of education reforms that opponents say threaten academic freedom established after the end of military rule in the 1970s. Defying coronavirus restrictions, thousands of people rallied in central Athens for a second day, as legislators debated the bill. The legislation passed in the 300-seat parliament with 166 deputies voting in favour and 132 against. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the reforms would end years of lawlessness at Greek campuses. “Nowhere in the world do we see images ... of historical buildings being vandalised, equipment being looted,” Mitsotakis told legislators before the vote, referring to numerous incidents in recent years where self-styled anarchist groups broke in and caused damage on Greek campuses. The issue of police on campus has been especially sensitive in Greece since the 1967-1974 military government. During a 1973 student revolt that helped topple the junta, a tank crashed through the gates of the Polytechnic university, killing students. Opponents of the law say state universities could hire more security staff and upgrade other safety measures instead of bringing in police. Other measures in the bill limit the length of time students can stay enrolled before getting a degree. \|\|\|\|\| Greek students have been demonstrating around the country against a law that would establish a university police force, which they say will stifle freedom of expression. The legislation, proposed by the ruling centre-right New Democracy party and due to be approved by parliament on Thursday, aims to reform the education system. It plans for the creation of a special university police force empowered to guard campuses and arrest those considered troublemakers as well as a "disciplinary council" able to suspend or expel students. Supporters of the reform argue that Greek universities have long been plagued by violence and those against it are afraid it will hinder freedom of expression. "The problem of violence in Greek universities is timeless. The police will drive out extremist political groups and guard the infrastructure, finally making the university a safe place" a spokesperson for the Ministry for Citizen Protection told Euronews. Many dark moments in Greece's recent history have taken place in universities and schools. In 1973, tanks of the Greek junta or 'Regime of the Colonels' — which fell a year later — violently ended a student occupation of Athens Polytechnic. At least 26 people were killed. Greek army tanks fire water cannons at students barricaded in the Polytechnic in 1973. Courtesy of a private archive The 1990/91 protest against a reform of the high school system wanted by the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis — the father of current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis — also led to the death of one teacher. Last October, the rector of the Athens University of Economics and Business was taken hostage in his office by a group of hooded anarchists, who photographed him with a sign around his neck saying, "Solidarity with squats". 'Bread, education and freedom' A "university asylum law" which prevented police from entering campuses except for particularly serious crimes was ushered in after the military dictatorship. It was repealed by New Democracy a year and a half ago. The latest reform makes some who remember the students' uprising in the 1970s uneasy. "The idea of a university police brings me back to a very painful time," Nikos Manios, a former student who opposed the dictatorship, told Euronews. A flyer with the words "Here Polytechnic!" recalls the Greek students' revolt during the military dictatorship in 1973. Courtesy of a private archive "At end of the military junta, I came back to the university to enrol again, as I had been expelled during the resistance. On campus, I met the person who had tortured me during my imprisonment. He kept spying and taking notes of students enrolling at the university as he had done in the past." "There I realised that the dictatorship might have ended, but the universities were still in danger of being controlled by political power," he added. During the student demonstrations that have been going through the centre of Athens every week for the last month, protesters have been chanting "Bread, education and freedom" — a traditional slogan of the students who opposed the dictatorship. The government refutes that the reform will stifle freedom. "It is ridiculous to think that the police will spy on the students," the spokesperson for the Ministry for Citizen Protection said. "On the contrary, it will help the rectors to ensure the free flow of ideas that are threatened right now by some extremist groups," they went on. But for Maria Kalkoni, a student protester, the argument doesn't hold up. "It happens that groups of self-styled anarchists occupy university classrooms or damage equipment. However, these episodes do not hinder university activities as the government would have us believe," she told Euronews. 'Chronic underfunding' Thousands of Greek professors have also urged the government to withdraw the bill. "The problem of the Greek universities is not about police but the lack of funding," Dimitris Kaltsonis, Professor of State Theory and Law at Panteion University, told Euronews. "According to surveys, the crime rate in Greek universities is in line with that of other countries. Moreover, the police can already enter universities if a crime is committed: there is no need for special police to control the campuses," he argued. Police lined up outside the Greek parliament during students' protests against an education reform, 2021. Elena Kaniadakis New Democracy has refuted that the reform will curb freedom of expression and says it establishes control measures already in place in most European universities. The Oxford Local Association of the University and College Union (UCU) have expressed solidarity with Greek professors opposing the reform, writing in a press release that it "is unlikely to respond to the most pertinent problems of Greek higher education institutions, such as chronic underfunding." "The University of Oxford does not have a university police force, security on University premises is provided by the University's own personnel," it also said. The Minister for Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochidis recently told parliament that the reform opens the door to rectors being able to eventually hire private guards. But, he stressed, "this solution is not feasible at the moment, but only when the police eradicate criminal groups from universities." 'More doctors, fewer police' The role of the police is also increasingly in the spotlight with students calling in recent demonstrations for "more doctors, fewer police" and "funds for education ad health system, not state repression." "Since Kyriakos Mitsotakis was elected in 2019, he has kept hiring new policemen in response to every alleged problem. This policy has brought nothing but more riots and a climate of fear," Alekos Akridas, a student protester, told Euronews. Police lined up outside the University of Athens during students' protests against an education reform. 2021. Elena Kaniadakis The government recently unveiled a €23 million budget for the police to "face contemporary challenges, such as COVID-19 and external threats". The Transport Minister has also said he is keen to create a police force to ensure safety on public transport. Yet, according to Eurostat figures from 2016-2018, Greece has the second-highest number of police officers per inhabitants in the European Union after Cyprus. Human rights observers, such as Amnesty International, have highlighted an increase in police abuses in Greece in the last year and a half, often favoured by the lockdown, which is still in force. For the spokesperson for the Ministry for Citizen Protection, "Eurostat data are inaccurate because each country defines its police force differently." "In Greece, many law enforcement agencies are united in a single body, contrary to what happens in other countries. That is why it seems that Greece has so many policemen, but in reality, it does not. “Nonetheless, we are investing in the quality of education as well, because universities are not safe places at the moment. Police on campuses is not a choice, but a necessary move," he concluded. \|\|\|\|\| Füge diesen Tweet zu deiner Webseite hinzu, indem du den untenstehenden Code einfügst. Mehr erfahren Füge dieses Video zu deiner Webseite hinzu, indem du den untenstehenden Code kopierst. Mehr erfahren Hmm, es gab ein Problem, den Server zu erreichen. Erneut versuchen? Vorherigen Tweet einfügen Medien beifügen Indem du Twitter Inhalte in deine Website oder App einbettest, akzeptierst du die Twitter Entwicklervereinbarung und die Entwicklerrichtlinien. Vorschau \|\|\|\|\| University students clash with riot police during a rally in Athens, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. Police have used tear gas to disperse crowds at a rally in the Greek capital organized to protest plans to set up a state security division at university campuses. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) University students clash with riot police during a rally in Athens, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. Police have used tear gas to disperse crowds at a rally in the Greek capital organized to protest plans to set up a state security division at university campuses. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Police have used tear gas to disperse crowds at a rally in Athens organized to protest plans to set up a state security division at university campuses. Mass gatherings are banned under current lockdown rules imposed because of the pandemic, but members and supporters of student and left-wing groups joined a rally Thursday near parliament in central Athens. Greece’s center-right government scrapped a decades-old ban on police entering university grounds, arguing the measure had been frequently exploited to organize violent protests and even criminal activity. ADVERTISEMENT The government plans to set up a campus police division and limit entrance to university grounds to students, academic staff, employees and guests. Under the proposed changes, university entrance requirements will also be amended and time limits will be set for the completion of degree courses. Free access to university areas is seen by many Greeks as an important source of political dissent and which allowed resistance to be developed against authoritarian regimes in the past. The main left-wing opposition party, Syriza, is backing the education protests and has described the proposed reforms as undemocratic and aimed at making universities “sterile and unfree.” \|\|\|\|\| Greek lawmakers have approved legislation that will allow police to enter university property to investigate complaints, ending a decades-old effective ban. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ New Democracy majority and a smaller right-wing party supported the new legislation, which faced vehement opposition from left-wing parties. Government officials say the law aims to curtail lawlessness and crime, but critics say it is an attack on democracy. “We don’t want police in university. We do want though to get rid of the hoodies who police the lives of students,” Mitsotakis said during a parliamentary debate (see full video below) — in reference to anarchists. On August 8, several hundred Athenians marched in the streets to protest the new law, claiming that it limits freedom of expression and free movement of ideas. Protesters in Athens rally against the abolishment of academic sanctuary. (Photo / Costas Baltas, Reuters) Before the law, police could only enter universities if academic officials invited them. The only exception to the rule was if a serious felony were committed. But university officials rarely invited police onto their property, as they feared overwhelming backlash from student activists. Through the new legislation, officers will be granted entrance if called upon by any member of the public. By enacting the law, Mitsotakis’ recently elected administration fulfilled one of its main pledges to improve public safety. The administration argued the new law is necessary in order to discourage potential criminals from committing violence, vandalism and drug-trafficking at universities. “University grounds are public spaces, just like streets and squares, where when danger looms we all seek police assistance,” Mitsotakis said during parliamentary debate (see full video below). Police had been effectively banned from entering Greek universities since 1982, which marked nine years after a violent crackdown by Greece’s 1967-1974 military regime — also known as the Junta — against pro-democracy student protests. The infamous November 14, 1973 student uprising at the Athens Polytechnic University was crushed three days later when the army stormed the complex by using a tank to flatten the gates. The incident left 23 students dead. After the Junta ended in 1974, the November 17 uprising was widely credited with influencing its collapse. The protests also established a trend of prominent left-wing influence in Greek state universities. Athens Polytechnic school students carry a blood-stained Greek flag during a rally marking the 45th anniversary of the 1973 student uprising. (Photo / Costas Baltas, Reuters, File Photo) But as years passed after the initial “no-go” ban in 1982, left-wing political activists reportedly began disrupting everyday university life with criminal activity — the main argument which has been pushed by New Democracy in support of its new legislation. “During a typical student’s life, he will see faculties controlled by a manner of different groups, drugs and basements full of petrol bombs and hoods,” Mitsotakis said. The Polytechnic University has been left especially vulnerable to vandalism — particularly graffiti — which remains visible from the outside. On the anniversary of the November 17 uprising, the university often gives shelter to anarchists and other young protestors as they throw Molotov cocktails at police — who are legally unable to enter school grounds. In 1995, anarchists vandalized the site of the 1973 uprising during a sit-in. Over the past few years, as Greece has struggled economically, the Polytechnic has continued to serve as a makeshift stronghold for anarchists during street battles against police. Watch Mitsotakis’ Parliament Speech Will you Support The Pappas Post for as little as the cost of a cup of coffee per month? Is The Pappas Post worth $5 a month for all of the content you read? On any given month, we publish dozens of articles that educate, inform, entertain, inspire and enrich thousands who read The Pappas Post. I’m asking those who frequent the site to chip in and help keep the quality of our content high — and free. Click here and start your monthly or annual support today. If you choose to pay (a) $5/month or more or (b) $50/year or more then you will be able to browse our site completely ad-free!	The Greek passed contentious legislation on Thursday allowing for the creation of a campus police force and disciplinary council to end the tradition of violence at Greek universities. The decision, passed 166–132 in a parliament of 300, was opposed by many students and professors, who claim it would stifle freedom of expression. Changes proposed included establishment of a campus police division, restriction of entry into university grounds, and formation of a "disciplinary council" empowered to suspend or expel students. A spokesperson called university campus violence "timeless"; and said "the police will drive out extremist political groups and guard the infrastructure, finally making the university a safe place". Prior to the vote, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the centre-right New Democracy political party which first introduced the legislation, told lawmakers in the world do we see images ... of historical buildings being vandalised". Many incidents of unrest have occurred at Greek universities, including a 1973 student revolt at against the 1967–1974 military . The government forcefully repressed the uprising, resulting in the death of at least 26. Due to another protest in 1990–91 against high school reform pushed by Mitsotakis' father , one teacher died. In October, a rector was taken hostage by hooded . In 2019, the government repealed a restriction in place since 1982 that had effectively prevented police from entering university grounds. Opponents of the introduction of police at universities have described it as stifling freedom of expression, which the government claimed is "ridiculous". At recent demonstrations, protestors have chanted "Bread, education and freedom", a common anti-junta slogan of the 1973 uprising. In January, Athenian police used tear gas to break up a protest which was defying lockdown restrictions. Many Greek professors have also opposed the idea, with Professor of State Theory and Law at Dimitris Kaltsonis claiming, in remarks to , "there is no need for special police to control the campuses". Oxford University's (UCU) stated on Twitter "its solidarity to Greek colleagues ... opposing the creation of such a special university police force, which is unlikely to respond to the most pertinent problems of Greek higher education institutions", and that the then-proposal was "alarming and not in line with best practice." Some recent demonstrators have called for "more doctors, fewer police". Eurostat data from 2016–2018, which a spokesperson for the Ministry for Citizen Protection called "inaccurate", showed Greece had the second most police officers per capita of any country in the European Union. The spokesperson said the government is "investing in the quality of education as well", but emphasised "police on campuses is not a choice, but a necessary move". €23 million was recently budgeted for Greek law enforcement to better "face contemporary challenges, such as COVID-19 and external threats". Left-wing opposition party has criticised the legislation as an attempt to make universities "sterile and unfree".
BEIJING, March. 19 -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi says Japan will not shoot down ballistic missiles aimed at the United States or other countries in its air space. Koizumi told a plenary meeting of the Upper House of the Japanese Parliament that even after Japan gets its own means of anti-aircraft defence as planned, the system will only guard Japanese territory. He notes that a missile's target can be determined by the angle and altitude of its flight and Tokyo won't react to missiles aimed at other countries. The Japanese anti-aircraft defence program is spearheaded primarily against North Korea, which Tokyo regards as the main threat to its security. Enditem (Source:CRIENGLISH.com) \|\|\|\|\| AP Photo TOK802 TOKYO (AP) - Japan will use its future missile defense system to ward off an attack but not to shoot down missiles aimed at its allies, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Friday. Japan and the United States are working on a joint defense program, spurred in part by North Korea's development of missiles capable of hitting Japan. But Koizumi told the upper house of Parliament that Japan would not be obligated to use the system to protect an allied country - such as the United States - from missile attack. ``The purpose of our country's missile defense is to intercept incoming missiles targeting Japan,'' he said. ``We are not thinking of dealing with other missiles targeting our allies.'' Koizumi added that the target of a missile can be judged from its angle at launch and its altitude. He also said that providing information to the United States on incoming missiles would not breach Japan's constitution. Japan's military is strongly restricted by the country's pacifist constitution, which has been interpreted as imposing a ban on collective self-defense. The United States is obliged under a treaty to defend Japan from attack and has about 50,000 troops based here.	Flag of Japan Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced on Friday that Japan will not shoot down missiles that are headed for its allies. Koizumi spoke at the plenary meeting of the Upper House of the Japanese Parliament. "The purpose of our country's missile defense is to intercept incoming missiles targeting Japan," said Koizumi. "We are not thinking of dealing with other missiles targeting our allies." Koizumi pointed out that the angle and altitude of a missile in flight could be used to determine the target of the missile. He went on to clarify that he believed Japan could provide data about missiles to the United States without violating Japan's constitution. Japan plans to install several American-made Patriot "Pak-3" complexes for its land-based defense systems, and later plans to install the American-made Aegis combat system on its naval ships.
Nigeria: Blaze hits Lagos after fireworks blast Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. An explosion in a warehouse has sparked a major fire in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital. Officials said a building storing fireworks in the largest market area of Lagos Island exploded, and the ensuing blaze spread to up to nine buildings. The blast reportedly shook windows of homes miles away and a thick cloud of smoke could be seen over the city. Several people have been injured but it remains unclear if there were any fatalities. Continue reading the main story At the scene A cloud of smoke billowed from the scene of the explosion, accompanied by the sparks of fireworks. The sound of popping and crackling carried on as the fire raged on in this densely populated part of Lagos full of closely packed buildings in narrow streets. Residents of the area told me they thought it was a bomb at first when blast shook buildings around Jankara Market, the largest in Lagos. A few people showed me shrapnel wounds they got even though they were a fair distance from the explosion. There was little the people could do but watch, with some trying to get photographs of the incident on their mobile phones. Emergency workers say they had problems getting past the huge crowds of onlookers, similar to a complaint they raised in June when a plane crashed into a residential area in another part of Lagos. Thousands of people in the area gathered to watch, as the fire destroyed neighbouring buildings. Some residents jumped out of windows in panic as fireworks exploded long after the initial blaze, AFP news agency reported. The BBC's Tomi Oladipo, who is at the scene, says he saw people with shrapnel wounds some distance from the fire and that it is quite likely anyone closer would have been worse affected. The Nigerian Red Cross said it had treated at least 30 people, AFP reported. Firefighters took about an hour to reach the scene, according to our correspondent, because of the huge crowds. Some residents grabbed hoses from fire engines and tried to fight the blaze themselves, but the Associated Press reports that the engines quickly ran out of water. Police and security officials recovered mortar-like fireworks and many empty firework shells from the scene, the agency said. Our correspondent says that for years there have been calls for the ban of fireworks – which are widely used during the end-of-year holidays in Nigeria – but they have never been enforced. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions \|\|\|\|\| At least one dead in Lagos fireworks blaze LAGOS — Fire tore through a crowded neighbourhood of Nigeria's largest city of Lagos on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring 30 others after a huge explosion rocked a building storing fireworks. The blast and fire led to panic in the densely packed area of Lagos, a city of some 15 million people, with residents jumping from windows to flee and others salvaging goods from their shops in the neighbourhood's large market. Fireworks continued to explode well after the fire began while smoke was heavy and the blaze intense, making it difficult for rescue workers and firefighters to approach the scene. Huge crowds gathered in the area, including onlookers and those seeking to help. Three tankers at the scene from the fire service later ran out of water and an emergency official said military personnel had been called in to help. More water arrived later in the day and the blaze appeared to be gradually subsiding. Officials said the inferno appeared to have started at a warehouse storing fireworks, where a major explosion shook parts of the sprawling city, Nigeria's commercial hub. "We pulled out a body from the building," said Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). An emergency source said initial reports indicated that fire caused the explosion, but an official statement from NEMA later said the precise cause was yet to be determined. The fire spread following the explosion, with at least nine buildings in the neighbourhood ablaze when an AFP journalist arrived at the scene. A school across from the warehouse was badly damaged from the blast, with windows shattered and materials inside affected. Cars in the neighbourhood were gutted. Residents rushed to help firefighters, bringing containers of water and helping carry hoses, but the volatile situation made it difficult. "We have treated up to 30 people so far," Red Cross worker Nicolas Adesile told AFP at the scene. One man treated for a cut on his leg said he jumped from his building to escape. "I had to jump from the first floor to save my life," Wasiu Olaleye said. Officials were seeking to confirm further details on the incident, with the force of the explosion so strong that rumours even spread over whether there had been a plane crash. "While security agencies would investigate and determine the real cause of the explosion and fire outbreaks, casualty figures are yet to be determined," NEMA said in a statement. "But some residents who were injured while attempting to assist in putting off the fire have been taken to hospital for treatment." Rescue workers had difficulty reaching the scene due to traffic and crowds. Residents reported hearing the explosion and running, with some helping fetch water. Wednesday was a public holiday in Nigeria, though some shops in the area were open. "We just heard 'bwaahhh!' and before we knew it we saw fire coming from the building," said one man who had been on his nearby balcony. The incident occurred in Jankara, home to a large market and located in the Lagos Island area, among the oldest and most densely populated neighbourhoods in the city. Fireworks are popular in Nigeria during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation with some 160 million people, and Lagos is considered the continent's second-largest city after Cairo. Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved. More »	At least one person has been killed and at least thirty were injured as the result of a fire in the city of in Nigeria after an explosion in a building with fireworks stored in it. As many as nine other buildings in the fire yesterday were also impacted by the flames, according to authorities. The fire was reportedly the cause of the explosion, although this is yet to be confirmed. Some local residents reportedly jumped out of the windows of buildings in fright in the large commercial area of Jankara. One man, Wasiu Olaleye, required treatment for a cut to his leg because "I had to jump from the first floor to save my life", he said. Some local businesses were open when the incident occurred, but yesterday was a . A school located in close proximity to the warehouse was significantly damaged in the incident. Numerous vehicles in the area were completely burnt out by the fire. The windows of several nearby buildings were also destroyed as the fire caused the windows of houses a few miles away to shake. Thick smoke was also sighted above Lagos. Crowds of thousands of nearby people accumulated near the fire, with spectators and individuals intending to assist or gain information about relatives amongst them. Three fire service tanker vehicles attended the scene, but used up all their water supplies. Some people in the crowd attempted to assist fire crews with holding fire hoses and gathering water-filled containers. Some of these people were taken to hospital for treatment after experiencing injuries. One official reported military assistance was used. Additional water arrived later, as the severity of the fire slowly decreased. The large crowds were part of the reason it took around an hour for fire service members to reach the scene of the fire. News agency '''' was told by a government official that the possibility of further explosions from fireworks also interfered with the fire service's rescue operation. "It's very dangerous for the firemen to go in, because the government don't want any of these men to be injured", they said. Ibrahim Farinloye from the National Emergency Management Agency reported one fatality to '''' (AFP), saying: "We pulled out a body from the building". Nicolas Adesile, of the Red Cross, told the same news agency that as many as thirty people have been treated thus far. == Sources == * *
CBS, Jeffrey R. Staab/Associated Press David Letterman shocked his audience – and just about everyone he knows – by announcing on his show Monday night that he had quietly gone to a courthouse in Teton, Mont., Thursday afternoon and married his long-time girlfriend Regina Lasko. Mr. Letterman dropped the word after his monologue, and just after he congratulated the actor Bruce Willis for getting married last week. Mr. Letterman and Ms. Lasko are already parents of a son, Harry, who is now five years old. The courtship has been extended. Mr. Letterman noted that he began dating Ms. Lasko in February 1986. Many guests on Mr. Letterman’s show, notably Julia Roberts, have tweaked him about his reluctance to marry. Mr. Letterman had sworn off marriage after he and his first wife, Michelle Cook, were divorced in 1977. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Late-night TV comic David Letterman has quietly married his longtime girlfriend, telling audience members of his show on Monday that he almost missed the ceremony because his truck was stuck in mud. Letterman, 61, and Regina Lasko tied the knot during a courthouse ceremony near their Montana ranch last Thursday. The couple, who have been dating since 1986, were accompanied by their 5-year-old son, Harry. " ... I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years, and I -- honestly, whether this happened or not -- I secretly felt that men who were married admired me ... like I was the last of the real gunslingers," Letterman said, according to a "Late Show" transcript provided by a spokesman. But the afternoon ceremony at the Teton County Courthouse in Choteau (pop. 1,700) was delayed by an hour because the family's pickup truck was stuck in mud two miles from their house. Letterman was forced to walk back in a howling gale to get the car. "So then we get in the car and Harry says, 'Are we still going into town?' and I said, 'Yes, we are,' and he gets very upset because Mom had told him if I wasn't back in an hour, the deal was off." Letterman's spokesman declined to reveal any details about the ceremony, or to give Lasko's age. Letterman, who was married once before, is intensely private, and is rarely photographed with his family. The news of his nuptials was first broken by celebrity tabloid US Weekly. (Editing by Bob Tourtellotte) \|\|\|\|\| David Letterman finally marries longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko Filo/AP David Letterman is now a married man. After two decades and one son, David Letterman finally married his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko - and of course, he cracked wise about it. "They say, 'Well, why did it take you so long to get married?' and, of course, the answer honestly is we wanted to make sure we had the prenup just right," he joked. The TV host tied the knot at a courthouse in Montana on Thursday and announced the big news at Monday's taping of CBS' "Late Show" in Manhattan. "I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years," he said. "I secretly felt that men who were married admired me - like I was the last of the real gunslingers." Letterman, 61, didn't explain why he decided to bite the bullet, but he noted that when he headed to the courthouse in a pickup truck with Lasko, 49, and their 5-year-old son, Harry, they got stuck in the mud. "So now we think, 'Well, somebody'll come. No, nobody comes along. Nobody comes along - it's Thursday afternoon, who's coming along, Zorro? "So I get out of the truck and I walk 2 miles back to the house into a 50-mile-an-hour wind. It's not Beverly Hills, it's Montana, for God's sake. And the whole way, I'm thinking, 'See, smart ass, see, see, you try to get married, this is what happens. See, well, you've got nobody to blame but yourself.... "So then we get in the car and Harry says, 'Are we still going into town?' and I said, 'Yes, we are,' and he gets very upset because mom had told him if I wasn't back in an hour, the deal was off." Letterman and Lasko had dated since 1986. He was previously married to his college sweetheart but seemed to be in no rush the second time around. Two days before the courthouse wedding, he was flirting like mad with Julia Roberts, who teased him about his unmarried status. tconnor@nydailynews.com \|\|\|\|\| OK, there's definitely something in the water. First, Bruce Willis marries his Demi Moore clone, Emma Heming. Then Harrison Ford pops the question to longtime love Calista Flockhart. Now David Letterman and Regina Lasko, the mother of his 5-year-old son, got hitched in a courthouse ceremony near their Montana ranch, Letterman announced during the taping of his CBS "Late Show" yesterday. "Regina and I began dating in February of 1986, and I said, 'Well, things are going pretty good, let's just see what happens in about 10 years,'" joked Letterman. “I had avoided getting married pretty good for, like, 23 years, and I — honestly, whether this happened or not — I secretly felt that men who were married admired me ... like I was the last of the real gunslingers, you know what I'm saying?'" he said. The family's truck got stuck in the mud en route to the courthouse, he said. Jeepers. Letterman "walked two miles back to the house in 50 mph wind. It's not Beverly Hills — it's Montana." "And the whole way, I'm thinking, 'See ... you try to get married and this is what happens.'" Can you believe it took David Letterman this long to get married? What is it with men? Related David Letterman dish: David Letterman tells Paula Abdul to sue over stalker. He should know! David Letterman takes on Joaquin Phoenix, a.k.a. the Unabomber! Photo: WireImage	David Letterman has married his girlfriend of more than 20 years.David Letterman, host of the late night American television show ''Late Show with David Letterman'', has married his girlfriend of 23 years, he told studio audience during a taping of his show on Monday. Letterman, 61, announced he and Regina Lasko, with whom he has a five-year old son, were wed in a courthouse ceremony in Choteau in Teton County, Montana last week, near the ranch they own together. "They say, 'Well, why did it take you so long to get married?' and, of course, the answer honestly is we wanted to make sure we had the prenup just right," Letterman joked. Letterman and Lasko began their relationship in 1986. Their son, Harry, was present for the ceremony. The late night talk show host previously swore off marriage after his 1977 divorce with Michelle Cook. "I secretly felt that men who were married admired me ... like I was the last of the real gunslingers," Letterman said during his Monday show, where he made the announcement shortly after congratulating Bruce Willis for getting married last week. Letterman told the audience he nearly missed the ceremony because his truck became stuck in mud two miles from their house. The ceremony was delayed one hour while Letterman walked back in 50 mile per hour winds to get his car. "And the whole way, I'm thinking, 'See ... you try to get married and this is what happens,'" he said.
The community organizing group Acorn announced Monday that it would close all its remaining state affiliates and field offices by April 1. The organization is “developing a plan to resolve all outstanding debts, obligations and other issues,” said a statement released by the group. Acorn has been battered by criticism from the right and has lost federal money and private donations since a video sting was publicized last fall. Acorn employees were shown in the videos advising two young conservative activists — posing as a pimp and a prostitute — how to conceal their criminal activities. In reaction to the videos, the Census Bureau ended its partnership with the organization for this year’s census, the Internal Revenue Service dropped the group from its Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program, and Congress voted to cut off all grants to the organization. In recent years, the group has also been dogged by mismanagement and criticism — mostly from conservatives — for its handling of voter registration drives. Last month, the Brooklyn district attorney’s office completed an investigation of the Acorn employees there who appeared in the video and concluded that they had not taken part in any criminality. “For Acorn as a national organization, our vindication on the facts doesn’t necessarily pay the bills,” Bertha Lewis, the chief executive of Acorn, said in a statement. While the videos gave the impression that one of the two activists, James E. O’Keefe III, was dressed as a pimp when he entered the offices, later inspection seemed to indicate that he had manipulated that part of the footage and showed no evidence that he wore the costume when talking to Acorn workers. The transcript of several stings, however, indicate that Mr. O’Keefe clearly presented himself as a pimp and that Acorn workers in some offices told him how to hide prostitution activities from the authorities. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- The community organizing group ACORN announced Monday it is closing its operations amid falling revenues. The announcement came a day after the board of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now met and approved the steps required "to responsibly manage the process of bringing its operations to a close over the coming months," an ACORN statement read. The group's remaining state affiliates and field offices will close by April 1, and a plan will be developed to pay its debts, the statement said. "ACORN's members have a great deal to be proud of -- from promoting homeownership to helping rebuild New Orleans, from raising wages to winning safer streets, from training community leaders to promoting voter participation -- ACORN members have worked hard to create stronger communities, a more inclusive democracy and a more just nation," it said. The 40-year-old liberal group was crippled by scandal six months ago when a pair of conservative activists posing as a pimp and a prostitute secretly videotaped two ACORN employees appearing to give them advice about setting up a prostitution ring and evading the IRS. The video led to the employees being fired. Afterward, Congress halted Housing and Urban Development grants to ACORN. In a news release issued Saturday, ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis said the group had faced "a series of well-orchestrated, relentless, well-funded, right-wing attacks that are unprecedented since the McCarthy era. Our effective work empowering African-American and low-income voters made us a target. The videos were a manufactured, sensational story that led to rush to judgment and an unconstitutional act by Congress. "For ACORN as a national organization, our vindication on the facts doesn't necessarily pay the bills. I know that ACORN's dedicated community members will continue to speak out for justice and organize in their communities." ACORN's announcement was welcomed by Matthew Vadum, senior editor of the Capital Research Center, a conservative think tank based in Washington. "I won't be shedding any tears," said Vadum, who said he has been studying the organization for years and written extensively on the organization. "ACORN is a thoroughly corrupt organization that abuses taxpayer dollars and breaks the law at every opportunity. To suggest that it was set up is laughable." He added in a telephone interview, "For ACORN to claim that it's a victim of McCarthyism, as I've seen CEO Bertha Lewis do repeatedly, doesn't even pass the laugh test. It can't be taken seriously." On March 1, prosecutors cleared the group of criminal wrongdoing related to the videos. And on March 10, U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon declared unconstitutional the law blacklisting ACORN and allied organizations from receiving federal funds, according to ACORN. In 2008, Republican groups seized on allegations of voter registration fraud by the group in Florida and several other states, claiming its workers were trying to push the election in Barack Obama's favor. Founded in 1970, ACORN called itself "the nation's largest grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people." The group said it had more than 400,000 member families organized into more than 1,200 neighborhood chapters in 110 cities. Besides voter registration, the group focused on issues such as predatory lending, the minimum wage and funding for public schools, according to its Web site. It also provided free tax return preparation for low-income people and screening for state and federal benefit programs. \|\|\|\|\| CHICAGO (Reuters) - The liberal grass-roots group ACORN will formally disband on April 1 due to falling revenues, as its state chapters reorganize, the group said on Monday. U.S. Most of the 20 chapters of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which endorsed President Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign, have disbanded on their own and reorganized under new names, a source within the group said. Funding dried up after a widely disseminated YouTube video last September that showed ACORN workers giving advice on how to flout the law to two conservative activists who posed as a pimp and a prostitute. A separate embezzlement scandal also damaged the group's credibility. Republicans have long accused the group of fraud in registering voters and improperly mixing political and nonpolitical activities. ACORN has denied the allegations. In the wake of the scandal, the U.S. Congress voted to prohibit ACORN from receiving federal funding, and the U.S. Census Bureau ended its partnership with the group. A federal judge later ruled the funding prohibition invalid, but the damage was done. ACORN's board on Sunday formally closed the remaining affiliates to secure their remaining assets and pay off debts, the source said. "ACORN has faced a series of well-orchestrated, relentless, well-funded right wing attacks," the group said in a statement announcing the moves. A smaller, five-member board was created to determine the corporation's future, which may include filing for bankruptcy, the ACORN source said. Newly formed, unaffiliated organizations have taken up some of the same work -- such as providing housing assistance to the poor -- with many of the same people and the same private funding sources, the source said. (Reporting by Andrew Stern; Editing by Peter Cooney) \|\|\|\|\| ACORN disbanding; some services to continue Scandal-tainted ACORN is disbanding, a spokesman for the national community activist group says, although its housing division will continue, according to two news reports. Citing national ACORN spokesman Kevin Whelan, the Associated Press said the political arm of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now will shut down April 1 because of "falling revenues." AP writes, "Some other national operations will continue operating for at least several weeks before shutting for good." The Wall Street Journal says ACORN Housing, which has a separate budget and board, would remain open. The group, which generally aids low-income minorities, came under fire for allegations of voter fraud during the 2008 election, and then again six months ago when a video sting by conservative activists showed ACORN workers advising a man and a woman dressed as a prostitute and a pimp how to avoid certain taxes. (This month, the workers were cleared of criminal wrongdoing. ) Congress cut off the group's funding as a result of the scandal, as did many private donors. Affiliates in New York and California broke from the national group this year and changed their names, hoping to distance themselves from their parent organization and regain funding. (Posted by Michael Winter)	The US community organizing group (ACORN) will end its operations due to dwindling funds. The group said in a statement that it would close most of its field offices by April 1. The heads of the organization said in a joint statement that "ACORN's members have a great deal to be proud of—from promoting homeownership to helping rebuild New Orleans, from raising wages to winning safer streets, from training community leaders to promoting voter participation—ACORN members have worked hard to create stronger communities, a more inclusive democracy, and a more just nation." The group, founded in 1970, played a prominent role in the 2008 US presidential elections, as it conducted many voter registration drives and fundraising for then-Senator Barack Obama, among other candidates. The organization first became scrutinized during the , when some of its employees were accused of . Matters got worse in 2009 after an undercover video revealed two of its employees giving advice on how to set up a prostitution ring and commit tax fraud.
Media: Probe of plane crash points to transponder SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A Brazilian Air Force investigation has concluded that a switched-off transponder contributed to a plane crash that killed 154 people in 2006, local media reported on Saturday. The Estado de Sao Paulo and Folha de Sao Paulo newspapers said that Air Force investigators determined that the two American pilots of a New York-based executive jet had inadvertently placed the transponder and the collision-avoidance system on standby before colliding with a jetliner on Sept. 29, 2006. The newspapers said the Air Force also concluded that flight controllers failed to alert the pilots that they were on a collision course and failed to notice that the transponder was turned off. Calls to the Air Force for comment went unanswered on Saturday. The report is scheduled to be released formally on Wednesday. The Boeing 737 operated by Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA collided over the Amazon rain forest with an Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet owned by ExcelAire Service Inc. of Ronkonkoma, New York. Everyone aboard the Gol aircraft was killed, while the Legacy landed safely. Four flight controllers on duty at the time of the accident and the two U.S. pilots - Joseph Lepore of Bay Shore and Jan Paladino of Westhampton Beach have been indicted on charges similar to involuntary manslaughter that carry up to three years in prison. The pilots have denied turning off the transponder and have said they were flying at an altitude designated by the air controllers. "The transponder issue is a distraction from the true cause of the accident, which is an air traffic control system that put two airplanes on a collision course for about an hour," said David Rimmer, ExcelAire's executive vice president, speaking by telephone on Saturday. He said Brazilian flight controllers failed to "recognize the transponder failure and to provide increased separation between the two jets, as required by international aviation regulations." "We have no proof of how the transponder was turned off and no evidence to suggest it was inadvertently turned off by the pilots" Rimmer added, complaining that the Air Force "relied on theories rather than conducting in-depth testing of the equipment." The Air Force investigation, separate from court actions, is meant to determine the causes of the accident and recommend measures to help avoid similar tragedies, the two newspapers said. The American pilots were allowed to leave Brazil after agreeing to return if courts summon them. \|\|\|\|\| SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The Brazilian Air Force will release a report next week blaming U.S. pilots who operated a Legacy jet that collided in mid-air with a Brazilian Gol commercial airliner for causing Brazil's second-worst air disaster, a local paper said on Saturday. O Estado de S. Paulo daily, which had access to details of the report, said pilot error in the Embraer Legacy jet, operated by Long Island-based ExcelAire, was the "central point in a chain of errors" that caused the Gol plane to crash in the jungle killing 154 on board in 2006. David Rimmer, executive vice president of ExcelAire, said later on Saturday that the newspaper's portrayal of a 300-page report to be released on Wednesday was "a gross misrepresentation" of the Air Force's investigation. The newspaper said the report focused blame on one of the U.S. pilots who "inadvertently turned off" the Legacy's transponder, which would have prevented the Legacy's winglet from slashing through the larger Gol airliner, sending it hurtling 37,000 feet to the jungle floor. The Legacy managed an emergency landing with minor damage on a remote airstrip. The paper said the report also faulted local air traffic control, which failed to properly advise the Legacy jet on its cruising altitudes, and also said there was miscommunication from one controller to another during a shift change about the Legacy's altitude and a failure to communicate between control and the Legacy pilots. "The transponder is a distraction from the true cause of the accident, which is air traffic control put two airplanes on a collision course for about an hour," Rimmer said. "We have no proof of how the transponder was turned off and no evidence to suggest it was inadvertently turned off by the pilots." He said the Brazilian Air Force in its investigation of its own management of air traffic control during the time of the accident did not fully explore the transponder failure but "relied on theories rather than conducting in-depth testing of equipment." The report on the Gol disaster comes a few weeks after local investigators blamed government agencies, pilot error and company policy for a TAM airliner crash that killed 199 in 2007. ID:nN15461337 The occurrence of two major airline accidents within a year has triggered efforts to reform Brazil's military air traffic control system that are still underway. Rimmer said by phone that part of the problem with the Brazilian Air Force's investigation was the threat of criminal prosecution, especially of the air traffic controllers. "This tends to hamper information-gathering, which could help us avoid similar disasters in the future," he said. (Reporting by Reese Ewing; Editing by Eric Walsh)	This computer-generated image shows the two jets a split second prior to collision The damage to the Legacy's wing. Notice that the winglet has been sheared completely off. It has been revealed that the final report into a midair collision that killed 154 people in 2006 will blame a string of human error for the disaster. Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907, a Boeing 737, crashed into the ground after an Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet's wing clipped it. The Legacy, owned by ExcelAire, performed an emergency landing at a nearby airbase. The report says the Legacy's transponder was "inadvertently turned off by the hand of one of the pilots," and says this was the "central point in a chain of errors" leading to the collision. Crucially, the transponder failure - which the US pilots have denied causing - prevented the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) from functioning. A chunk of wreckage from the Gol airliner. The investigation, which was conducted by the Brazilian Air Force, criticised air traffic control (ATC) on a number of points; the Legacy was not properly advised on the altitude at which it should be cruising, when one controller changed shift there was a miscommunication between them about the Legacy's altitude and there was a failure of communication between the Legacy and ATC. The ExcelAire pilots, Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino, were only allowed to return home after promising they would return to Brazil if summoned by the courts. The pair, along with four air traffic controllers, have been indicted over the crash and all six face up to three years in prison each. Collision detail The purpose of this investigation, however, was not to acertain blame but to determine the root causes and suggest measures by which a reccurence can be avoided. Some moves have already been made in the aftermath; the accident was the deadliest in Brazil until TAM Airlines Flight 3054 crashed the following year and both were responsible for the 2006-2007 Brazilian aviation crisis. In response, a major overhaul of the nation's military ATC system is underway. ExcelAire's executive vice president David Rimmer was critical of the report. "The transponder issue is a distraction from the true cause of the accident, which is an air traffic control system that put two airplanes on a collision course for about an hour," he said. He complained that ATC did not "recognize the transponder failure and to provide increased separation between the two jets, as required by international aviation regulations." He was also concerned by the Air Force's methodology and the conclusions drawn from it. "We have no proof of how the transponder was turned off and no evidence to suggest it was inadvertently turned off by the pilots," he said. "The Air Force relied on theories rather than conducting in-depth testing of the equipment." The report's official release is next week, however it has already been seen by Brazilian newspapers, hence making its findings public today.
MARBURG EPIDEMIC NOT OVER: WHO RELATED STORIES - Angola virus spreading - Angola virus outbreak worsens - Ebola-like virus hits Angola Angolan health officials say the country’s deadly outbreak of Marburg Virus is under control, despite warnings from international medical organisations that it may worsen. Angola’s Deputy Health Minister Jose Van Dunem said the government has managed to contain infections to the northern Uige province, with no new cases reported in other areas. Poor roads out of the town of the same name have apparently helped keep the Ebola-like disease in check. While people outside the province have fallen ill with the virus, the government said they had all visited Uige. Officials have confirmed 235 deaths since the epidemic began in October, most of them children. Another 22 people are infected. It is the world’s worst outbreak since 123 people died in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1998 and 2000. A statement from Angola’s health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said an additional 513 people are under surveillance. “We don’t think that it is over,” David Daigle of the WHO said of the haemorrhagic fever. “The numbers are still going up.” A team of top virologists, epidemiologists and anthropologists from the WHO and Medecins sans Frontieres arrived in Uige last month. The paediatric ward of the local hospital has been identified as the likely source of the initial outbreak. Mr Daigle said efforts to assess Marburg’s spread and warn villagers had been hampered by residents shunning health workers and hospitals. He said local musicians and anthropologists had worked on recording a Marburg prevention song, now being broadcast on the radio and truck-mounted loudspeakers, to overcome the problem. Marburg can kill a healthy person in a week, inducing vomiting and diarrhoea, followed by severed fever. The disease is spread through contact with bodily fluids, such as sweat, saliva and blood. It is not treatable with any known drugs. SOURCE: World News STORY ARCHIVE \|\|\|\|\| WHO: Marburg Outbreak Not Over; Death Toll Climbs to 235 The World Health Organization says the outbreak of deadly Marburg fever in northern Angola is not yet over. According to the U.N. health agency, the deadly hemorrhagic fever has so far killed 235 people - all of whom are believed to have contracted the disease in Uige province. WHO spokesman Dave Daigle says health experts are still finding cases, indicating the transmission cycle has not been broken. He also says mobile U.N. teams working to contain the outbreak are meeting stiff resistance from some Angolans, who fear the health experts are spreading the Ebola-like virus. Marburg is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. Experts fear that contact with victims' bodies during burial rites may be one way the virus is spreading. Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP. \|\|\|\|\| ANGOLA: Cultural practices raise risk of Marburg spreading Source: IRIN LUANDA, 18 April (IRIN) - Traditional funeral rites in Angola are putting the families of Marburg victims at risk of contracting the killer virus. For most Angolan families, preparing the body, and kissing and embracing the deceased loved one are integral to bidding a final farewell. But the secretions from a body increase after death, making such practices highly dangerous in the case of a Marburg-related death. "We're just telling them: 'please don't touch [suspect corpses]'; 'you cannot touch them - call in the specialised groups from the nearest health unit and let them deal with the corpse because you can get very easily contaminated if you try to touch them'," the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) communication assistant, Celso Malavoloneke, told IRIN. The death toll from the epidemic - the world's worst to date - now stood at 235 of a total of 257 known cases. In northern Uige province - the epicentre of the Marburg crisis - medical teams had been dispatched to people's homes when alerted to a suspected case or death. Information was being disseminated via radio and television advertisements, traditional leaders and healers, churches and mobile teams of 'activists', telling people how to spot a suspected case of Marburg and to alert the health authorities immediately, and advising family members on how to care for the sick and protect themselves from the Ebola-like fever. This included wearing masks and gloves, or using strong plastic bags without holes if gloves were not available. Malavoloneke said passing on the message about how to care for the sick or bid farewell to the deceased while protecting oneself was not always easy. "We know it's hard, and that's where the cultural challenge comes: we're all parents and it would be very hard for someone to tell you not to touch your own child if he is sick," he pointed out. "You know that all these African societies are very much tied to ancestry, and also the way you treat deceased beloved ones; for the people here not to be able to pay their last tribute and respect to deceased beloved ones - that's particularly hard," he added. Overcoming deep-rooted traditions remained the biggest challenge, according to health ministry officials. Although Uige's provincial hospital now had a fully equipped and staffed isolation unit, many families were still 'hiding' the sick at home. Medical workers said there was widespread mistrust of the isolation unit, in part because the Marburg mortality rate of more than 90 percent meant the sick did not return home once they were admitted. World Health Organisation epidemiologist Francois Libama said he had hope that the epidemic could be stamped out, despite the rising death toll. "If we succeed in managing all the cases and the funerals, we'll start reducing the risk of transmission," he told IRIN. "In the case of an epidemic it's impossible to say how many days or months lie ahead, but I believe in the days to come we will have more hope," Libama added. "I believe a day will come when we will see the end of the tunnel." IRIN news Printable view \| Email this article \| Send comments	'''April 19, 2005''' Angola marked''credit: Vardion of Wikipedia Fearing that burial rites might be the cause of more cases of the Marburg virus, WHO spokesman Dave Daigle says the transmission cycle has not yet been broken. Cases of persons fallen ill by the virus outside the province of Uige are reportedly connected to visits to that region. The burial custom there for most families includes the preparation of the body, and kissing and embracing the deceased. The epidemic spreads through contact with body fluids. The death toll so far, stands at 235 in the epidemic. The Ebola-like fever cannot be treated with any known drugs. The best protection is wearing masks and gloves when in contact with a carrier. Snoyes of GNU Map''
Almost 3 million homes and businesses still had no power in Texas Wednesday morning after this week's major winter storm even as a second one was threatening a wide swath of the U.S. And after some of the coldest temperatures in decades hit the Lone Star State, a new problem was emerging: water restrictions because of pipe bursts and a lack of electricity at treatment plants. Galveston, Texas was under Stage 5 water restrictions early Wednesday after major water line breaks from the lack of power, KPRC-TV reported. Residents in Fort Worth were forced to boil their own water after a water treatment plant shut down. Abilene had water issues as well. And Sugar Land, Texas tweeted a plea for water conservation, saying, "We need your help! Sugar Land's water systems are seeing emergency pressure levels in multiple areas. Please Minimize your water use to health and safety needs." The National Weather Service tweeted updates overnight: As of 2:00 AM the freezing rain and sleet event overnight is shaping up to be the worst of all the winter events over the past week. Expect ice accumulations of 1/4 to 3/4 inch along/North of I-10, likely causing major power outages and tree damage. #txwx pic.twitter.com/6WpY3Cbu5J — NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) February 17, 2021 These graphics depict the next 3 day snowfall and ice accumulation potential. Several inches of snow has already fallen in the TX panhandle, and 1-2 inches more is possible. Swaths of a half inch of ice will be possible in the red areas from TX to MS & the Mid-Atl. pic.twitter.com/uvxvFI1yFR — National Weather Service (@NWS) February 17, 2021 The weather service forecast "another major winter storm for the South-Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic through Friday," with snowfall of 4 inches-plus from Oklahoma to the Mid-Atlantic and a potential 8 inches or more in Pennsylvania, not to mention "significant freezing rain" also likely from Texas to Tennessee and North Carolina to Virginia. The first storm dumped snow and ice, knocking out power across dozens of states, and was blamed for at least 17 deaths, including a grandmother and three children who died in a house fire trying to keep warm in Sugar Land. Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon stands on his kitchen counter to warm his feet over his gas stove on February 16, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Ashley Landis / AP In Houston, two others died of carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to stay warm inside their car. There was outrage after some skyscrapers were still lit up, while downtown Dallas went dark Monday night. Texas is the only state in the continental U.S. that has its own power grid. It isn't regulated by the federal government and residents are angry that it's failed. "I understand that people are angry that this has happened. ... Let us get the power back on," said CEO Bill Magness of ERCOT, the power utility that supplies Texas. National Guard troops and thousands of state troopers were checking in on families who are struggling to stay warm. In parts of Texas and Oklahoma, temperatures hadn't been this low in 100 years — causing pipes to freeze and then explode. The storm also forced COVID-19 vaccination sites to close and has caused delays in new doses from being shipped across the country. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the storm "the winter version of Hurricane Harvey." State officials asked people to conserve power —if they have it. In Oklahoma City, the temperature dropped to minus 14 Tuesday morning — the coldest temperature there since 1899. And in Galveston, medical examiners requested a refrigerated truck after reports of several cold weather-related deaths. The same storm created a powerful tornado in a coastal region of North Carolina that blew apart homes and killed three people and injured 10 others. North Carolina was one of 15 states battered by the same massive storm system. Tornadoes also hit Georgia and Florida. -- Brian Dakss and Jessi Mitchell contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| At a Glance Power outages knocked out water plants. Houston is under a boil water advisory, and officials asked that water be conserved for essential use only. At least 77 people were treated for hypothermia in northern Texas. Houston residents woke up Wednesday morning with little or no water pressure, on top of a third day of widespread power outages that have left millions without heat amid frigid temperatures and back-to-back winter storms. Harris County Office of Emergency Management said the water issues are due to the ongoing power outages. "Nearly (all) parts of the county are experiencing low water pressure - or have none at all," the agency tweeted. "Water utilities are struggling to operate in light of the state power issues. This will not improve until more power is restored." In many areas, including the city of Houston, those with water are being advised to boil it before drinking. Those without power – 360,000 homes and business in Harrison County alone – are being told to use bottled water. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who oversees emergency management, called the combined water and power outages "a nightmare." Hidalgo said all residents should assume they are under a boil water notice. Officials asked that water be conserved for essential use only. "Conserving water will allow us to save water for firefighting operations and other life-safety items," the Office of Emergency Management tweeted. In some cases, it was so cold overnight that water from burst pipes or running faucets froze inside homes. One residents said he used melted snow to flush toilets. (MORE: Here's When the South Will Finally Thaw After Record-Smashing Cold, Snow and Ice) The water outages come as first responders in Texas respond to hundreds of calls related to hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, and officials can't say for sure when electricity might be fully restored. Water outages also affected hundreds of thousands of residents Tuesday in several other areas, including Abilene and Fort Worth. Back to back winter storms, combined with the year-long coronavirus pandemic that hit Texas worse than many other states, are pushing residents to their limits. “To go through all of that and then also to have stuff like this happen, it’s like, ‘One more historical event, and I’m going to develop PTSD,’” Brianna Blake, 31, a mother of two sons, told the Texas Tribune. “I cannot do this.” In Houston, residents like Natalie Harrell, her boyfriend and four kids took shelter at a furniture store that provided people with food, water and power to charge electronics. “It’s worse than a hurricane,” Harrell told The Associated Press. Advertisement Nearly 2.5 million homes and businesses remained without power in Texas Wednesday morning, according to poweroutage.us. That was down from well over 4 million at the peak of the outages so far, which started Sunday night as power plant equipment began to freeze and demand surged. Electricity providers were forced to initiate rolling blackouts in order to keep the entire grid from failing. Now, no one knows how long the outages will last. "The biggest variable that makes it difficult to give you a certain answer ... we're relying on ability to get that supply and demand in balance," Bill Magness, president and CEO of Electric Reliability Council of Texas, told reporters during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. (MORE: Why Winter Storm Uri Caused Millions of Power Outages in Texas) Hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning cases continue to rise as the dire conditions drag on. MedStar, which provides ambulance service for Fort Worth and 14 other towns in northern Texas, treated 77 patients for hypothermia on Tuesday and eight for carbon monoxide poisoning. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Tuesday that at least 300 calls regarding carbon monoxide poisoning had been received by the fire marshal, hospitals and other agencies. Hidalgo called it a "disaster within a disaster." The Cy-Fair Fire Department in northwest Harris County said many people were using charcoal grills inside their homes for heat. The department took 14 people, including seven children, to hospitals because of carbon monoxide poisoning. In Fort Worth, Cook Children's Medical Center treated at least 13 pediatric patients for carbon monoxide poisoning. At least 10 people in Texas have died in weather-related incidents since Sunday, including a mother and a child due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The deaths of at least eight people in several other states this week are also being blamed on the weather. The back to back storms, named Uri and Viola by The Weather Channel, created hazardous travel conditions in Texas and other states. A portion of Interstate 20 eastbound in northwestern Louisiana was closed Wednesday morning. These are unprecedented times, and we need the communities’ assistance and cooperation," Louisiana State Police said on Facebook. "Roadways remain impassable around our area, and we urge motorists to please avoid all unnecessary travel." Motorists struggled on icy roads in Austin. Ongoing power outages continued in several other states Wednesday morning, including more than 157,000 in Oregon, 100,000 in Kentucky, 71,000 in West Virginia and 49,000 in Louisiana. 1/47 Arrow Left Arrow Right Morgan Handley, left, tries to convince people to come to move to a warming shelter to escape sub-freezing temperatures, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.	Ice and snow cover a shopping center parking lot in Tyler, Texas (US). A series of winter blasts have struck the US state of Texas in recent days, leaving at least ten people dead in the aftermath. On Wednesday, the second wave of the storms impacted utilities and water systems, with cities asking citizens to conserve water usage. Reports early Wednesday indicated more than two and a half million homes and businesses were without power. Texas is the only one of the 48 contiguous US states with its own separate . One media source indicated killed a mother and her child in the city of Houston. A house fire killed a woman and three children in the city of . The storm has impacted shipments of COVID-19 vaccine, according to at least one report. Citizens were asked to conserve usage of electricity where possible. Reports from the city of Tyler indicate roads were nearly impassible on Monday and Tuesday due to ice and snow. Earlier in the month, winter conditions contributed to a massive vehicle pile up in the city of , taking the lives of at least five people. Some victims were trapped in their vehicles for hours, awaiting rescue. During a press briefing, an emergency services official said this was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Attack on the Royal Bank of Canada; New Olympic event announcement Sunday, December 09 2007 @ 07:30 PM PST Contributed by: Anonymous Views: 295 December 8 Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver, BC Canada) On the night of December 8 some anarchists attacked the Royal Bank of Canada (a sponsor of the 2010 Olympics) at the intersection of 1st and Commercial. Some exceptionally large pieces of pavement were hurled through the bastards windows. One more attack on the Royal Bank of Canada and new Olympic event announcement. December 8 Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver, BC Canada) On the night of December 8 some anarchists attacked the Royal Bank of Canada (a sponsor of the 2010 Olympics) at the intersection of 1st and Commercial. Some exceptionally large pieces of pavement were hurled through the bastards windows. This is a tiny taste of the mayhem we like to see submerge the city of Vancouver for 2010. Lets build a constellation of revolt that threatens not only the Olympics but capitalism and the state in general. We propose a new sport to be added to the 2010 games, amateur vandalism of Royal Bank of Canada locations across Vancouver and Canada. But unlike most sports you dont have to wait until the 17 days of official events to begin competing, you can start right now!!! Its as easy as picking up a stone!!! Dont forget a gold medal will be given for the most damage at a single location. Here are some locations in Vancouver where the activities might ;) be taking place. 650 41st Avenue West 685 Hastings Street West 1000-1025 Georgia Street West 2208 41st Avenue West 1195 Pacific Boulevard 1255 Ross Road, North Vancouver 1497 Broadway West 982 Howe St 400 Main Street 945 Denman Street 4501 10th Avenue West 3935 Oak Street 4205 Dunbar Street p.s. this is not a complete list What's Related More by Anonymous More from Direct Action Story Options Mail Story to a Friend Printable Story Format Trackback Trackback URL for this entry: http://www.infoshop.org/inews/trackback.php?id=20071209193053119 No trackback comments for this entry. \|\|\|\|\| RBC announces 28 Olympic and Paralympic athletes as RBC Olympians TORONTO, September 24, 2007 — RBC today announced the 28 exceptional Canadian athletes who have joined the RBC team as RBC Olympians for the next year. The RBC Olympians Program is a national initiative that provides elite athletes with an opportunity to gain career-oriented experience with a flexible work schedule that gives them the time necessary to train and compete. The career skills and experiences gained from working at RBC will help these athletes at different stages of their careers. "As an RBC Olympian, I have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to be successful in my career after sports, while also allowing me to share my experiences and stories with students and communities across Canada," said Andrea Holmes, Vancouver-based RBC Paralympian, 2004 Paralympian (Athens), Athletics. "The RBC Olympians program supports amateur sport in Canada by helping Canadian athletes succeed, whether they are competing for Canada or starting a new career." This year's RBC Olympians are a collection of hopefuls and medallists, such as Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey gold medallist (2006, 2002), Blythe Hartley, Diving bronze medallist (2004) and Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming gold medallist (2004). "The RBC Olympians Program supports amateur athletes by providing them with the funding and flexibility they need to succeed," said Jim Westlake, group head, Canadian Banking, RBC. "Working at RBC, the athletes will be able to apply their exceptional skills and knowledge to a different playing field. We hope their experiences with the program will help them realize their fullest potential both in sports and in their future careers." Through the RBC Olympians Program, the athletes act as community ambassadors across the country, sharing their Olympic and Paralympic Games' experiences, as well as current aspirations with schools and community groups, RBC clients and employees. RBC Olympians also help raise awareness and support for amateur sport, inspiring Canadians to be physically fit and participate in sports at all levels. RBC Olympians for the next year are: British Columbia Andrea Holmes, Paralympic Athletics, 2004 Paralympian Ravi Kahlon, Field Hockey, 2000 Olympian Anne-Marie Lefrançois, Alpine Skiing, 2002 Olympian Crispin Lipscombe, Snowboarding, 2006 Olympian Gary Reed, Athletics, 2004 Olympian Kristi Richards, Freestyle Ski, 2006 Olympian Donovan Tildesley, Paralympic Swimming, 2004 Paralympian Chris Wong, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian Prairies Fiona Bell, Ice Hockey, Silver Medallist - 1998 Olympian Lisa Blackburn, Swimming, Olympic Hopeful Steve Elm, Speed Skating, Silver Medallist - 2006 Olympian Blythe Hartley, Diving, Bronze Medallist - 2004 Olympian Colleen Sostorics, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian Ontario Jeff Bean, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian Jacquie Cook, Rowing, 2004 Olympian Claire Carver-Dias, Synchronized swimming, Bronze Medallist - 2000 Olympian Perdita Felicien, Athletics, 2004 Olympian Jayna Hefford, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian Gillian Apps, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian Quebec Martine Albert, Biathlon, 2006 Olympian Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming, Gold Medallist - 2004 Paralympian Sandra Lize, Water Polo, 2000 Olympian Dominique Maltais, Snowboarding, Bronze Medallist - 2006 Olympian Atlantic Region Joël Bourgeois, Athletics, 2000 Olympian Alex Duckworth, Snowboarding, Olympic Hopeful David Kikuchi, Gymnastics, 2004 Olympian Jay Hugh Smith, Gymnastics, Olympic Hopeful More information on the RBC Olympians can be found at www.rbc.com/sponsorship/rbcolympians.html. RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots events in local communities to national sport associations that support the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. As the longest-standing supporter of Canada's Olympic Team, since 1947, RBC continues this sponsorship to include the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. RBC is also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. - 30 - For more information, please contact: Jackie Braden, RBC media relations, (416) 974-2124 back to top	On Saturday night, anarchists reportedly hurled pieces of pavement through the windows of a Royal Bank location, demonstrating against their sponsorship of the Vancouver Olympics. An anonymous posting Sunday evening to Infoshop News, an independent anarchist news website, reports that the Royal Bank of Canada branch at 1st and Commercial had its windows destroyed by "some exceptionally large pieces of pavement". The website describes the bank, a sponsor of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as "bastards". It continues, by encouraging anarchists to participate—"you don’t have to wait until the 17 days of official events to begin competing, you can start right now " The anonymous posting on the anarchist website includes a list of thirteen branches of the bank in the city, and encourages fellow anarchists to destroy the property. The site even says "don't forget a gold medal will be given for the most damage at a single location." There was no explanation on the site, as to why Royal Bank was targeted. The bank has supported the Canadian Olympic Movement for 60 years. The RBC Olympians Program was created in 2002, and among the 35 athletes it has supported are diving bronze medalist Blythe Hartley, Jennifer Botterill from the gold-winning women's ice hockey team, and athlete Perdita Felicien. This year, the program is sponsoring a total of 28 summer and winter athletes. Opposition to the 2010 Olympics has focused on the $1.63 billion expense for taxpayers, destruction of natural habitat, and loss of low-income housing to support a fee-based recreational event.
Story Highlights • Security guard shoots gunman after attack on woman • Atlanta police describe shooting as "domestic situation" • CNN writer witnesses man shoot woman near newsroom Adjust font size: ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A man shot and killed a woman inside the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Tuesday afternoon before being shot by a security guard. The gunman was dragging the woman by her hair minutes before shots were fired, said one witness, who tried to intervene and was told to get out of the way by the attacker. The witness, who had gone to get help from a guard, then heard the gunfire immediately outside CNN.com's newsroom at about 1:30 p.m. John Helton, a CNN.com producer, had a direct view of the gunman through glass doors. "I saw him coming down the escalator pulling her along, around the corner; he ran into the plant and that's when they started struggling," he said. (Read more witness accounts) "She seemed to be trying to wrestle free of him," he said. Helton said the woman appeared to be shot at point-blank range. "He looked like he had the gun right on top of her head and shot her." (Gallery: Scenes from the shooting) After the shots, CNN.com writer Brad Lendon said, the gunman "looked around, his head turning in my direction. I don't know if he saw me, but at that moment the gravity of what I'd witnessed hit me. I turned away and tried to find the safest way I could out." (Watch Brad Lendon describe what he did next ) The gunman was then shot by Capt. Odell Adams, who joined Turner Security in 1996, according to a spokesperson for Turner, the parent company for CNN. Preliminary reports indicate that the suspect was shot in the face, a law enforcement source said on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Ambulances transported the gunman and the victim, 22-year-old Clara Riddles, to Grady Memorial Hospital. Riddles, who witnesses said appeared to be pregnant, died from her injuries. The shooter was undergoing surgery and was in "severely critical condition," the hospital said. (Watch suspect at gunpoint, wounded woman on floor ) Riddles, who lived in the Atlanta suburb of College Park, worked for the Omni Hotel, according to Investigator Betty Honey of the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. The gunman has not been named, but Atlanta police called the shooting a "domestic situation," and said the gunman was an ex-boyfriend of Riddles. The CNN Center was particularly busy Tuesday, following Monday night's NCAA championship game in the nearby Georgia Dome. Omni spokesperson Michael Sullivan is refusing to comment on the incident. One woman, who was visiting the CNN Center, said she saw security guards running with their guns drawn. "The kids were pretty shaken up and it was pretty scary. And it wasn't until we came back in after the fact and looked up on the CNN screen that we had learned what had really happened," she said. The CNN.com newsroom was temporarily evacuated. Some workers had already scrambled out of the building seeking cover after hearing shots. \|\|\|\|\| Atlanta police described the incident as a "domestic situation" involving a man who shot a woman after a row, the Associated Press news agency reports. The armed man was shot by a CNN security guard, police said. The CNN.com office was briefly evacuated but no-one within the newsroom was hurt. Parts of the complex remain closed as officers investigate. Witnesses reported seeing a woman being shot in the face following an argument by escalators near the main entrance to the complex. Police spokesman James Polite said the woman had been treated by paramedics but had died on arrival at Grady Hospital. 'Big boom' Laura Bernardini, a producer for the CNN television network, described how she had gone for lunch in the complex when she heard screaming and saw people running for cover. "People were saying 'we've heard gun shots, we've heard gun shots'," she said. As well as the CNN newsroom, the complex includes the Omni Hotel, a large atrium and a food court, and is connected to Philips Arena, home of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta resident Trina Johnson, 44, told AP she was in the food court with her family at the time of the incident. She said: "All of a sudden we heard a big boom. We thought it was an explosion. We didn't see the gun. Everybody just started running."	A domestic dispute resulted in shots being fired around the Headquarters of CNN in Atlanta, GA on Tuesday, killing a woman and critically wounding the ex-boyfriend who pulled a gun on her according to the authorities. The man and woman were arguing near the main entrance of the complex when the man shot her, police officer James Polite said. The armed man was then shot by a CNN security guard. CNN Headquarters, Atlanta The woman was Clara Riddles, 22, of College Park, said Caryn Kboudi, a spokeswoman for the Texas-based Omni Hotel chain. Upon arrival at Grady Hospital, Riddles was pronounced dead said hospital spokeswoman Denise Simpson. The shooter, a man in his late thirties, and Riddles's ex-boyfriend, Arthur Mann was in stable condition. He is being charged with murder, Police said. Victims were seen being carried out of the building on stretchers. Mann's face was covered in blood and his shirt had been removed. CNN also reported that the offices of its Internet operations, CNN.com, were immediately evacuated. Video footage also showed police pointing guns at a man lying on the ground at the bottom of an escalator inside the building. An announcement over the building's PA system announced that there had been gunfire "with potential casualties." Police cordoned off an area by the escalators near the main entrance, facing Centennial Olympic Park - a park that had been the site of a bombing that killed a woman and injured more than 100 people during the 1996 Summer Olympics. "I heard four or five shots. I really didn't see it. I got out of there quick," said Jas Stanford, 27, who had been helping take down a temporary stage in the park used for college basketball's. When Mann fired his gun, security guard Odell Adams shot him, said Lisa Tobias, director of corporate responsibility for Turner Broadcasting System, which operates CNN. Turner officials are satisfied with the response of Adams and the Atlanta police, Tobias said. The company does not discuss its security publicly, she said, but "we are constantly evaluating our procedures to make sure that we have ensured the safety of CNN employees and visitors." Besides the Omni Hotel, the CNN complex also includes a large atrium and a food court. It is connected to Philips Arena, the home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. In the food court, Trina Johnson, 44, of Atlanta, was with her daughter on a family outing. "All of a sudden we heard a big boom. We thought it was an explosion," Johnson said. "We didn't see the gun. Everybody just started running." Soon afterward, CNN coverage of the shooting was being shown on large-screen televisions inside the atrium, near where the shooting had taken place. On Monday, a woman was shot and killed at the University of Washington in Seattle by an ex-boyfriend on whom she had sought a restraining order, police said. The man killed himself afterward.
Robert M. Duncan, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the party was there to serve the McCain campaign. “We’ve been preparing for the last several months,” he said. “We’ve been raising the money. We’ve been doing the research that’s necessary. We’ve been writing the victory plans that have been necessary to win the electoral votes. We’ve been putting the staff together. And all of that is available to Senator McCain, as our the presumptive nominee, as of today.” Image John McCain with President George W. Bush during a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House on Wednesday. Credit... Stephen Crowley/The New York Times At the White House, both Mr. McCain and Mr. Bush danced around awkward questions from reporters about how much Mr. Bush would campaign for Mr. McCain which appeared to be not that much. Mr. Bush jumped in several times to answer the questions himself, perhaps sensing that it would be uncomfortable for Mr. McCain to have to signal that he needed to keep some distance from an unpopular president during a general election campaign. “If my showing up and endorsing him helps him, or if I’m against him and it helps him, either way, I want him to win,” Mr. Bush said, standing at Mr. McCain’s side in the Rose Garden. “You know, look, this is the age-old question that every president has had to, you know, answer. And there’s appropriate amount of campaigning for me to do, but they’re not going to be voting for me.” Mr. Bush added, “And if he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these rallies, I’ll be glad to show up.” Mr. McCain gamely said that he would welcome having Mr. Bush campaign with him, but that he knew that the president already had a day job. “I’m pleased to have him as it fits into his busy schedule,” Mr. McCain said. Later, at the Republican National Committee, Mr. McCain was asked again if the president’s endorsement might hurt him with the independent voters he often appeals to. “All I can say is that on the fundamentals and the principles of our Republican Party and most of the specifics of our shared conservative philosophy, President Bush and I are in agreement,” he said. \|\|\|\|\| 'I want him to win,' the president says of his former political foe in a Rose Garden endorsement well before the general election. WASHINGTON -- Eight years ago, their bitter rivalry came to a head in South Carolina when George W. Bush put an end to John McCain's presidential bid. Now they are standing side by side, with McCain the nearly anointed Republican nominee and Bush the most prominent endorser.Bush wrapped the Arizona senator in a brief political embrace Wednesday, just about when McCain would want it: eight months out from election day.Given the public's low opinion of the president, Democratic and Republican political operatives said, the further away from the election that that endorsement took place the better. And with the race for the Democratic presidential nomination still neck and neck, what better time than when attention is focused on Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama?Bush delivered unstinting praise for McCain just as eight years ago he undid the senator's emergent campaign with unstinting attacks that undercut him among South Carolina conservatives just as he was gaining momentum.Standing on the edge of the White House Rose Garden in late-winter sunshine, Bush praised McCain's "incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance" in fighting back from political near-death last year."That's exactly what we need in a president: somebody that can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won't flinch in the face of danger," the president said, jumping ahead of himself to add: "He's a president, and he's going to be the president who will bring determination to defeat an enemy and a heart big enough to love those who hurt."Bush never used any variation of the word "endorse," and it fell to McCain to twice thank Bush for "his endorsement."McCain brought up the touchy subject of the 2000 race, saying that they would once again be on the campaign trail together, "only [in] slightly different roles this time."On March 5, 2000, McCain suggested in a television interview that Bush was "not ready for prime time" and refused to pledge to support Bush should he win the Republican nomination. Four days later, McCain ended his campaign.Bush and McCain spent about an hour at a private lunch in the dining room adjacent to the Oval Office, eating hot dogs. The two discussed overall campaign strategy after heading to the dining room -- without a pause to try out the president's desk chair."I didn't measure the drapes," McCain told reporters later."It was a very pleasant conversation, and I appreciated the allocation of his most precious asset, which is his time," McCain said. Making the rounds of the party hierarchy one day after sewing up the nomination, he also met with the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mike Duncan.The question going forward, however, is just how much of Bush's time will the McCain campaign want to use?In the most recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, conducted between Feb. 21 and 25, 62% of those surveyed disapproved of Bush's job performance and 34% approved -- raising questions about how much good he can do for McCain."Bush's endorsement is a two-edged sword. It certainly helps with the Republican base. On the other hand, it doesn't give any advantage to McCain with the independent voters, who seem like the decisive vote this year," said Kenneth M. Duberstein, President Reagan's chief of staff during the successful 1988 presidential campaign of Vice President George H.W. Bush.It is unclear whether the McCain campaign will use the current president to bring in donations out of the spotlight, to visit Republican districts to build enthusiasm among conservative allies for the Republican ticket or to speak at rallies in swing states -- a course that might too closely identify McCain with him."To the extent that Sen. McCain wraps himself in the 'popularity' of President Bush or wraps himself in his foreign policy or wraps himself in his agenda, he does so at his own peril," said Michael Feldman, who played a key role in Vice President Al Gore's Democratic presidential race in 2000 but is not affiliated with either Democratic hopeful this year.In the Rose Garden, Bush acknowledged his own low standing with voters and said he would do whatever would help the senator -- including campaign against him. "If my showing up and endorsing him helps him, or if I'm against him and it helps him -- either way, I want him to win," Bush joked.The president, who had placed Dick Cheney in charge of presenting him with a list of vice presidential candidates in 2000, said he would offer one piece of advice to his would-be successor: "Be careful about who he names to be the head of the [vice presidential] selection committee."On his way to a fundraising event in West Palm Beach, Fla., McCain said he and Bush had spoken about how to select a running mate.He said he had not yet named anyone to lead the search, and aides said it could be months before he decides whom to pick.james.gerstenzang @latimes.com	Bush and McCain shake hands before the press assembled in the Rose Garden. United States Senator John McCain, the leading Republican candidate for the US Presidency, secured the endorsement of the incumbent President George W. Bush on Wednesday. The Arizona Senator travelled from Dallas, Texas to have lunch with the President at the White House. Afterwards, the two stood before the press in the Rose Garden, where McCain received his formal endorsement from Bush. "It's been my honor to welcome my friend, John McCain, as the nominee of the Republican Party," said Bush. "A while back I don't think many people would have thought that John McCain would be here as the nominee of the Republican Party—except he knew he would be here, and so did his wife, Cindy." "It's a man who cares a lot about the less fortunate among us. He's a President, and he's going to be the President who will bring determination to defeat an enemy, and a heart big enough to love those who hurt," continued Bush. "I’m very honored and humbled to have the opportunity to receive the endorsement of the President of the United States, a man who I have great admiration, respect and affection for," said McCain. Joking about his low approval ratings, President Bush also offered to oppose McCain, if he so preferred. "Either way, I want him to win," he said. Speaking about the upcoming campaign, McCain told reporters, "I do intend to campaign all —across the country. I think that literally every section in this country is at—in play. And I will be glad to have the President with me, in keeping with his schedule, in any part of America. And we're going to go everywhere in America with this campaign." Mike Duncan, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the party is there to help McCain. "We’ve been preparing for the last several months," Duncan said. "We've been putting the staff together.'' ''And all of that is available to Senator McCain, as our the presumptive nominee, as of today." White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said Bush would help raise money for the campaign as well as working toward securing Republican majorities in the House and Senate. "Across the board, Republicans are going to support President Bush and Senator McCain," she said. According to ''The New York Times'', McCain's top advisers are eager to enlist the president for his fund-raising prowess. However, they do not want McCain to appear too often at the side of President Bush. They say their reluctance has nothing to do with the President’s unpopularity and is not a sign of running away from the President. Rather, McCain needs to be seen on his own, or "stand in the sun" as one adviser put it. John McCain became the presumptive Republican nominee after Tuesday's primaries.
Ateke Tom, right, warned that his fighters could take up arms again if let down by the government [AFP] Ateke Tom, right, warned that his fighters could take up arms again if let down by the government [AFP] Thousands of people in Nigeria's Delta state have gathered in the provincial capital to witness a local rebel leader accept a government amnesty. Government Tompolo arrived in the city of Warri on Sunday after pledging his support for Umaru Yar'Adua, the president, in return for an unconditional pardon. Tompolo was one of the leaders of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), which was responsible for shutting down a large amount of oil output from the western delta in 2003. "We came because we want peace," Chief Andrew Anegba, a traditional Ijaw ethnic community leader, said as he waited for Tompolo at Warri airport. "The last militant groups are giving up arms, and that means peace is coming back." Surrender Tompolo was the latest rebel leader to accept the amnesty deal, which was originally offered in June, before it expires at midnight on Sunday. He arrived in Warri by presidential jet, accompanied by Timi Alaibe, Yar'Adua's adviser on Niger Delta matters, after signing the amnesty in Abuja. "If they refuse to develop our region we will go back to the creeks" Ateke Tom, leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante "Today is the greatest day for Nigeria," Tompolo said as he stepped off the plane. Two other commanders from the eastern delta laid down their arms a day earlier, on Saturday. Farah Dagogo, a senior rebel commander, surrendered his weapons in the oil city of Port Harcourt. "I Farah Dagogo, overall field commander for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta [Mend] accept together with field commanders in Rivers state, the presidential offer of amnesty to militants who lay down their weapons," he said. "We are surrendering all weapons under our direct control." Ateke Tom, the leader of the ethnic Ijaw Niger Delta Vigilante group, and around 5,000 of his fighters handed over their weapons at a ceremony on a beach in the city. But he warned that his fighters would resume attacks if authorities fail to make good on a pledge to invest in the delta. "If they refuse to develop our region we will go back to the creeks," he said. New campaign Mend, which dismissed the amnesty as a charade, said it has replaced its military command. "All commanders have been replaced ... and the next phase of our campaign will commence soon," it said in a statement. Henry Okah, the group's leader, who was freed in July as part of a government amnesty deal offered to the rebels after treason charges against him were dropped, said unrest was likely to continue in the region because the root cause of the violence had not been addressed. The rebels, who say they are fighting for a fairer distribution of the region's wealth, launched repeated attacks on oil infrastructure and government forces across the delta causing a slump in production. Despite Nigeria's oil riches, the vast majority of its 140 million people live on $2 a day or less, and some of the most acute poverty is in the villages of the delta. Daily oil production has slipped to 1.7 million barrels per day from 2.6 million in January 2006 in Africa's top producer. \|\|\|\|\| More Nigerian Militants Give Up Arms Ahead of Amnesty Deadline Thousands of rebels in Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta are surrendering their weapons and accepting a government amnesty, which expires Sunday. From the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Gilbert da Costa reports all key militant commanders have now embraced the amnesty. Policemen display weapons collected from Niger delta militants as part of a government amnesty program, in Yenagoa, Nigeria (File) Key rebel leaders in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta have succumbed to government pressure to disarm along with thousands of their fighters under a government amnesty. Tom Polo is one of three top leaders of the Niger Delta rebel groups based in the western oil city of Warri. He is expected to lead thousands of his fighters to drop their arms at a ceremony in Warri on Sunday, the last day of an amnesty extended to rebels who have wrought havoc on Nigeria's oil industry in recent years. Militant commanders Ateke Tom and Farah Dagogo led gunmen from the creeks of the delta to the main oil city of Port Harcourt where they handed over their weapons on Saturday. With their disarmament, the government's pledge to resolve years of violence that has stopped the flow of one million barrels of oil per day appears to be on course. President Umaru Yar'Adua, whose 60-day amnesty offer commenced on August sixth, says the government is keen to build upon the success so far achieved. ///YAR'ADUA ACT/// "We proclaimed a general amnesty and granted unconditional pardon to all those who had taken up arms. Some remarkable progress has been made, and it is our hope that all militants will avail themselves of this amnesty which expires on Sunday, 4th October, 2009. And then we shall enter into the post-amnesty period, a period which will be more challenging than the pre-amnesty period." ///END ACT/// Several militants had refused to disarm until their main demands were discussed, but the government said it was unwilling to negotiate until weapons were surrendered. Niger Delta's religious and community leaders had mounted pressure on the militants to embrace the peace process. Hyacinth Egbegbo is the catholic bishop of Bomadi, in the Niger Delta. ///EGBEGBO ACT/// "Any armed struggle is not going to be in favor of any Nigerian. So let us sit down on a round table and see that we resolve these problems amicably." ///END ACT/// Since 2006, militant activities have crippled operations of oil companies in southern Nigeria, resulting in a steep decline in production. Nigeria, one of Africa's two biggest oil producers, derives more than 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings from oil. Key rebel leaders in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta have succumbed to government pressure to disarm along with thousands of their fighters under a government amnesty.Tom Polo is one of three top leaders of the Niger Delta rebel groups based in the western oil city of Warri. He is expected to lead thousands of his fighters to drop their arms at a ceremony in Warri on Sunday, the last day of an amnesty extended to rebels who have wrought havoc on Nigeria's oil industry in recent years.Militant commanders Ateke Tom and Farah Dagogo led gunmen from the creeks of the delta to the main oil city of Port Harcourt where they handed over their weapons on Saturday.With their disarmament, the government's pledge to resolve years of violence that has stopped the flow of one million barrels of oil per day appears to be on course. President Umaru Yar'Adua, whose 60-day amnesty offer commenced on August sixth, says the government is keen to build upon the success so far achieved.///YAR'ADUA ACT///"We proclaimed a general amnesty and granted unconditional pardon to all those who had taken up arms. Some remarkable progress has been made, and it is our hope that all militants will avail themselves of this amnesty which expires on Sunday, 4th October, 2009. And then we shall enter into the post-amnesty period, a period which will be more challenging than the pre-amnesty period."///END ACT///Several militants had refused to disarm until their main demands were discussed, but the government said it was unwilling to negotiate until weapons were surrendered. Niger Delta's religious and community leaders had mounted pressure on the militants to embrace the peace process. Hyacinth Egbegbo is the catholic bishop of Bomadi, in the Niger Delta.///EGBEGBO ACT///"Any armed struggle is not going to be in favor of any Nigerian. So let us sit down on a round table and see that we resolve these problems amicably."///END ACT///Since 2006, militant activities have crippled operations of oil companies in southern Nigeria, resulting in a steep decline in production. Nigeria, one of Africa's two biggest oil producers, derives more than 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings from oil. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon	Thousands of rebels in Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta have surrendered their weapons, after they accepted a government offer of amnesty, reports say. Nigerian president Yar'Adua at the 2008 World Economic Forum Local rebel leader Government Tompolo arrived in Warri on Sunday, after promising to support Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua in return for a pardon. He was among the heads of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), blamed for halting a large portion of oil in 2003 from the Nigerian west delta. The leader of another group, the Ijaw Niger Delta Vigilantes, Ateke Tom, and five thousand fighters also surrendered arms in the city of Port Harcourt. However, Tom said that his group would restart attacks if the Nigerian government did not follow up on their promise to invest in the area, saying that "if they refuse to develop our region we will go back to the creeks." Other rebel groups had refused to disarm until their main demands were discussed, but the government said it was unwilling to negotiate until weapons were surrendered. Niger Delta's religious and community leaders had mounted pressure on the militants to embrace the peace process. With their disarmament, the government's pledge to resolve years of violence that has stopped the flow of one million barrels of oil per day appears to be on course. President Umaru Yar'Adua, whose 60-day amnesty offer commenced on August 6, said that the government is keen to build upon the success so far achieved. Since 2006, militant activities have crippled operations of oil companies in southern Nigeria, resulting in a steep decline in production. Nigeria, one of Africa's two biggest oil producers, derives more than 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings from oil.
Albanian and American flags have been on prominent display Declaration Celebrations went on into the night after Prime Minister Hashim Thaci promised a democracy that respected the rights of all ethnic communities. Serbia's PM denounced the US for helping create a "false state". A split later emerged at the Security Council, when Russia said there was no basis for changing a 1999 resolution which handed Kosovo to the UN. Seven Western countries said it was quite clear the situation had moved on. Tens of thousands of people had thronged the streets of Kosovo's capital, Pristina, since the morning. We have waited for this day for a very long time... from today, we are proud, independent and free Hashim Thaci Kosovo Prime Minister Kosovo's 'dream come true' Mark Mardell's Euroblog Serb and Albanian views Crowds surrounded an independence monument which was unveiled during the evening and signed by Mr Thaci and Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu. Ethnic Albanians staged noisy celebrations in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, and in Brussels, outside the headquarters of Nato and the European Union. Hand grenades The first sign of trouble in Kosovo came in the ethnic Serbian area of the flashpoint town of Mitrovica, where two hand grenades were thrown at international community buildings. Police clash with protesters in Belgrade Enlarge Image One exploded at a UN court building while the other failed to go off outside offices expected to house the new EU mission. In Belgrade, demonstrators threw stones and broke windows at the US embassy as riot police tried to fend off a crowd of around 1,000 people. The protesters, described as gangs of youths, also attacked a McDonald's restaurant, the Serbian government building and the embassy of Slovenia which currently holds the EU presidency. Several Serbian ministers had travelled to Kosovo to show their support for the ethnic Serbian minority. Kosovo's 10 Serbian MPs boycotted the assembly session in protest at the declaration. Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica blamed the US which he said was "ready to violate the international order for its own military interests". "Today, this policy of force thinks that it has triumphed by establishing a false state," Mr Kostunica said. Search for equality The declaration was approved with a show of hands. No-one opposed it. 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 Nato to stay to provide security In pictures: Celebrations East-West split over Kosovo In quotes: World reaction "We have waited for this day for a very long time," Mr Thaci told parliament before reading the text, paying tribute to those who had died on the road to independence. From today, he said, Kosovo was "proud, independent and free". "The independence of Kosovo marks the end of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia," the prime minister said. He said Kosovo would be built in accordance with the UN plan drawn up by former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari. HAVE YOUR SAY Unfortunately today Kosovo and Serbia are to become two dispensable chess-pieces of EU/NATO and Russia Mat, Ljubljana, Slovenia The international military and civilian presence - also envisaged by the Ahtisaari plan - was welcome, the PM said. There should be no fear of discrimination in new Kosovo, he said, vowing to eradicate any such practices. The declaration was signed by all the MPs present. Russian protest The UN Security Council went into emergency session on Sunday evening after Russia called for the United Nations to declare the Kosovo declaration illegal. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on all sides to keep to their commitments and refrain from violence. Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters that the resolution allowing the UN to administer Kosovo since 1999 was still in force so there could be no legal basis for any change in status. But seven Western states said the UN Security Council could not agree on Kosovo's future and all attempt to reach a negotiated outcome had been exhausted. "We regret that the Security Council cannot agree on the way forward, but this impasse has been clear for many months," Belgium's UN ambassador Johan Verbeke said. He gave the statement on behalf of Belgium, France, Italy, the UK, Croatia, Germany, and the United States. Limitations of independence The declaration approved by Kosovo's parliament contains limitations on Kosovan independence as outlined in Mr Ahtisaari's plan. Kosovo, or part of it, cannot join any other country. It will be supervised by an international presence. Its armed forces will be limited and it will make strong provisions for Serb minority protection. Recognition by a number of EU states, including the UK and other major countries, will come on Monday after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, says the BBC's Paul Reynolds. The US is also expected to announce its recognition on Monday. Three EU states - Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia - have told other EU governments that they will not recognise Kosovo, says our correspondent. Russia's foreign ministry has indicated that Western recognition of an independent Kosovo could have implications for the Georgian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. \|\|\|\|\| Verhagen weigert snelle erkenning Kosovo (Novum) - Nederland moet Kosovo niet overhaast erkennen. Dat zegt minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Maxime Verhagen (CDA) in een reactie op de onafhankelijkheidsverklaring van Kosovo, dat tot zondag een Servische provincie was. Hij wil eerst zorgvuldig de nieuwe grondwet en de onafhankelijkheidsverklaring bestuderen. Verhagen heeft Kosovo opgeroepen zich verantwoordelijk op te stellen tegenover de burgers die tot de Servische minderheden behoren. De Europese ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken komen maandag bijeen in Brussel. Verhagen verwacht dat de ministers een gezamenlijk standpunt innemen over de kwestie. Daarna nemen de lidstaten zelf een besluit over hun relatie met Kosovo. © www.novumnieuws.nl - 17 feb 2008 - \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| SERBIAN PM VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA "Today, this policy of force thinks that it has triumphed by establishing a false state. As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia." US PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH "We have strongly supported the Ahtisaari plan [for Kosovan independence]... George W Bush is currently on an African tour We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo. We also believe it's in Serbia's interests to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America." RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY "We expect the UN mission and Nato-led forces in Kosovo to take immediate action to carry out their mandate... including the annulling of the decisions of Pristina's self-governing organs and the taking of tough administrative measures against them." EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JAVIER SOLANA "I am in permanent close contact with Kosovo and leaders in the region. I want to underline that stability in Kosovo as well as of the whole Balkan region is essential. Therefore, I urge everybody to act calmly and in a responsible way. I am convinced that the Kosovar leaders will be up to their responsibilities in this crucial moment." UK FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN "It's clearly an important development which creates a new context for Kosovo status. We have consistently said we see the [Ahtisaari] proposal for supervised independence to which Kosovo has committed itself in its declaration as the most viable way forward." CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV KLAUS "Some parties in other states could realise that they do not feel completely at ease within a big state in which they are now." SELF-DECLARED ABKHAZ PRESIDENT SERGEI BAGAPSH "In the near future Abkhazia will appeal to the Russian parliament and the UN Security Council with a request to recognise its independence." SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD KOKOITY "South Ossetia will in the near future appeal to... the UN with a request to recognise our independence." FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER BERNARD KOUCHNER "I wish good luck to Kosovo." \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia on Sunday, Kosovar prime minister Hashim Thaci has said, according to agency reports. Kosovo Albanians parade an Albanian flag as they celebrate forthcoming independence in Pristina Friday. Thaci said that on Sunday the "will of the citizens of Kosovo" would come into force, according to reports carried by the AFP agency following his meeting with religious leaders. The agency added that newspapers in the Kosovar capital Pristina said the official declaration would be at 1400 GMT, although the newspapers did not reveal their sources. "Tomorrow will be a day of calm, of understanding and of state engagements for the implementation of the will of the citizens of Kosovo," Thaci is reported to have said to journalists, adding that it would be a "a day of thanksgiving for a sovereign and independent Kosovo." Kosovo, a province of Serbia, is currently under U.N. control, with a majority ethnic Albanian population that wants independence; the minority Serbs generally want to stay part of Serbia. Serbia's government also opposes independence. Earlier Saturday the European Union finally agreed on a security, administrative and legal taskforce to aid Kosovo once it makes its much anticipated declaration. The EU force will be fully operational by early summer and may eventually grow to more than 2,000 people, including judges and law specialists as well as police and security experts. The hope is that it will help boost and build the necessary security, administrative and legal infrastructure for the new nation. Foreign ministers from EU states will discuss Kosovo Monday and try to adopt a common position; several member states such as Spain and Greece, which have regions within their own borders pushing for independence, have indicated they will not recognize Kosovo. The United States has fully backed independence, Thaci vowed Friday that the rights of minorities will be protected after the province declares independence. Thaci assured minority groups -- especially Serbs -- that they would have a role in society and government in a future Kosovo. "We aim to build in Kosovo -- it being a country that can accommodate all the citizens of Kosovo -- a country of equal opportunities and of the most affirmative (action) possible for the minorities, primarily the Serbs," Thaci said in Kosovo's capital of Pristina. But as Thaci spoke of independence, Serbia's prime minister called for unity and promised to reject any attempt by Kosovo to break away. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica spoke at a ceremony marking Serbia's National Day, which commemorates the birth of the Serbian state. "All of our state institutions and citizens should be united today," Kostunica told the crowd in Orasac, site of the first Serbian uprising against the Turks in 1804. "There should be no differences between us. This is why, as you know, the government of Serbia reached the historic decision yesterday to annul, ahead of time and for all time, the declaration of a fake state on Serbian territory." Moves by Kosovo towards independence accelerated late last year after U.N.-organized talks to sort out the province's final status broke down and Thaci came to power. He made declaring independence his priority. But Russia -- Serbia's historic ally -- has promised to block any recognition of an independent Kosovo at the United Nations. An emergency meeting at the United Nations Thursday failed to resolve the issue. Kosovo has been under U.N. control since shortly after NATO warplanes forced out Serbian forces in 1999. NATO acted after Serbian forces repressed an uprising of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo with a brutal campaign that spawned reports of ethnic cleansing and an exodus of tens of thousands of refugees. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has promised his country will refrain from using force against Kosovo after independence, though he has warned that Serbia will take punitive diplomatic, political, and economic measures. E-mail to a friend All About Kosovo • Serbia • United Nations • European Union \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Serbia defiantly told the United Nations on Thursday that it will never allow Kosovo to become independent -- despite U.S. and European Union support for the province to make the move. A Serbian boy plays in the street behind barbed wire in the southwestern Kosovar town of Orahova. Kosovo has been under U.N. control since a NATO-led invasion in 1999 to drive out Serbian forces who were brutally repressing an uprising of the majority ethnic Albanian population. In January, a coalition government that strongly backs independence from Serbia took over and promised independence "in weeks." Serbia remains vehemently opposed to the split and called the meeting of the Security Council -- where they have the support of Russia -- to discuss Kosovo's status. According to a transcript, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said: "Let me be very clear. The Republic of Serbia shall never accept any violation of its territorial integrity. "We shall never recognize Kosovo's independence. We shall not waiver, we shall not yield, should this cowardly act proceed unchecked. Not now. Not in a year. Not in a decade. Never." Jeremic said that if Kosovo declares independence, "we shall undertake all diplomatic, political and economic measures designed to impede and reverse this direct and unprovoked attack on our sovereignty." Kosovo is a province of Serbia, which in turn used to be part of Yugoslavia before it split apart -- sometimes peacefully, sometimes violently -- in the 1990s. Generally, Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanian population seeks independence; its minority Serb population wants to stay with Serbia, and it was that clash that was at the center of then-Yugoslavia's crackdown in 1999. NATO warplanes pushed those forces back in a short conflict, and control of the province was handed to the United Nations. Now, Kosovo is widely expected to announce independence this weekend. The United States and European Union are expected to recognize Kosovo independence. Ricardo Alberto Arias, acting Security Council president and Panama's U.N. ambassador, told reporters. "I don't foresee the Security Council has the capacity in itself to reach further agreement or further accords." U.S. Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said after the meeting: "We all had wanted a solution achieved for both parties. The simple fact is, the parties are irreconcilable." Serbs view Kosovo as the spiritual birthplace of the Serbian nation. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said: "The greatest humiliation for Serbia would be to give even indirect consent to the existence of this puppet creation on its territory." "Kosovo belongs solely and only to Serbia," he said. "Kosovo is ours and we will never give it to anyone." Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic held a meeting with European ambassadors Thursday and reiterated that Serbia would never recognize the independence of Kosovo, a government statement said. Russia opposes independence and plans to use its position as a permanent Security Council member to veto any resolutions supporting Kosovo. In his final news conference as Russian president Thursday, Vladimir Putin accused Europe of having double standards, pointing to other regions such as the Basque region on the Spanish-French border where the EU does not support independence. "You've been always telling us Kosovo is allegedly a special case. That's not true, that's a lie," he said. E-mail to a friend All About Kosovo • Serbia • Hashim Thaci \|\|\|\|\| MOSCOW (CNN) -- Wrapping up his final term in office, Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday offered biting criticism of what he called European "double standards" and stood by his country's long-standing objection to Kosovo's plan to declare independence. Putin is widely expected to become prime minister once his presidential term ends Putin addressed a myriad of reporters' questions -- 100 in all -- at the annual presidential news conference, his final one before his term ends. The marathon conference involved more than 1,300 reporters and lasted for four hours and 40 minutes -- the longest of all of Putin's annual news conferences. If his self-appointed successor Dmitry Medvedev wins the March 2 presidential vote -- which is widely expected -- Putin has been tapped to become the country's next prime minister. He described his two terms as president as "gifts from the Russian people and from God" and said he would stand by the country's basic law "that this term is the final term." "At this juncture, I don't have to cry or end my career, but I have to rejoice that I have an opportunity to work elsewhere and serve my country elsewhere," he said. Last week, Europe's top election watchdog -- the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- announced it would not monitor next month's election as planned because Moscow had imposed severe restrictions. But Putin ridiculed the organization's name and said perhaps the monitoring agency should concentrate on "teaching their wives to make borscht" rather than teaching countries how to run their elections. "I don't think that anyone is tempted to present ultimatums to Russia especially such organizations with abbreviations sounding like, 'Oh dear,'" he said. He said Russia has "fully implemented" all of its commitments with its European partners, including the OSCE. "It states that we shall invite representatives from the OSCE to monitor (elections), but nowhere does it say how many or for how long," Putin said. The OSCE said the limitations included Moscow's refusal to allow monitors to arrive two weeks before the election, which the OSCE said was necessary to monitor the campaigning. The group said Russia had refused to allow an OSCE group to visit in December to plan its election mission. It said Russia eventually allowed the group in last week, but it severely restricted the group's composition and duration. But Russian leaders expressed surprise that the OSCE called off its mission simply because Russia refused to agree to the group's terms, calling it an "ultimatum." "We will not let anyone force anything upon us," Putin said. "This is the basic principle of international law." Another basic principle of international law, Putin said, is "the territorial integrity of states" -- and any move by Kosovo to declare independence from Serbia would violate that principle, according to the Russian leader. "I would like to underline the fact that we think that support of unilateral announcement of Kosovo is not moral or legal," Putin said. At the request of Serbia -- a close ally of Russia -- the United Nations Security Council will hold a private debate on the matter on Thursday. European Union officials expect Kosovo to declare its independence on Sunday, according to a report from Novosti, the Russian News and Information Agency. Both the EU and the United States fully back independence for Kosovo, a province of Serbia that has been under U.N. control since shortly after NATO warplanes forced out Serbian forces in 1999. NATO acted after Serbian forces repressed an uprising of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo with a brutal campaign that spawned reports of ethnic cleansing and sparked an exodus of tens of thousands of refugees. Putin questioned why Kosovo should receive the West's backing for independence when other separatist groups -- including the Basques in Spain -- and breakaway republics -- including the Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus -- have no support. "Are you not ashamed, you Europeans, treating the same problems with double standards in different regions of the world?" Putin asked. "You've been always telling us Kosovo is allegedly a special case. That's not true, that's a lie. "We need to hammer out unified principles to (deal with) these issues." At one point, the focus of the news conference shifted to the U.S. presidential election when a Russian reporter asked Putin to respond to a remark by Hillary Clinton questioning whether the Russian leader, as a former KGB officer, has a soul. "The minimum a statesperson should have is a head," he said. His remark was met with laughter. "To build on interstate relations it is necessary to be guided by the fundamental interest of your own country, not by emotions. " Putin restated his criticism of the U.S. plan to deploy parts of a missile defense shield to Poland and the Czech Republic, and threatened to "re-target some of our systems to those targets." The Bush administration has proposed a limited missile shield it says will be used to protect against attacks from rogue nations. Bush has repeatedly said the missile defense system would not be aimed at Russia, but Putin has suggested instead that the system be based in countries more friendly to Moscow. Putin also threatened to point Russian missiles at "targets that will threaten our security" if Ukraine joins NATO. In both instances, Putin said the leaders are acting in violation of what the people want. "I oblige to speak about this frankly and openly to avoid later passing the buck for such a situation," he said. Watch what Putin had to say at his final presidential news conference. » E-mail to a friend All About Vladimir Putin • Russia • Kosovo \|\|\|\|\| Kosovo verklaart zich onafhankelijk PRISTINA - De etnisch Albanese meerderheid in het parlement van Kosovo heeft zondagmiddag eenzijdig de onafhankelijkheid van de Servische provincie uitgeroepen. Op straat in Pristina werd een groot feest gevierd, terwijl de Servische autoriteiten in Belgrado de stap meteen veroordeelden. Kosovo onafhankelijk "Op deze dag hebben we lang gewacht", zei Thaçi eerder, die als guerrillastrijder in de jaren negentig tegen de Servische overheersing vocht. Hij bracht een eerbetoon aan de gevallenen in de onafhankelijkheidsstrijd van de etnisch Albanese meerderheid in Kosovo. Erkennen De Verenigde Staten en enkele landen van de Europese Unie willen Kosovo snel erkennen. Servië en Rusland zijn tegen de afscheiding van de Servische provincie, die sinds de NAVO-bombardementen op Joegoslavië in 1999 onder bestuur van de Verenigde Naties staat. Op verzoek van Rusland kwam zondagavond de Veiligheidsraad van de VN in New York bijeen voor spoedberaad over de ontstane situatie. Zeker 90 procent van de Kosovaren is van Albanese afkomst. De Servische minderheid werd de afgelopen jaren steeds kleiner doordat Serven voor Albanees geweld op de vlucht sloegen. Feest Tienduizenden Albanezen bouwden zondag een feestje in de straten van Pristina. Mensen dansten, zwaaiden met Albanese, Amerikaanse en Europese vlaggen en heetten met spandoeken de nieuwe staat Kosovo welkom. Talrijke restaurants en cafés deelden gratis drank en hamburgers uit. Servië heeft de eenzijdige onafhankelijkheidsverklaring zondag meteen scherp veroordeeld. Premier Vojislav Kostunica noemde het afgescheiden Kosovo een "onechte" staat. Volgens hem schenden de VS met hun steun aan Kosovo de internationale rechtsregels. Rellen Bij urenlange rellen in de Servische hoofdstad Belgrado bestormden jongeren de ambassade van EU-voorzitter Slovenië. Alle ruiten en de deuren van het ambassadegebouw zijn vernield. De Sloveense en de EU-vlag zijn weggehaald door de grotendeels dronken betogers. De Servische politie wist de betogers weer uit het gebouw te verwijderen. Stenen Eerder gooiden demonstranten al stenen naar de Amerikaanse ambassade. Enkele ruiten van het gebouw sneuvelden. Deze honderden relschoppers waren vooral ultranationalistische hooligans die net bij een voetbalwedstrijd in Belgrado waren geweest. Handgranaten In Mitrovica in het noorden van Kosovo zijn zondagavond handgranaten gegooid naar gebouwen van de Verenigde Naties en de Europese Unie. Er vielen geen slachtoffers en de schade was beperkt, meldden functionarissen. Het EU-gebouw is ontruimd. Naast de VS willen ook tal van Europese landen Kosovo snel erkennen, maar andere, zoals Cyprus, zijn erop tegen. Daardoor is de EU er nog steeds niet in geslaagd een eensgezind standpunt in te nemen over de kwestie. De ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken van de unie buigen zich maandag opnieuw over het probleem. Nederland wil geen overhaaste beslissing nemen over de erkenning van Kosovo, aldus minister Maxime Verhagen van Buitenlandse Zaken zondag. ZIE OOK: 17/02/2008 Veiligheidsraad kan het niet eens worden over Kosovo 17/02/2008 Albanezen vieren onafhankelijkheid 17/02/2008 Kosovo roept zondag onafhankelijkheid uit 15/02/2008 'Kosovo roept zondag de onafhankelijkheid uit' 14/02/2008 EU wil Kosovo-missie uitbreiden	right Kosovars celebrated by driving their cars waving Albanian flags through several European cities, such as here in Lausanne. Brussels. At 15:00 GMT today, Kosovo announced its independence from Serbia. Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi declared that Kosovo would become a democratic country and would respect the rights of all its communities. It is expected that several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and most members of the European Union, will recognise its independence on Monday. Serbia and Russia are against an independent Kosovo. Approximately 10% of Kosovars are of Serbian descent, the majority is Albanian. The declaration was passed unanimously by the Kosovar parliament, who subsequently signed it. The Prime Minister told MPs that "We have waited for this day for a very long time", and that "the independence of Kosovo marks the end of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia". He also said that Kosovo would be working to follow the plan drawn up by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, and the United Nations. MPs have also selected a new flag (pictured on the right), showing the shape of the country in gold, on a blue background, with six white stars. The Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica said that the declaration made Kosovo a ''"false state"''. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic had this to say about the declaration: He had previously said that if Kosovo were to declare independence, ''"we shall undertake all diplomatic, political and economic measures designed to impede and reverse this direct and unprovoked attack on our sovereignty."''
Prime Minister Geir Haarde had called early elections for May Iceland's coalition government has collapsed under the strain of an escalating economic crisis. Conservative Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced the resignation of his cabinet, after talks with his Social Democratic coalition partners failed. He said he could not accept the Social Democrats' demand to lead the country. Iceland's financial system collapsed in October under the weight of debt, leading to a currency crisis, rising unemployment and daily protests. The economy is forecast to shrink by almost 10% this year. The coalition between Mr Haarde's Independence Party and Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir's Social Democratic Alliance had been under strain in recent months. Mr Haarde told reporters on Monday: "We couldn't accept the Social Democratic demand that they would lead the government." The Independence Party currently controls 25 of the country's 63 parliamentary seats, to the Social Democrats' 18. Meltdown The announcement comes three days after the prime minister called an early general election for 9 May, adding that he would not stand for health reasons. The coalition government, in place since 2007, had been due to remain in place until 2011. ICELAND'S WOES October 2008 - Government takes control of three largest banks 20 November - IMF approves $2.1bn (£1.4bn) loan for Iceland 26 November - Annual inflation rate hits record 17.1% 20 January - Economy forecast to shrink by 9.6% in 2009 23 January - PM Geir Haarde calls snap election for 9 May 26 January - Government resigns following breakdown of coalition Reality bites in Iceland Timeline: Iceland's crisis Iceland bloggers react to crisis Activists fight Iceland woes Ms Gisladottir said a more powerful leadership was needed. "The government's actions in the last weeks and months were not swift enough," she said. Her party is now expected to look for new partners to form a government until the election. President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson said he would not give any party a mandate to form a new government until Tuesday at the earliest. In recent months the Social Democrats had urged Mr Haarde to fire the central bank governor and move towards closer ties with Europe. Iceland, a country of about 300,000 people, has traditionally sought to stay outside the EU. But last month European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the island might apply for membership as soon as this year. The extent of Iceland's trouble became evident as conditions tightened in global credit markets last year. It emerged that the country's banks, which had amassed debt during years of rapid expansion, owed about six times the country's economic output. Money from around the world had also poured into Iceland because interest rates there exceeded 10%. Icelandic Crisis We have the opportunity to build a new truly democratic society Stefan Thorgrimsson, Reykjavik Mr Haarde's government responded to the financial collapse by nationalising leading banks. It also negotiated about $10bn in loans with the International Monetary Fund and donor countries. Commerce Minister Bjorgvin Sigurdsson resigned on Sunday citing the pressures of the economic meltdown. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The North Atlantic nation has been hit hard by the global credit crunch. The current government has been under pressure since then and on Monday succumbed, with the prime minister to hand in his resignation. The government of Iceland was to resign Monday in the wake of the financial turmoil that hit the North Atlantic nation, Prime Minister Geir Haarde said. Haarde, who last week said he was suffering from cancer and was to step down as leader of the Independence Party at the party conference in March, said the coalition with the Social Democrats has ended with immediate effect. The coalition was formed after elections in 2007. Iceland has experienced a wave of protests since October when the country's three banks Glitnir, Landsbanki and Kaupthing were nationalized after almost collapsing due to the global credit crunch. The premier, 57, was later Monday to hand in is resignation to the president. Elections to be held early At his announcement last week, Haarde said his party favored early elections to be held May 9 -- two years early. He did not offer new details Monday. Haarde last week said he is to undergo treatment for a small malignant tumor of the esophagus at a hospital outside Iceland at the end of this month or in February. The premier had until last week resisted increasing pressure to call early elections, arguing that such a move risked slowing down measures to counter the crisis. Economy contracting The North Atlantic nation of some 320,000 people is facing a severe contraction of its economy with unemployment due to rise sharply. Interest rates are at 18 percent and the country recently secured a $2.1-billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. Haarde has been prime minister since 2006 after previously serving as foreign minister and finance minister. He formed a coalition after elections in 2007 with the Social Democrats as junior partner. The leader of the Social Democrats, Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, recently returned to Iceland after undergoing medical treatment in Sweden. \|\|\|\|\| (Reuters) - Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Haarde said on Monday his coalition government had fallen apart under the pressures of the financial crisis and he would hand in his resignation to the president. Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir, the Social Democrat leader who had been considered a potential replacement for Haarde, announced she would not seek to be prime minister. Pressure was high with demonstrations against the government and the central bank becoming regular fixtures in the capital Reykjavik since the currency plunged and the financial system collapsed. Here are some facts about Iceland and its economy: THE ECONOMY: -- Iceland's Finance Ministry said last week that it saw real GDP falling 9.6 percent in 2009 and remaining largely unchanged in 2010 compared with its October forecast of down 1.6 percent in 2009 and growth of 1.1 percent next year. -- It also saw inflation for 2009 at 13.1 percent, compared to its October forecast of 5.7 percent. For 2010, it saw inflation coming down to 2.7 percent to put it in line with the central bank's target. -- The government said it expected the current account deficit, currently an estimated 22 percent of GDP, to reverse to a 6.1 percent surplus this year and to 5.6 percent in 2010. Unemployment was seen rising to an average of 7.8 percent in 2009 and rising even further in 2010, to 8.6 percent. -- Prime Minister Haarde had warned of "national bankruptcy" and said at the end of last year that the financial crisis which ravaged the banking system and the crown currency underscored the pitfalls of managing a currency in a small, open economy. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| REYKJAVIK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Iceland's ruling coalition fell apart on Monday as Prime Minister Geir Haarde said he was handing in his immediate resignation and the head of one of the coalition partners said she was taking a leave of absence. Haarde, who announced on Friday his intention to step down because he is fighting cancer, had planned to continue in his role until early elections proposed for May. But political pressure in Iceland over the handling of the island nation's financial meltdown has proved too intense. What's in store politically in the coming days and weeks and what are the implications for the big issues Iceland faces? A NEW GOVERNMENT? Broadly speaking there are three main political possibilities -- a national unity government, a new coalition or a government made up of the previous coalition partners, the Independents and the Social Democratic Alliance (SDA). Haarde's Independents have 25 of 63 parliamentary seats. The SDA, which has 18 seats, has been headed by Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir. Recently treated for a brain tumour which proved benign, Gisladottir said on Monday she was taking a leave of absence for one or two months. She suggested Social Affairs Minister Johanna Sigurardottir as a possible prime minister. After the Independents and the SDA, the next biggest faction is the Left-Green Party with nine seats. Polls show it is gaining popularity and its leader, Steingrimur Sigfusson, has thrown his hat in the ring as a possible prime minister. "What is likely to happen is that a minority government of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Leftist Greens is formed," said Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland. "However, there are quite a few points which the two parties would have to agree on, such as the European Union, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and who should become prime minister." He said it was not impossible that Gisladottir's suggestion of Sigurardottir could be taken up. "She is the most popular minister of the outgoing government and has been successful in her role." CENTRAL BANK, CURRENCY DILEMMAS Along with Haarde, another person who has come in for heavy criticism has been central bank chief David Oddsson, previously Iceland's longest-serving prime minister and the architect of an economic overhaul during the past decade. Local media have speculated about Oddsson's future for months, but there was always the knowledge that he had a staunch ally in Haarde. Continued...	The coalition government in Iceland has collapsed following the international banking crisis. Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde Prime Minister Geir Haarde of the conservative Independence Party had begun talks with coalition partner party Social Democratic Alliance in the run-up to an early general election planned for May. It was reported yesterday that these talks had failed and the coalition was dissolved. The centre-left Social Democrats will now try to build a coalition with opposition parties, according to the BBC. The Independence Party currently has 25 of the 63 seats in the country's unicameral Althing (parliament), and the Social Democratic Alliance holds 18 seats. The remainder of the government consists of the Left-Green Movement (9 seats), the Progressive Party (7) and the Liberal Party (4). The coalition was formed after the election in 2007, but became uneasy after the global financial crisis caused Iceland to nationalise its banking system and ask for help from the International Monetary Fund, with Social Democrats seeking closer ties with the European Union and the replacement of the head of the central bank. Social Democrat leader and Foreign Minister Ingibjörg Gísladóttir has suggested Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, the Social Affairs and Social Security Minister, as the next prime minister. Iceland's interest rate is now 18%, with GDP expected to fall 9.6% this year. Inflation has reached 13.1%.
Ketsana left 38 people dead in Vietnam after causing widespread devastation in the Philippines [AFP] Ketsana left 38 people dead in Vietnam after causing widespread devastation in the Philippines [AFP] The storm hit the region at about 7pm on Tuesday, engulfing Kampong Thom province, about 130km north of the capital Phnom Penh, the National Committee for Disaster Management said. Up to 11 people have been killed and 29 others injured in central Cambodia, the latest country to be struck by Typhoon Ketsana, disaster officials say. Nine of the victims lived in Kampong Thom, including five members of the same family who were eating dinner when the storm destroyed their home, Neth Sophana of the International Committee of the Red Cross said. He said 29 people were injured and about 90 homes were destroyed. Two died in neighbouring Rattanakiri province, including one person who was trying to escape flooding when the surge swept him into a river and he drowned, authorities said. Authorities were searching for more victims and sending food, medical supplies and plastic sheeting for temporary tents to storm-hit areas. Death toll rises In Vietnam Ketsana left a trail of destruction across the country's central region, with the death toll rising to 38 on Wednesday. The bodies of two people were recovered from their homes after being buried by a landslide, bringing the toll in Quang Nam to seven, Nguyen Hoai Phuong, a provincial disaster official, said. Parts of the province were still isolated by flood waters and its main road remained partially submerged. In Thua Thien Hue province, one more death was reported, bringing the toll there to four. Buried in landslide Elsewhere, in the Central Highland region, 30 deaths were reported in six other provinces, including 13 deaths in Kon Tum, the government said in a statement. The deaths include five members of a family whose house was buried in a landslide. The typhoon also left 10 people missing, destroyed or damaged nearly 170,000 homes and damaged crops and irrigation systems in the region. Flooding from the typhoon killed 246 people in the Philippines, inundating the homes of nearly 2.3 million people over the weekend. The typhoon was downgraded to a tropical storm on Wednesday after crossing into Laos, the national weather forecast center said. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The powerful typhoon that has hit the Philippines and Vietnam with deadly force is now battering Cambodia. At least nine people have died in Kampong Thom province in central Cambodia. When Typhoon Ketsana hit Vietnam, more than 30 people were killed and almost 200,000 people fled their homes; severe flooding remains in central provinces. In the Philippines, where the typhoon hit over the weekend, at least 246 people are known to have died.	Typhoon Ketsana, the storm that recently wreaked havoc on the Philippines and Vietnam, reached Cambodia on Wednesday, killing at least 11 people and injuring a further 29 in the country, according to officials. The National Committee for Disaster Management said that nine of the casualties were reported in the Kampong Thom province, located 130 kilometres north of Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh. Officials had launched search and rescue teams to find more victims, and sent medical supplies, food, and other necessities to affected regions of the countries. Typhoon Ketsana had earlier flooded the Philippines, causing the deaths of 246 people and displacing almost 2.3 million whose homes were flooded. 38 people were also killed in Vietnam.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Mystery still surrounds a missing Russian-manned cargo ship, with a sighting off Africa's Cape Verde islands still to be confirmed. The Arctic Sea, with 15 Russian crew members on board, was last sighted in the Bay of Biscay on 30 July. Cape Verde officials say they think the ship is 400 nautical miles (740km) off one of the islands. But Moscow's envoy to Cape Verde said he had not been informed of any confirmed sighting. The 4,000-tonne Maltese-flagged vessel, which had been carrying timber, went off radar after passing through the English Channel. Click here for a map charting sightings of the Arctic Sea There has been huge speculation over the reason for its disappearance, ranging from pirates to a mafia dispute to a commercial quarrel. A source linked to the Cape Verde coastguard told AFP news agency the Arctic Sea was outside its territorial waters. The coastguard was informing maritime officials about the ship's movements, the source said, adding: "When the ship enters our jurisdiction, we will decide in consultation with our partners what actions to take." Some reports have put the ship 400 nautical miles north of Sao Vicente. French intelligence said it had found a ship matching the Arctic Sea's description in the area. The Portuguese military would not confirm one of its planes had flown over the vessel. Radar contact with the Arctic Sea was lost after it left the English Channel However, the Russian ambassador to Cape Verde, Alexander Karpushin, said he had not been officially informed of the sighting and told Russia's RAI agency the sighting was "not true". Tom Wilkerson, chief executive officer of the US Naval Institute, told the BBC the disappearance raised a number of concerns. "What we're looking at is a ship that's over 4,000 tonnes, with no transponder working, that now all of the world's searching capability has not been able to find. "Just because the ship doesn't appear to have anything on it of value doesn't mean that someone can't place something there that could be very valuable, and also very dangerous." Last known contact Carrying timber reportedly worth $1.8m (£1.1m), the Arctic Sea sailed from Finland and had been scheduled to dock in the Algerian port of Bejaia on 4 August. It would seem that these acts, such as they have been reported, have nothing in common with 'traditional' acts of piracy or armed robbery at sea. Martin Selmayr EU Commission Speculation rife over missing ship The crew reported being boarded by up to 10 armed men as the ship sailed through the Baltic Sea on 24 July, but the intruders were reported to have left the vessel on an inflatable boat after 12 hours. There are also reports of the ship being attacked a second time off the Portuguese coast. However the ship's operators said they had no knowledge of the incident and Portugal said the ship was never in its territorial waters. The last known contact with the crew was when the Arctic Sea reported to British maritime authorities as it passed through the Dover Strait. On Friday, the European Union Commission spokesman Martin Selmayr said: "From information currently available it would seem that these acts, such as they have been reported, have nothing in common with 'traditional' acts of piracy or armed robbery at sea." Click here to return Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| So far, nothing. “It is quite difficult to try to determine what could have happened,” said Cyrus Mody, a spokesman for the London-based International Maritime Bureau. “It would not go down without a trace, but in the shipping industry anything is possible.” While the vessel’s fate remained a mystery, marine shipping experts tended to discount the idea that piracy was involved, noting that the ship was relatively small and carrying a low-value cargo of wood. They said it could have been hijacked by an organized criminal gang, perhaps in pursuit of drugs or some other illicit materials stashed on board, or to test the security environment in preparation for future attacks. What is clear is that the Arctic Sea had a rough voyage from the outset. Flying a Maltese flag, it was traversing Swedish waters on July 24 when it was overtaken by a small boat and boarded by 8 to 12 men carrying firearms, the Malta Maritime Authority said in a statement. The intruders were “allegedly masked and wearing uniforms” with “police” written on them, the statement said, and harshly interrogated the crew, saying they were checking the ship for illegal drugs. 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. “The members of the crew were allegedly assaulted, tied, gagged and blindfolded and some of them were seriously injured,” the statement said. It is not clear who the men were. Officials from Sweden, which had jurisdiction over the waters where the search took place, said Swedish authorities were not involved, the Malta Maritime Authority said. The ship’s captain radioed authorities after the 12-hour ordeal, saying the intruders had left in their small boat, Mr. Matveyev said. The captain said that he would keep the ship on course to Algeria. A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Britain said in an interview that the ship contacted the agency at 1:52 p.m. on July 28, when it was traveling through the Dover Strait between England and France. “The Dover Coastguard didn’t notice anything unusual,” the spokeswoman said. “A lot of vessels go through the strait every day, and this one made a routine report and it didn’t seem anything was wrong.” Mr. Matveyev said his company tracked the ship until July 31, when the ship radioed that it was off the coast of Portugal. The Malta Maritime Authority said the ship had not yet approached the Strait of Gibraltar, separating Spain from Morocco, “which indicates that the ship headed out in the Atlantic Ocean.” \|\|\|\|\| A search is under way for a cargo ship which may have travelled through the English Channel after apparently being hijacked by pirates. Coastguards fear the Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea, carrying 15 Russian crew, was hijacked in the Baltic sea. UK authorities made contact before it entered the Strait of Dover but the Russian navy told the Itar-Tass agency it was now looking for the ship. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the situation was "bizarre". Spokesman Mark Clark said: "Who would think that a hijacked ship could pass through one of the most policed and concentrated waters in the world? "It seems strange to think that a ship which had been hijacked was passing along the channel along with ships carrying day-trippers going over to Calais for the day." 'Extremely curious' Hijackers may have been coercing the ship's crew when they made radio contact with coastguards at Dover on 28 July, the MCA fears. Reports say Swedish authorities were told by the Finnish shipping line operating the 3,988-tonne cargo ship that it was boarded by up to 10 armed men claiming to be anti-drugs police as it sailed through the Baltic sea on July 24. It could well be that a crew member had a gun put to his head Mark Clark Maritime and Coastguard Agency The intruders apparently left the vessel - which was carrying about £1m worth of sawn timber from Finland to Algeria - 12 hours later on an inflatable boat after damaging the Arctic Sea's communications equipment. But on 3 August, Interpol told Dover Coastguard that the crew had been hijacked in the Baltic Sea and asked UK authorities to be alert as the vessel passed through the channel. By then the ship had already left the Strait of Dover and was last recorded off the coast of Brest, northern France, just before 0130 BST on 30 July. The MCA said it was told the vessel had seemingly been spotted subsequently by a Portuguese coastal patrol aircraft but its current location was unknown. Mr Clark said the person on board whom coastguards had spoken to had told them the ship was due to arrive in Bejaia, northern Algeria, on 4 August at 2300 BST. He added: "There is no coastguard I know who can remember anything like this happening. "There didn't seem anything suspicious when contact was made. It could well be that a crew member had a gun put to his head by a hijacker when contact was made, but who knows? "We are extremely curious to find out what could have happened to this vessel." 'No different' World leaders have become increasingly concerned about pirates operating off the coast of Somalia. But Nick Davis, who runs the private security firm Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions, told the BBC's Today programme that the relatively low value of the cargo suggested this was a different kind of piracy to that seen off the coast of East Africa. Instead, he suggested, it was more likely that the apparent seizure was the result of a "commercial dispute" in which one party had decided to "take matters into their own hands". He added: "Piracy is piracy - if someone's wanting to take that vessel, and they're not authorised, and they use a speedboat to go and get it, then it's no different to what the Somalis do. "However, I don't believe they would have boarded that vessel firing weapons in the air, and threatening to kill the crew. "Whilst it is piracy, it's not like what we know in Somalia." Russian authorities have said they have been assessing the situation and Navy vessels have been notified, according to Itar-Tass. Vladimir Kochurov, deputy head of the Arkhangelsk regional administration's transport department, told the agency that there was "scarce information" about the Arctic Sea. He added: "Security services are holding the investigation. "Meanwhile, the regional administration is ready for rapid reaction in case the situation clarifies. We will give assistance to the crew." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	A cargo ship spotted off the African island nation of Cape Verde could be the missing MV ''Arctic Sea''. The Maltese flagged MV ''Arctic Sea'' disappeared off the French coast sometime after July 29. Owned by the Russian Arctic Sea company she was operated by the Finnish Solchart Management company and had a Russian crew. French intelligence sources have found a ship matching the Arctic Sea's description about 400 Nautical miles north of São Vicente. The ''Arctic Sea'' was on a scheduled route from the Finnish seaport of Pietarsaari to the Algerian seaport of Béjaïa with a cargo of timber when it was boarded in Swedish waters between the islands Öland and Gotland on the night of July 24. The alleged boarders left the ship the same day according to its crew and the ship continued her voyage although it would have been expected to anchor at the nearest port. The last official contact with the ship was with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Britain on July 28. Viktor Matveyev, the director of Solchart Management says the ship radioed that it was off the coast of Portugal on July 31. The 98-meter-long ship has so far not reached the Straits of Gibraltar and is now being sought by the Portuguese Navy and Russian Navy. If proven this could be the first case of piracy in Europe in the modern era. There is speculation as to the reason for the ship's hijacking, as its cargo of wood, valued at 1.3 million euros, is not especially valuable. Suggestions include possible contraband, and the possibility of a commercial dispute between the crew or some other party and the ship's owners.
Monday, February 11, 2008 US to seek death penalty in six 9/11 military commission cases: reports Joshua Pantesco at 8:00 AM ET [JURIST] The Pentagon is expected to announce Monday that military prosecutors will seek the death penalty against six Guantanamo detainees accused of involvement in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, according to government sources speaking on condition of anonymity. Under the 2006 Military Commissions Act (MCA) [PDF text], the convening authority who oversees the military commissions process, former US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Judge Susan J. Crawford [DOD press release], will decide to reject or grant the prosecutor's request for a capital trial. Among the six detainees expected to be charged is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed [BBC profile], who has said under oath that he masterminded the 9/11 attacks [JURIST report] and is responsible for 29 other planned terror attacks. The decision to seek the death penalty in the six 9/11 cases is expected to attract additional criticism from countries and human rights groups that already oppose the Bush administration's treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive]. The US has said that some 80 Guantanamo detainees will eventually face prosecution under the military commissions system [DOD materials]. So far, cases have been initiated against seven detainees, including two charged [JURIST report] last week. The New York Times has more. Reuters has additional coverage. 11:58 AM ET - In a press conference Monday morning, the Defense Department announced that charges [PDF text] have been sworn against six Guantanamo Bay detainees: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, and Mohamed al Kahtani. According to the Defense Department's press release [text]: Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy and the separate, substantive offenses of: murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, terrorism and providing material support for terrorism. The first four defendants, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali are also charged with the substantive offense of hijacking or hazarding a vessel. All of the charges are alleged to have been in support of the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. The Pentagon also confirmed that it will seek the death penalty for each defendant. Link \| e-mail print \| subscribe \| JURIST news archive \| © JURIST For a one-stop snapshot of the latest legal news that matters, with breaking documents, new legal videos, live law-related webcasts, commentary by expert law professors and more - all updated through the day in real time, with no ads and no registration barriers - visit JURIST's homepage and check back often... \|\|\|\|\| The Defense Department announced today that charges have been sworn against six detainees at Guantanamo, alleged to be responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks upon the United States of America which occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. Those attacks resulted in the death of nearly 3,000 people. The charges allege a long term, highly sophisticated, organized plan by al Qaeda to attack the United States. The accused are: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin ‘Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, and Mohamed al Kahtani. Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy and the separate, substantive offenses of: murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, terrorism and providing material support for terrorism. The first four defendants, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin ‘Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali are also charged with the substantive offense of hijacking or hazarding a vessel. All of the charges are alleged to have been in support of the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Now that sworn charges have been received, the convening authority will review the charges and supporting evidence to determine whether probable cause exists to refer the case for trial by military commission. The chief prosecutor has requested that charges to be tried jointly and be referred as capital for each defendant. If the convening authority, Susan Crawford, in her sole discretion, decides to refer the cases as capital, the defendants will face the possibility of being sentenced to death. The charge sheet details 169 overt acts allegedly committed by the defendants in furtherance of the Sept. 11 events. The charges allege that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks by proposing the operational concept to Usama bin Laden as early as 1996, obtaining approval and funding from Usama bin Laden for the attacks, overseeing the entire operation, and training the hijackers in all aspects of the operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin ‘Attash is alleged to have administered an al Qaeda training camp in Logar, Afghanistan where two of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were trained. He is also alleged to have traveled to Malaysia in 1999 to observe airport security by U. S. air carriers to assist in formulating the hijacking plan. Ramzi Binalshibh is alleged to have lived with the Hamburg, Germany, al Qaeda cell where three of the Sept. 11 hijackers resided. It is alleged that Binalshibh was originally selected by Usama bin Laden to be one of the Sept. 11 hijackers and that he made a “martyr video” in preparation for the operation. He was unable to obtain a US visa and, therefore, could not enter the United States as the other hijackers did. In light of this, it is alleged that Binalshibh assisted in finding flight schools for the hijackers in the United States, and continued to assist the conspiracy by engaging in numerous financial transactions in support of the Sept. 11 operation. Ali Abdul Aziz Ali’s role is alleged to have included sending approximately $120,000 to the hijackers for their expenses and flight training, and facilitating travel to the United States for nine of the hijackers. Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi is alleged to have assisted and prepared the hijackers with money, western clothing, traveler’s checks and credit cards. He is also alleged to have facilitated the transfer of thousands of dollars between the accounts of alleged Sept. 11 hijackers and himself on Sept. 11, 2001. Mohamed al Kahtani is alleged to have attempted to enter the United States on August 4, 2001, through Orlando International Airport where he was denied entry. It is also alleged that al Kahtani carried $2,800 in cash and had an itinerary listing a phone number associated with Hawsawi. If the convening authority refers the charges to trial, the prosecution bears the burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the standard applied in all U.S. and military criminal trials. In the military commissions process, every defendant has the following rights: The right to remain silent and to have no adverse inference drawn from it; the right to be represented by detailed military counsel, as well as civilian counsel of his own selection and at no expense to the government; the right to examine all evidence used against him by the prosecution; the right to obtain evidence and to call witnesses on his own behalf including expert witnesses; the right to cross-examine every witness called by the prosecution; the right to be present during the presentation of evidence; the right to have a military commission panel of at least five military members determine his guilt by a 2/3 majority, or in the case of a capital offense, a unanimous decision of a military commission composed of at least 12 members; and the right to an appeal to the Court of Military Commission Review, then through the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals to the United States Supreme Court. These rights are guaranteed to the defendant under the Military Commissions Act, and are specifically designed to ensure that every defendant receives a fair trial, consistent with American and international standards of justice and the rule of law. \|\|\|\|\| The "self-confessed" mastermind of the September 11 attacks is among six Guantanamo detainees charged with murder and conspiracy by the Pentagon. Watch: US Defence Department spokesman announces the move Profile: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Bin Laden's ideas man Uncertain World: The threats that face our globe Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and five alleged conspirators accused of assisting the Pakistani al-Qa'eda operative in killing almost 3,000 people when hijacked planes were flown into the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001. The charges represent a milestone in America's "war on terror" and follow years of legal wrangling and controversy surrounding the detention of suspects without charge. Brig Gen Thomas Hartmann, a legal adviser to the head of the Pentagon's Office of Military Commissions, said the charges alleged a "long-term, highly sophisticated plan by al-Qa'eda to attack the US". He said there would be "no secret trials" and that they would be "as completely open as possible". Officials plan to hold the trial in a specially constructed court at the prison on Cuba that will allow lawyers and journalists and some others to be present, but leave relatives of September 11 victims and others to watch the trial through closed-circuit broadcasts. advertisement The charges are the first for Guantanamo inmates directly related to the 2001 attacks and will be heard by a controversial military tribunal system that was introduced in 2006 after the first system was ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court. So far only one detainee, the Australian David Hicks, has been convicted by the military commission, under a plea bargain on charges of aiding terrorism that allowed him to return home. Zacarias Moussaoui, who claimed he was the 20th hijacker, was jailed for life in 2006 by a US criminal court after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges. The New York Times has reported that the others to be charged are: Mohammed al-Qahtani, the man officials have labelled the real 20th hijacker; Ramzi Binalshibh, Osama bin Laden's chief spokesman said to have been the main intermediary between the hijackers and leaders of al-Qa'eda; Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, known as Ammar al-Baluchi, a nephew of Mohammed who has reportedly been identified as his lieutenant for the 2001 operation; Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, al-Baluchi's assistant; Waleed bin Attash, a detainee known as Khallad, who investigators say selected and trained some of the hijackers. At a hearing last year to determine his status as a combatant, Mohammed issued an apparent full confession of his involvement in the 2001 attacks and almost every other major al-Qa'eda plot. Legal experts said his supposed willingness to take credit for terrorism could complicate the tribunal process. Others may sue the US government with torture claims. Al-Qahtani has already claimed through the Centre for Constitutional Rights in New York that has represented him that he was tortured by his military captors. "Although the government has more leeway than in a federal court, there will be significant evidentiary problems," said Mr Wittes. "With high profile trials you don't want any kind of pressure on the system but the military commissions are untried, untested and maybe unready." Despite the reforms necessitated by the Supreme Court, the commission system has been widely criticised for its rules on legal representation for suspects, hearings behind closed doors and past allegations of inmate abuse at Guantanamo Bay. \|\|\|\|\| Military prosecutors are in the final phases of preparing the first sweeping case against suspected conspirators in the plot that led to the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001, and drew the United States into war, people who have been briefed on the case said. The charges, to be filed in the military commission system at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, would involve as many as six detainees held at the detention camp, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the former senior aide to Osama bin Laden, who has said he was the principal planner of the plot. The case could begin to fulfill a longtime goal of the Bush administration: establishing culpability for the terrorist attacks of 2001. It could also help the administration make its case that some detainees at Guantánamo, where 275 men remain, would pose a threat if they are not held at Guantánamo or elsewhere. Officials have long said that a half-dozen men held at Guantánamo played essential roles in the plot directed by Mr. Mohammed, from would-be hijackers to financiers. But the case would also bring new scrutiny to the military commission system, which has a troubled history and has been criticized as a system designed to win convictions but that does not provide the legal protections of American civilian courts. \|\|\|\|\| That's Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's description of the detainees housed at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which has been a lightning rod for criticism in the Bush administration's war on terror. See the prison and its unwilling inhabitants. PART TWO OF TWO By Bill Dedman Investigative reporter MSNBC Bill Dedman Investigative reporter • Profile • E-mail Mohammed al-Qahtani, detainee No. 063, was forced to wear a bra. He had a thong placed on his head. He was massaged by a female interrogator who straddled him like a lap dancer. He was told that his mother and sisters were whores. He was told that other detainees knew he was gay. He was forced to dance with a male interrogator. He was strip-searched in front of women. He was led on a leash and forced to perform dog tricks. He was doused with water. He was prevented from praying. He was forced to watch as an interrogator squatted over his Koran. That much is known. These details were among the findings of the U.S. Army’s investigation of al-Qahtani's aggressive interrogation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But only now is a picture emerging of how the interrogation policy developed, and the battle that law enforcement agents waged, inside Guantanamo and in the offices of the Pentagon, against harsh treatment of al-Qahtani and other detainees by military intelligence interrogators. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement In interviews with MSNBC.com — the first time they have spoken publicly — former senior law enforcement agents described their attempts to stop the abusive interrogations. The agents of the Pentagon's Criminal Investigation Task Force, working to build legal cases against suspected terrorists, said they objected to coercive tactics used by a separate team of intelligence interrogators soon after Guantanamo's prison camp opened in early 2002. They ultimately carried their battle up to the office of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, who approved the more aggressive techniques to be used on al-Qahtani and others. Although they believed the abusive techniques were probably illegal, the Pentagon cops said their objection was practical. They argued that abusive interrogations were not likely to produce truthful information, either for preventing more al-Qaida attacks or prosecuting terrorists. And they described their disappointment when military prosecutors told them not to worry about making a criminal case against al-Qahtani, the suspected "20th hijacker" of Sept. 11, because what had been done to him would prevent him from ever being put on trial. **** When Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, the U.S. Army general in charge of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, flew to Iraq on Aug. 31, 2003, to advise on operation of a little-known prison called Abu Ghraib, his plane also carried something of a stowaway. Khampha Bouaphanh / AP file Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, center, commander of detainee operations at Guantanamo Bay, visits Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in August 2003. An agent of the Pentagon’s Criminal Investigation Task Force went along to warn U.S. prison officials in Iraq that Gen. Miller’s aggressive interrogation techniques were not the only way, that there were legal and effective ways of building rapport with detainees to get them to talk. The task force’s top cop, Mark Fallon, had sent the agent. Fallon said he feared that the Guantanamo techniques would spread. "I wanted to tackle the general, anything to stop him from getting on that plane," Fallon said. "The best I could do was to send along a chaperone." Gen. Miller resisted the agent, Blaine Thomas, joining his team, according to Fallon and his commander, Col. Brittain P. Mallow. He eventually relented, they said, but in Iraq he told the agent three times that he wasn't needed in meetings. So the agent made the best of his time in Iraq, meeting with the FBI. The general, now retired, says the cops have it backward. "I’m the one who asked their guy to come" on the Abu Ghraib trip, Gen. Miller said, "and when they sent him, he was the one who decided to work with the FBI and other agencies instead of coming to the briefings. He had free and open access like everyone else." In early April 2004, Gen. Miller left Guantanamo for a new role, running all U.S. prisons in Iraq, a few weeks before the name Abu Ghraib became well known. An Army investigation found later that Miller on his first visit had urged that military police with dogs "set the conditions" for interrogations, and that interrogators adopt "emerging strategic interrogation strategies and techniques" being used at Guantanamo. "When the Abu Ghraib photos were released," Fallon said, "I felt a great disappointment." "I wasn’t there for the meetings with General Miller. I do not know what he told those folks over there, what techniques to employ. ... But I felt a great sense of disappointment that I was not able to effectively influence behaviors that could have contributed to Abu Ghraib." **** At Orlando International Airport on Aug. 4, 2001, a Saudi traveler caught the eye of a Customs agent. Tim Shaffer / Reuters Investigators comb the crash site of United flight 93. The young man had no return ticket, $2,800 in cash, and wouldn’t identify the friend he said would pick him up at the airport. The Customs agent decided this was a potential illegal immigrant. Before being sent on a flight back to the Middle East, Mohammed al-Qahtani turned to the agent and said, "I’ll be back." The Pentagon has said that his friend at the airport was the Sept. 11 ringleader, Mohammed Atta, and that al-Qahtani was apparently intended to be the fifth hijacker on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania when passengers were able to overpower the other four. Al-Qahtani, through his attorney, says he was not involved. Al-Qahtani was captured in December 2001 on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and shipped to the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. For awhile he cooperated with FBI interrogators, but by the fall of 2002, he had mostly stopped talking. INSIDE GITMO About this series The following members of the Criminal Investigative Task Force at Guantanamo Bay and other military officers and civilians were interviewed in preparing these articles: — Col. Brittain P. Mallow, CITF's commander from 2002-2005. — Mark Fallon, deputy commander and special agent in charge of the CITF from 2002-2004. — Jeffery K. Sieber, former resident agent in charge of CITF activities at Guantanamo. — Randy Carter, former chief of operations for CITF at the interrogation booths at Guantanamo. — Michael Gelles, chief psychologist of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, who advised CITF on interrogations. — David L. Brant, former director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. — Major General Michael E. Dunlavey, former commander of detainee operations at Guantanamo. — Major General Geoffrey D. Miller, former commander of detainee operations at Guantanamo. — Alberto J. Mora, former general counsel of the Navy. The pressure on interrogators to produce information was intense. Less than a year after the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida attacks were continuing: the firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia in April, a bomb outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi in June. In early September 2002, the FBI suggested another option for obtaining information from al-Qahtani, according to the leaders of the law enforcement task force, who shared an office at Guantanamo with the FBI. The plan, they said, was to send al-Qahtani temporarily or permanently to another country, such as Egypt or Jordan, where he could be interrogated with techniques that the FBI could not legally use. The commander of the law enforcement task force, Col. Britt Mallow, and his chief investigator, Mark Fallon, say they learned of the plan from the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel, which urged them to reach a consensus with the FBI and intelligence interrogators on how to handle al-Qahtani. The cops opposed the plan, which was scrapped. A later FBI legal analysis warned that even discussing such a plan, known as "rendition," could be a crime, conspiracy to commit torture. The FBI and Justice Department will not comment on any plan for rendition of al-Qahtani. A Pentagon spokesman, Cmdr. Jeffrey D. Gordon, said only, "There is continuous dialogue among interagency staffs about a wide variety of topics of national importance, although we do not typically discuss those talks." If al-Qahtani wasn’t going to talk with the law enforcement agents, then the military intelligence interrogators wanted their shot. By September 2002, they were developing their own interrogation plans for al-Qahtani. Rate this story Low High advertisement	The Military Tribunal courtroom. Military prosecutors at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp announced charges on Monday against six captives they claim were involved in the planning of the September 11 attacks. The men, each facing the death penalty, will be tried in a single group. The move could cause legal problems, since the Bush Administration has admitted that at some of the confessions were given under torture. In 2006, a source in the Pentagon referred to several of the captives now facing prosecution as "unprosecutable" due to "the techniques" used to secure their confessions. The administration confirmed last week that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had been subjected to waterboarding - which it defines as an "Enhanced interrogation technique". The alleged planner of the September 11 attacks confessed to planning a number of other crimes. Included in his list of confessions were the failed shoe-bombing in England and 1993 bombing of the World Trade Centre, trying to assassinate Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Pervez Musharraf and Pope John Paul II, the beheading of reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, the Nightclub bombing in Bali, plots against oil tankers in Singapore and an oil company owned by Henry Kissinger, plans to blow up the Panama Canal, Heathrow Airport, the Sear Towers in Chicago, the Empire State Building in New York and the Library Tower in Los Angeles, attacks against a number of nightclubs in Thailand, shooting down an Israeli plane, destroying suspension bridges and bombing a hotel in Kenya and targets in South Korea. He also confessed to attacks and plots in Kuwait, Australia, Turkey, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. William Glaberson of ''The New York Times'' has suggested that the willingness to confess to every accusation presented against him might make it more difficult for prosecutors to establish the validity of his confessions. Mohamed al-Kahtani, one of sixteen people accused of being a "20th hijacker", has recanted his confessions that he had ties to Al Qaeda, had been sent to serve as a hijacker, and that he recognised thirty other captives as bodyguards of Osama bin Laden. He has stated that he was tortured and his family was threatened - in order to force his confessions. A copy of his interrogation log documented that he had been subjected to almost two months of continuous sleep deprivation, with three shifts of interrogators working around the clock to keep him disoriented. His interrogation log documents that he was bound to chairs and force-fed, and administered enemas and IVs, in order to keep his body functioning during his extended sessions.. Walid bin 'Attash faces charges that he helped run a training camp in Lowgar, Afghanistan that trained two of the hijackers, and that he observed airport security during a flight to Malaysia, to aid the hijackers. Ramzi Binalshibh is accused of helping the attackers enroll in American flight schools, been in frequent communication with them helped finance their time in the United States. Ali Abdul Aziz Ali is alleged to have helped finance the hijackers' stay in the United States, teaching them to find hotels, use travellers' cheques and fit into Western culture. Mustafa al-Hawsawi, originally thought to be another alias of Ali's, is likewise accused of helping the hijackers buy Western clothing, sign up for credit cards and financing their stay before the attacks. The charges will be referred to Susan J. Crawford, appointed the convening authority of the Guantanamo military commissions last year, to determine if there is probable cause for proceedings to continue. The commissions were established in 2006, after the Supreme Court ruled in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that the system of tribunals was illegal, violating both International and American laws designed to ensure the fair treatment and trials of captives. The tribunals have been criticized for only being used against a handful of detainees, and not reaching a verdict on any of the cases.
Gennady Sipachyov, a Russian citizen whose age and profession have been kept secret, was found guilty of "state treason in the form of espionage" and sentenced to four years in a maximum-security prison camp. His crime, which Russia's FSB security service said he had confessed to, was to email secret military maps identifying classified Russian military infrastructure to the Pentagon in 2008. The case is embarrassing for both the Kremlin and for Washington as it comes at a time when both are trying to improve their historically-troubled relationship and not long after the two countries signed a landmark treaty cutting their respective nuclear arsenals. Court documents released on Thursday claimed that the Pentagon's in-house intelligence service had acted under the cover of a bogus organisation called "East View Cartography" to solicit the secret maps from Mr Sipachyov in order to fine tune its targeting of strategic Russian military objects. "The Pentagon required the maps in order to correct its guidance system for cruise missiles to increase the accuracy of targeting," the court said. Much of the trial was held behind closed doors and Mr Sipachyov's motive for committing the crime was not cited though is thought to have been financial. Pictures of Mr Sipachyov showed an unassuming bespectacled man wearing a worn denim shirt who looked like he would be more at home in a library rather than committing state treason. Some reports suggested he had worked at a closed academic institution. The FSB security service said Mr Sipachyov had generously co-operated with the investigation and had therefore had his sentence sharply reduced from a possible maximum of twenty years to just four. "Sipachyov co-operated actively in the detection and investigation and also pointed to criminal activity by other individuals which helped prevent further damage to the security of Russia," the verdict read. Court officials said it was the first time in the history of Russian espionage that a suspect accused of state treason had struck a deal with prosecutors in exchange for a lighter sentence. \|\|\|\|\| Sipachev had admitted working for the Pentagon, the court said A Moscow court has sentenced a Russian national to four years in prison for handing over state secrets to the US. Gennady Sipachev was found guilty of sending classified Russian military maps to the Pentagon via the internet. The maps can be used to make the targeting of US cruise missiles against Russian targets more accurate, Russia's security service officials said. The court said that Sipachev had made a guilty plea bargain with prosecutors in exchange for a lighter sentence. "Sipachev co-operated actively in the detection and investigation and also pointed to criminal activity by other individuals which helped prevent further damage to the security of Russia," said the court's ruling. US silent Sipachev was found guilty under Article 275 of Russia's criminal code - "state treason in the form of espionage". The charge normally carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The court said that Sipachev - whose age and occupation have not been disclosed - would be serving his sentence in a high-security prison. Russia's security services (FSB) said Sipachev had first raised their suspicions in 2008. The FSB said it later found that he had been sending top secret Russian military maps to a Pentagon's in-house intelligence service, which acted under the cover of a different organisation. There has been no comment from the US on the issue.	A Russian citizen identified as Gennady Sipachyov has been convicted of "state treason in the form of espionage" and was sentenced to four years in a Russian maximum-security prison. According to the Russian intelligence agency Federal Security Service (FSB), Sipachyov was found guilty of giving the American government classified military maps, which can be used to target American missiles against targets in Russia more accurately. According to the FSB, the exchange of of information occurred in 2008, when Sipachyov emailed the documents to an organization called "East View Cartography," which was a cover for the intelligence service of the US military. In its verdict, the court said that "The Pentagon required the maps in order to correct its guidance system for cruise missiles to increase the accuracy of targeting." While no motive was identified, and the trial was barred to the media, speculation has been that any motive involved was financial in nature. Sipachyov, whose age and profession were not released, was convicted under Article 275 of Russia's criminal code, pertaining to "state treason in the form of espionage." Such a conviction ordinarily carries a sentence of 20 years, but according to the FSB, Sipachyov had "co-operated actively in the detection and investigation and also pointed to criminal activity by other individuals which helped prevent further damage to the security of Russia," leading to his sentence being reduced. The incident has been seen as embarrassing for both the Russian and American governments, as the two countries are currently trying to repair their previously rocky relationship. Earlier this year, a treaty reducing the number of nuclear weapons each country held was signed. The US government has not commented on the ruling.
404 We're sorry but the page you requested could not be found.Please try again from the home page or contact us \|\|\|\|\| 404 We're sorry but the page you requested could not be found.Please try again from the home page or contact us \|\|\|\|\| Sunday, June 04, 2006 PHOTOS VIDEO STORIES BACKGROUND The Toronto Star said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police itself delivered the three tons of ammonium nitrate that authorities reported Saturday had been acquired by a group of Muslims apparently inspired by Al Qaeda. Once the deal was done, police moved in for the arrests, the Star said. It added that investigators had learned of the group's alleged plan to build a bomb and then controlled the sale and transport of the fertilizer. CountryWatch: Canada It was not clear how the sting sale developed, and there was no indication of whether police might have altered the fertilizer to make it unusable in a bomb. Authorities refused to discuss the Star's story. They have revealed few details of the purported plot, news of which was followed by vandalism against at least one mosque and e-mailed threats to Muslim leaders. Police officers are saying privately that Web surfing and e-mail among the suspects initially led to the investigation beginning in 2004, something that Canada's ambassador in Washington, Michael Wilson, alluded to in an interview with CNN's "Late Edition." (Story continues below) ADVERTISEMENTS Advertise Here "My understanding of it is that the Internet played a very important part of it. Whether there was a direct inspiration or an indirect inspiration, the Internet was, according to the police, a very important part of their activities," Wilson said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Canadian operation was "obviously a great success for the Canadians. They're to be congratulated for it." Police arrested 12 adults, ages 19 to 43, and five suspects younger than 18 Friday and Saturday on terrorism charges, including plotting attacks with explosives on Canadian targets. The suspects were citizens or residents of Canada, and police said they had trained together. Cpl. Michele Paradis, a spokeswoman for the Mounties, disagreed with a government official who said privately that more arrests might be made this week. "Not right now," she said. "Once we analyze and sort through everything that was seized as a result there may be. At this point we are confident that we have the majority of people." The 17 suspects represent a broad spectrum of Canadian society, from the unemployed to the college educated. The 12 adults live in Toronto, Mississauga and Kingston, Ontario. The five youths cannot be identified under Canadian law. Rocco Galati, a lawyer, said he represented two of the men from Mississauga, an immigrant-rich town just east of Toronto. He described Ahmad Ghany, 21, as a health sciences graduate of McMaster University who was born in Canada. Ghany's father is a physician who emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, Galati said. His other client, Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, is an unmarried computer programmer of Egyptian descent, Galati said. He emigrated from Egypt at age 10 with his father, who is an engineer on contract with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., a private firm that provides services to nuclear utilities in Canada and other countries. "Both of their families are very well-established professionals, well-established families, no criminal pasts whatsoever," Galati said. "That's why we're anxious to see the particulars of the allegations against them." Two suspects, Mohammed Dirie, 22, and Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, already are in an Ontario prison serving two-year terms for possession of illegal weapons. Dirie's family moved to Canada from Somalia when he was 7 years old, said Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advisory Center in Minnesota, who was contacted by Dirie's mother about legal representation. "What we're concerned about is the basic erosion of civil rights," said Jamal. "Governments use information that is secret because of security issues, they claim. So we hope that the Canadian government and the police will respect the basic rights of these individuals." Officials said the 17 arrests came after a lengthy operation involving some 400 intelligence and law-enforcement officers and was the largest counterterrorism operation in Canada since the adoption of Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Toronto Mayor David Miller said he was told by the city's police chief several months ago that a suspected terrorist cell was being investigated in the Toronto area. "I was relieved that police had discovered the activities at a very early stage," Miller said. "I was relieved on behalf of Torontonians because I knew because of the police activities that if there was an actual threat, they would be able to stop it before anything serious happened." Mike McDonnell, an assistant commissioner with the Mounties, said Saturday that the amount of ammonium nitrate acquired by the alleged terror cell was three times that used by American anti-government extremists to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 168 people and injuring more than 800. The fertilizer is safe by itself, but when mixed with fuel oil or other ingredients, it makes a powerful explosive. The FBI said the Canadian suspects might have had "limited contact" with two men recently arrested on terrorism charges in the U.S. state of Georgia. There was no indication Sunday, however, that the 17 detainees were trying to plan an attack in the United States. "We certainly don't believe that there's any link to the United States, but obviously we will follow up," Rice said on CBS's "Face the Nation," noting the investigation was continuing. Aly Hindy, an imam of Scarborough's Salaheddin Islamic Center, said he knew nine of the suspects and complained that Canada's spy agency, CSIS, has unfairly targeted his mosque and congregants for years. "They have been harassed by CSIS agents and this is what they come up with?" Hindy said. "I'm almost sure that most of these people will be freed." Hindy predicted the case would end up like a 2003 high-profile security investigation that ended up embarrassing authorities. That case, a joint immigration and Mountie investigation, was touted as the dismantling of an al-Qaida cell. Twenty-two Pakistani students and an Indian national were arrested, but it ended up being just an immigration case that sent the students home branded as terrorists. Mohammed Abdelhaleen, the father of one of the those arrested over the weekend, was alarmed by the huge police presence at Saturday's court hearing, where snipers perched on nearby rooftops and dozens of officers armed with M-16 assault rifles guarded the entrance. Abdelhaleen said he feared his son had already been convicted in the court of public opinion. "The damage has already been done," the father said. "He just goes and prays in a mosque. That's all he does." Muslim leaders voiced worries that the highly publicized arrests would cause a backlash against their community of 750,000 people. A mosque in northwest Toronto was vandalized overnight, with 25 windows and three doors smashed, police said. Enuof Baksh, the building's caretaker, said people were distraught when they saw the broken glass Sunday morning. Mohamed Elmasry, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, told AP that he and other Muslim leaders were getting threatening e-mails. He said Muslims would now have to deal with hate crimes, as they did after the Sept. 11 attacks and deadly bombings in London and Madrid, Spain. "It's already happening. A mosque was vandalized. We hope Canadians will be more rationale and consider the facts," Elmasry said. \|\|\|\|\| Police said the suspects planned "al-Qaeda-inspired" attacks Five other youths have also been charged, following an investigation involving more than 400 officers. Police seized bomb-making materials in a series of raids in Toronto, including three metric tons of ammonium nitrate. Officials said the group "posed a real and serious threat" with "the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks". Fifteen of the suspects appeared in a heavily guarded courtroom in Brampton, a Toronto suburb, on Saturday. Some family members sobbed during the hearing while others attempted to speak or wave to the detainees, Reuters news agency reports. A list of the names and addresses of the 12 adults, which was released after the arrests were made, indicates that they are all resident in Toronto or the surrounding province of Ontario. 'Enough for three Oklahomas' Ammonium nitrate is a commonly used fertiliser which has also been used to make bombs. One guy was doing some criminal activity, selling guns for money Aly Hindy Imam at a Toronto mosque who knows some of the accused "To put it in context, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people was completed with only one ton of ammonium nitrate," said assistant commissioner Mike McDonell of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. "Our investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of any bombs and the attacks from being carried out." Southern Ontario is one of the country's main economic and business centres. The Mounties would not name any of the suspected bombing targets. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada had been targeted because of its way of life and "was not sheltered from the terrorist threat". "Today, Canada's security and intelligence measures worked. Canada's new government will pursue its efforts to ensure the national security of all Canadians," he added. 'Violent ideology' Officials showed what they said was evidence of bomb-making materials, a computer hard drive, camouflage uniforms and what appeared to be a door with bullet holes in it. Police seized an array of bomb-making materials The Mounties and other government security agencies, including intelligence and border security, have been conducting a lengthy investigation, the largest of its kind in Canada. Police said those arrested on Friday were all Canadian residents "of different origins", most of them citizens - some were students, some employed, others unemployed. Most of the 12 adults, whose ages range from 19 to 43, have Arabic names but police say no one community should be singled out. Muslim leaders in Toronto have condemned the planned attack and said extremist messages had been preached in some area mosques in recent years. The suspects appear to have "chosen a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaeda", said Luc Portelance, assistant director of operations for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canada's spy agency. Aly Hindy, an imam at a Toronto mosque, said he knew most of the accused and believed one or two were involved in crime but not terrorism. "One guy was doing some criminal activity, selling guns for money," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency outside the courtroom. More arrests are said to be possible. \|\|\|\|\| --Provinces--- Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador N.W.T Nova Scotia Nunavut Ontario --- NCR-Ottawa P.E.I. Quebec Saskatchewan --- Training Academy Yukon Seventeen Arrested on Anti-Terrorism Charges See Also: Speech by Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell National Security and the RCMP Backgrounder Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) Backgrounder TORONTO, ON – June 3, 2006 – On Friday, June 2, 2006, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and partners of the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team arrested 17 individuals and charged them under Section 83 of the Criminal Code of Canada. “This group took steps to acquire three tonnes of ammonium nitrate and other components necessary to create explosive devices,” said Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell. “To put this in context, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people took one tonne of ammonium nitrate.” Arrested and charged with offences under the Criminal Code of Canada are: 1. Fahim Ahmad, 21, of Robinstone Drive, Toronto, Ontario; 2. Zakaria Amara, 20, of Periwinkle Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario; 3. Asad Ansari, 21, of Rosehurst Drive, Mississauga, Ontario; 4. Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, of Lowville Heights, Mississauga, Ontario; 5. Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, of Montevideo Road, Mississauga, Ontario; 6. Mohammed Dirie, 22, Kingston, Ontario; 7. Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Kingston, Ontario; 8. Jahmaal James, 23, of Trudelle Street, Toronto, Ontario; 9. Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, of Stonehill Court, Toronto, Ontario; 10. Steven Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur, 25, of Treverton Drive, Toronto, Ontario; 11. Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, of Robin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario; 12. Saad Khalid, 19, of Eclipse Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario; 13. Five young persons. “Our investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of explosive devices and attacks being carried out. At all times, the focus of our investigation was the safety and protection of the public,” concluded McDonell. -30- Media Contact: Corporal Michele Paradis NCO i/c Corporate Communications and Media Relations (416) 715-2375 (pager) Backgrounder: National Security and the RCMP During the latter half of the 1990's, the RCMP began to refocus its National Security Intelligence Sections (NSIS) to become Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) in major centres throughout the country. The purpose of this was to increase the capacity for the collection, sharing and analysis of intelligence among partners with respect to individuals and entities that pose a threat to national security; create an enhanced investigative capacity to bring such individuals and entities to justice; and enhance partner agencies’ collective ability to combat national security threats. National Security is a priority for the RCMP. Threats to national security are continually changing, presenting an “intelligence challenge” to governments and law enforcement around the world. Potential terrorists may not have yet engaged in criminal activity and are therefore difficult to recognize and impede. Terrorist organizations – foreign, domestic or “home-grown” – are increasingly sophisticated, with members linked through technology and loosely linked groups or cells, allowing them to operate in an environment where borders are virtual and detection is difficult. This global operations base for terrorist groups emphasizes the importance of an integrated policing approach where intelligence is shared among countries around the world. The RCMP will: ensure border integrity and work with partners to create “smart borders” that will prevent the entry of those who create a terrorist threat detect, prevent/disrupt and investigate terrorist activity expand collection and sharing of information and criminal intelligence deliver timely and relevant criminal intelligence build new and strengthen existing partnerships contribute valued public policy advice allocate resources strategically ensure sound and rigorous stewardship of RCMP resources enhance centrally coordinated National Security Program management communicate effectively recruit, develop, and retain the right people optimize enabling science and technology Community Outreach In keeping with the Government of Canada's goal of Safe Homes and Safe Communities, Canada's Action Plan Against Racism and the RCMP National Priorities of Terrorism and Youth, the RCMP National Security Program has established a Community Outreach Program. The RCMP’s National Security Program is implementing a comprehensive community outreach program to engage all communities including the diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities across Canada in the protection of Canada’s national security. This will be accomplished in part by increasing the understanding of mutual goals and concerns and ensuring appropriate and informed communications should a crisis arise. Backgrounder: Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) National Security requires an integrated approach to ensure early detection and prevention of any potential threats to Canada and the public. The importance of greater integration of resources and intelligence has been heightened by the reality of terrorism for many countries, including Canada. The RCMP has refocused its National Security Intelligence Sections (NSIS) to become Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs) in major centres throughout the country. The purpose for this is to increase the capacity for the collection, sharing and analysis of intelligence among partners with respect to individuals and entities that are a threat to national security and; create an enhanced investigative capacity to bring such individuals and entities to justice; and enhance partner agencies collective ability to combat national security threats and meet all specific mandate responsibilities, consistent with the laws of Canada and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. INSETs are made up of representatives of the RCMP, federal partners and agencies such as Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and provincial and municipal police services. INSETs exist in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Through shared federal, provincial and municipal resources - INSET members are better able to track, deter, disrupt and prevent criminal activities (major or minor offences) of terrorist groups or individuals who pose a threat to Canada’s national security. This type of increased capacity enables INSET members to work with their partners nationally and internationally. The mandate of INSETs is to: Increase the capacity to collect, share and analyze intelligence among partners, with respect to targets (individuals) that are threat to national security. To create an enhanced enforcement capacity to bring such targets to justice. Enhance partner agencies’ collective ability to combat national security threats and meet specific mandate responsibilities. \|\|\|\|\| TORONTO - A Canadian counter-terrorism investigation that led to the arrests of 17 people accused of plotting bombings in Ontario is linked to probes in a half-dozen countries, the National Post has learned.Well before police tactical teams began their sweeps around Toronto on Friday, at least 18 related arrests had already taken place in Canada, the United States, Britain, Bosnia, Denmark, Sweden, and Bangladesh. The six-month RCMP investigation, called Project OSage, is one of several overlapping probes that include an FBI case called Operation Northern Exposure and a British probe known as Operation Mazhar.At a news conference Saturday, the RCMP announced terrorism-related charges had been laid against a dozen Toronto-area men and five teens under the age of 18. The group "took steps to acquire components necessary to create explosive devices" including three tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, commonly used in terrorist bombs, police said.By comparison, the truck bomb used to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 168 people, contained a single tonne of ammonium nitrate. "It was their intent to use it for a terrorist attack," RCMP assistant commissioner Mike McDonell said. "This group posed a real threat. It had the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks."Police declined to identify the intended targets because the investigation is ongoing but said they were all in southern Ontario and did not include the Toronto transit system, as some media outlets had reported. As senior RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service officials spoke to reporters, some of the evidence seized during police raids was displayed on a table guarded by police officers.The materials included a bag of ammonium nitrate, a handgun and ammunition clip, computer hard drive, and what appeared to be a cellphone activated electronic detonator hidden inside a small black fishing tackle box. Police also displayed bags of camouflage clothing and boots apparently seized from a camp north of Toronto that some of the members of the group had allegedly used for combat training.In a speech to new Canadian Forces recruits and their families Saturday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadians can't escape a dangerous world by turning a blind eye to it. "As we have said on many occasions, Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism," he said."Through the work and co-operation of the RCMP, CSIS, local law enforcement and Toronto's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), acts of violence by extremist groups may have been prevented." The Ontario accused made brief court appearances in Brampton, north of Toronto, on Saturday. They face charges of participating in the acts of a terrorist group, including training and recruitment; firearms and explosives offences for the purposes of terrorism and providing property for terrorist purposes.With the exception of two men, who are aged 43 and 30, the alleged terrorists are all in their teens and early 20s. They include men of Somali, Egyptian, Jamaican, and Trinidadian origin. All are residents of Canada and "for the most part" all are Canadian citizens, police said.Charged are: Fahim Ahmad, 21, Zakaria Amara, 20, Asad Ansari, 21, Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, Mohammed Dirie, 22, Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Jahmaal James, 23, Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, Steven Vikash Chand, 25, and Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21. A twelfth man was a youth when some of the alleged offences took place and can't be named, along with the other five youths arrested."For various reasons, they appear to have become adherents to a violent ideology inspired by al-Qaida," said Luc Portelance, the CSIS assistant director of operations. "Any movement that has the ability to turn people against their fellow citizens is obviously something that CSIS is very concerned about."He called the investigation the largest since the Anti-terrorism Act was passed by Parliament in December 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks in the United States."It is important to know that this operation in no way reflects negatively on any specific community, or ethno-cultural group in Canada," he added. "Terrorism is a dangerous ideology and a global phenomenon, as yesterday's arrests demonstrate, Canada is not immune from this ideology." CSIS and RCMP officials invited about a dozen members of Toronto's Muslim community to a meeting Saturday morning to discuss potential fallout."The police said they are cognizant of the fact that there could be a backlash and that they've taken all precautions to ensure that nothing like this happens," Canadian Muslim Congress spokesman Tarek Fatah said Saturday. "They are very conscious of the fact that this is a small group of criminals and they don't reflect the vast Muslim community in Toronto." While Fatah couldn't discount the possibility that "nut bars" might retaliate against innocent Muslims, he thought it unlikely.Despite recent warnings that Canadian-bred terrorists were operating in the country, Fatah said he was still surprised authorities had uncovered a plot in Toronto."I'm shocked that it's so close to home," he said. "But I'm quite happy that the RCMP was able to stop this terrorist attempt, if the allegations are true. It's quite scary that someone would live in Toronto and would like to blow up buildings and kill people here."The Toronto busts are linked to arrests that began last August at a Canadian border post near Niagara Falls and continued in October in Sarajevo, London and Scandinavia, and earlier this year in New York and Georgia.The FBI confirmed Saturday the arrests were related to the recent indictments in the U.S. of Ehsanul Sadequee and Syed Ahmed, who are accused of meeting with extremists in Toronto last March to discuss terrorist training and plots. "There is preliminary indication that some of the Canadian subjects may have had limited contact with the two people recently arrested from Georgia," Special Agent Richard Kolko, the FBI spokesman, said in an e-mail to the National Post.The intricate web of connections between Toronto, London, Atlanta, Sarajevo, Dhaka, and elsewhere illustrates the challenge confronting counter-terrorism investigators almost five years after 9/11.Linking the international probes are online communications, phone calls and in particular videotapes that authorities allege show some of the targets the young extremists considered blowing up. This entry was posted by rodoyf, on Sunday, June 04, 2006. You can leave your response.	Seventeen people, including five minors, have been arrested in the Toronto area on terrorism-related charges. Over 400 officers, drawn from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and the Toronto, Peel, and Durham police departments raided a dozen locations throughout the greater Toronto area. More arrests are expected overnight. Anonymous sources have told Canadian Press that those arrested are suspected to have been inspired by al Qaeda, and that they had plans to detonate explosives somewhere in Ontario. According to BBC News, three tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer that can be used as an explosive, have been seized. RCMP assistant commissioner Mike McDonnell stated, "To put it in context, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people was completed with only one ton of ammonium nitrate.” In order to protect the investigation, he was unable to provide any information as to the potential targets, but did state that the Toronto Transit Commission was not targeted. The suspects are currently being held under extremely heavy security at a police station in Pickering, just east of Toronto. According to RCMP spokeswoman CPL. Michele Paradis, “The investigation is ongoing.” The suspects are expected to appear in court today, in Brampton. They have all been charged under Section 83 of the '' Criminal Code of Canada''. The father of one of the suspects, Mohammed Abdelhaleen, told reporters: "I'm shocked. It's crazy - it's just crazy. It has no meaning whatsoever."
World leaders guaranteed the future of President Assad’s cronies in a rebuilt Syria today in an attempt to spark a coup against the dictator. Senior figures in the military, security services, and across the Damascus government would have a role after Assad had gone, G8 leaders said at the close of the summit in Northern Ireland The commitment was, in part, at attempt to learn the lessons of Iraq when the swift disbanding of Saddam Hussein’s military and political apparatus triggered sectarian conflict. David Cameron said the aim of the G8 commitment was to persuade Assad loyalists who knew that he must go, that Syria would not collapse into hopeless instability without him. However, hopes of swift progress towards peace talks were dashed when Vladimir Putin stood up to pressure from the other seven G8 leaders. The Russian President blocked proposals to start a Geneva peace process next month and also refused to cut Assad loose despite a diplomatic showdown over dinner on Monday night. Mr Putin also ended the summit on a fractious note when he said that American, French or British military equipment sent to the anti-Assad opposition would end up in the hands of the sort of people who killed Drummer Lee Rigby. Mr Cameron claimed important progress over Syria after two days of talks in County Fermanagh, but he was forced to compromise on his boldest aims because of Russian intransigence. As G8 host, he placed u \|\|\|\|\| Rules at Guantanamo have been unclear in the past The White House announced the shift in policy almost two weeks after the US Supreme Court ruled that the conventions applied to detainees. President Bush had long fought the idea that US detainees were prisoners of war entitled to Geneva Convention rights. The Pentagon outlined the new standards to the military in a 7 July memo. The directive says all military detainees are entitled to humane treatment and to certain basic legal standards when they come to trial, as required by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. It is not really a reversal of policy - humane treatment has always been the standard Tony Snow, White House spokesman Send us your comments The Bush administration has come under intense and sustained international criticism for its treatment of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The military has been using the site to house hundreds of detainees, many believed to have been picked up off battlefields in Afghanistan. When the detention centre was established in 2002, President Bush ordered that detainees be treated "humanely, and to the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity, in a manner consistent with the principles of Geneva". His spokesman Tony Snow said on Tuesday that the Pentagon directive did not represent a change: "It is not really a reversal of policy. Humane treatment has always been the standard." Court steps in At the end of June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that the Bush administration did not by itself have the authority to order that the detainees be tried by military commission. COURT RULING We conclude that the military commission convened to try Hamdan lacks power to proceed US Supreme Court ruling on Guantanamo detainees [1.3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here It said its decision was based on both US military law and the Geneva Conventions - asserting for the first time in US law that the detainees were entitled to Geneva protections. But the Supreme Court left open the possibility that the detainees could be tried by military commission if Congress established an appropriate legal framework for doing so. The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings on the issue on Tuesday morning, just as news of the new military policy became public. Daniel Dell'Orto, a defence department lawyer who was the first to testify, said there were about 1,000 detainees in US military custody around the world. Guantanamo Bay holds an estimated 450. Mr Dell'Orto did not say where the others were being held. The new Pentagon policy applies only to detainees being held by the military, and not to those in CIA custody, such as alleged mastermind of the 11 September attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The Geneva Conventions, which were passed in the wake of World War II, are meant to guarantee minimum standards of protection for non-combatants and former combatants in war.	After the Supreme Court ruling from June 29, 2006, the White House has announced that from now on all U.S. detainees are entitled to the protection Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, including the detainees at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. The Supreme Court ruled that the system of military tribunals set up by the U.S. at Guantanamo was illegal. The announcement came just hours before Congress debates how to change the military tribunals to comply with the court ruling. After September 11, 2001 the Bush administration argued that those captured by the U.S. in the global 'war on terror' are "illegal enemy combatants" rather than prisoners of war. United States attorney general Alberto Gonzalez argued in 2002 that fighting the war on terror requires new techniques and that the Geneva Conventions are "obsolete". White House press secretary Tony Snow denied that the announcement constitutes a major shift in policy. "It is not really a reversal of policy. Humane treatment has always been the standard," he said.
Toronto police are crediting "courageous" members of a tight-knit school community for coming forward with information that led to the arrests of two teenage boys after a 15-year-old student was shot to death last week. Toronto police Staff Insp. Brian Raybould told reporters Monday that the shooting of Jordan Manners was 'absolutely not' gang-related. (CBC) Jordan Manners was killed on May 23 by a single shot to the chest at his high school, C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, near the Jane-Finch area of Toronto, reputed to have a high crime rate. The two 17-year-old boys who were charged in the slaying knew Manners and "probably were friends" with him, Staff Insp. Brian Raybould said at a news conference Monday morning. Raybould said that a motive has not yet been established, but the shooting was "absolutely not" gang-related. Both teens have been charged with first-degree murder, though Raybould acknowledged that there was only one shooter. At their brief appearance in a Finch Avenue West courtroom Monday morning, one teen swayed nervously during proceedings, while the other hung his head. Crown prosecutors have indicated they will seek adult-length sentences for the two if they are found guilty. The teens were remanded in custody and are scheduled to make another court appearance on June 4 via video link to avoid the media. Family of accused shocked by arrest Alana Barnes and Laurie Galway, the lawyers representing the two, said they still have not been told what roles their clients allegedly played in the killing. "The family of my client is very upset and shocked by his arrest," said Barnes, who was with one of the teens when he turned himself in to police Sunday. "Wouldn't you be in shock if your child was arrested?" Barnes said the boy's family is praying for him and has sent condolences to the Manners family. Police said that since they began investigating the shooting, they have recovered a number of weapons, although they wouldn't specify where or how many. Raybould said the break in the case came from people in the school community. He urged more witnesses to come forward to help strengthen what police say is a complex case. "We always need more assistance," Raybould said. Weekend raids One of the accused was arrested at the home of a friend during a series of police raids early Sunday morning. Jordan Manners, who died on May 23 of a gunshot wound to the chest, was shot in the hallway of his high school. (CBC) Those in the house were still sleeping when police entered. "We just jumped off the bed. … Everybody was real frightened," the friend's mother told CBC News. The other 17-year-old turned himself in to police later in the day at 31 Division after his name and photograph were made public for several hours after police obtained judicial authorization. The two accused cannot be identified because of provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Police arrested three others during the raids but later released them. Students resume classes Early Monday morning, custodial staff changed the letters on the outdoor sign to read "Welcome back to school" — a reminder that the day marked the first time the school's 850 students had returned for classes since last Wednesday's shooting. But not all students wanted to return. One girl said she dreaded going to her locker on the second floor — close to where Manners was found bleeding. "It's scary, I guess, because kids are killing other kids nowadays," said another student, Kesavan Nadarasan, 14, who had known Manners since kindergarten. Grief counsellors continued to be on hand and two special assemblies were scheduled for Monday to talk with students about the shooting, and about safety measures. "C.W. Jefferys has always been a very safe, warm and caring school …. We're going to reiterate that fact to the students," said the area's school board trustee, Stephnie Payne. With files from the Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with first-degree murder in last week's school shooting death of a Toronto teenager, police said Sunday. Police said they made an arrest early Sunday when they raided the home of a friend of one of the suspects while everyone there was still sleeping, CBC News reported. "They came in," the friend's mother said. "We just jumped off the bed.… Everybody was real frightened." The teenager, whose name cannot be disclosed under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is scheduled to appear Monday in a Toronto court. Later Sunday, police said another 17-year-old surrendered. Earlier in the day, the teen's name and photograph were made public for several hours after police were granted judicial authorization. The victim, Jordan Manners, 15, was shot in the chest and killed Wednesday at his high school, C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, near the Jane-Finch corridor, an area of Toronto with a high crime rate. Several hours after the first police raid, police arrested four other people, three men and a woman, CBC News reported. Three of the four were later released, but a man remains in custody. Police declined to say whether his arrest was connected with Manners's murder. More details will be made public at a news conference on Monday, police said. A day after the school shooting, Ontario politicians urged the federal government to get tough on handguns. Politicians urge greater gun control "We have seen too many shootings result in too many funerals for our young people," Premier Dalton McGuinty wrote in an open letter to federal party leaders, urging them to push through proposed criminal justice legislation and implement a "real ban" on handguns. The value of allowing handgun collections should be reconsidered, said Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant. Toronto Mayor David Miller called for an outright ban and recommended that handgun regulation should become an international issue. "We know that there [are] two sources of guns used in Toronto: One is guns that are stolen from collectors, and the other is guns that come from the U.S.," Miller said. "The U.S. has to take some real steps, otherwise we're going to keep seeing tragedies." Handguns are already severely restricted in Canada, and a handgun registry has been in force for more than 60 years. Schools don't want metal detectors The shooting also saw the finger of blame pointed at lax school security. The Toronto District School Board doesn't plan to install metal detectors, board assistant superintendent Donna Quan said Thursday. Metal detectors aren't foolproof, and students can bypass them by taking different doors, she said. C.W. Jefferys is already on a list of Toronto schools scheduled to have security cameras installed. Of the 109 high schools in the Toronto District School Board, 65 have security cameras. Manners' friends and family gathered at a park near his home on Saturday to pay tribute to the gifted arts student. In addition to the music and food, there was also a small donation box to raise funds for the boy's funeral. A service is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Christian Centre Church in Toronto. With files from the Canadian Press	Two 17-year-old men have been arrested and charged with first degree murder over the shooting last week of Jordan Manners, a 15-year-old student at the C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute. He was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest. They cannot be named due to limitations in the Youth Criminal Justice Act. One was arrested in a raid early on Sunday morning, the other handed himself in later the same day. Three others, two men and a woman, were also arrested in raids but released without charge. Toronto police Staff Insp. Brian Raybould stated at a press conference Monday that the two accused knew Manners and "probably were friends" with him. He also stated that a motive is yet to be established, but the attack was not gang-related. He also said that although there had clearly been only one shooter, both men had been charged with first degree murder. Crown prosecutors announced that they will seek full length sentences for the two, as opposed to restricted sentences reserved for minors. Lawyers for the two accused have said that they have not been told exactly what the allegations against their clients are beyond the simple fact that they were involved in the shooting. The lawyers also said that the families were "shocked and upset" by the arrests. Police have said that the two arrests came as a result of people within the school community coming forward with information regarding the shootings. They also urged more people to come forward to help clarify what they described as a "complex" case.
Definition: fullness of braveryComme le disent les Chinois, un Chinois qui ne vient pas sur la Grande muraille n'est pas un brave et un Chinois qui vient sur la Grande muraille conquiert la bravitudewas invented by French Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal , setting off something of a firestorm in the French news Her campaign co-director Jean-Louis Bianco said: Je pense que ce qu'elle a voulu exprimer c'est la plénitude de la bravoure c'est-à-dire quelque chose de plus que la simple bravoureHer advisor Jack Lang said: J'aurais aimé inventer ce beau mot. Il exprime la plénitude d'un sentiment de bravoure. L'inventivité sémantique fait partie de la capacité d'un candidat à parler une autre langue que la langue de bois(Source: NouvelObs So it's a blend ofandand means "fullness/completeness of bravery." I wouldn't recommend using it; we'll just have to wait and see if and when it gets added to the French dictionary ;-)(click the little red + white graphic below to hear thepronounced) \|\|\|\|\| From Wikinfo La bravitude est un fr:barbarisme prononcé par Ségolène Royal, candidate socialiste à l'élection présidentielle française de 2007, lors d’une visite sur la muraille de Chine. Il s’agirait en fait d'un synonyme de bravoure. Elle déclare : « Comme le disent les Chinois, un Chinois qui ne vient pas sur la Grande muraille n’est pas un brave et un Chinois qui vient sur la Grande muraille conquiert la bravitude ». BRAVITUDE : barbarisme prononcé par Ségolène Royal, candidate socialiste à l'élection présidentielle française de 2007, lors d’une visite sur la muraille de Chine. Il s’agirait en fait d'un synonyme de bravoure. Elle déclare : « Comme le disent les Chinois, un Chinois qui ne vient pas sur la Grande muraille n’est pas un brave et un Chinois qui vient sur la Grande muraille conquiert la bravitude ». Ce néologisme suscite rapidement un début de controverse médiatique et politique et notamment des réactions ironiques dans le camp adverse, celui de l’UMP et de son candidat Nicolas Sarkozy. Ce néologisme est cependant défendu par des proches de Ségolène Royal : Jack Lang déclare « J’aurais aimé inventer ce beau mot (…). Il exprime la plénitude d’un sentiment de bravoure. » et il ajoute : « L’inventivité sémantique fait partie de la capacité d'un candidat à parler une autre langue que la langue de bois ». Jean-Louis Bianco déclare quant à lui : « Je pense que ce qu’elle a voulu exprimer c’est la plénitude de la bravoure (…) c’est-à-dire quelque chose de plus que la simple bravoure ». Ces deux déclarations similaires laissent imaginer une coordination dans la réponse. edit] External link word already in use as far as 2005 Voir la liste des articles pour les juniors	Ségolène Royal on a meeting in Nantes in November 2006. You won't find the word "Bravitude" in any French dictionary yet. Bravitude is a neologism used by Ségolène Royal, the French socialist presidential candidate. She said it during a visit to the Great Wall of China, and the term caused a media buzz in France. It also provoked ironic reactions from Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been nominated Sunday by President Chirac's party UMP as their candidate for the presidency. According to Royal's entourage, it was meant to express something more than just simple bravery (in French: ''bravoure''), a kind of ''fullness of bravery''. Some neologisms need months, often years, to reach an acceptable level of recognition to get included in a conventional dictionary. This is often based on the usage in newspapers ''etc''. Bravitude on Google had only, the day before its first occurrence on French TV, a mere 110 hits. Bravitude was already used since 2005 on some blogs and by fans of a relatively unknown role-playing game. On Tuesday last week, "bravitude" could be found in 200,000 different pages and in less than one week, had reached the one million mark. This neologism is this Tuesday in a slow decline, around 900,000 hits on Google, probably due to those web sites who hide their oldest pages when Google robots scan them.
At least 45 people have been killed and 300 injured in a series of attacks near the government and diplomatic "Green Zone" in the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the police said. Witnesses said that the first suspected bomb blast on Wednesday went off near the foreign ministry and minutes later the second took place near the finance ministry. Police sources told Al Jazeera that the blasts were caused by lorries loaded with explosives which had been parked close to the buildings. Television footage showed that the force of the explosions had blown out some of the windows of Iraq's parliamentary building. Two mortars also landed inside the heavily-protected area, while a third landed outside. Security questioned The area, the site of government ministries and foreign embassies, has frequently been targeted with rocket and mortar fire. "These areas are supposed very secure ... it is not only checkpoints, you are always placing intelligence around this area to make it more secure," Ahmed Rushdi, a journalist in Baghdad, told Al Jazeera. "How are you going to say to people that Baghdad is now secure if you have so many explosions in this area, that is supposed to be the most secure."Mortars also reportedly landed in the Salhiya district of central Baghdad, home to army bases and the offices of a national television station.Sa'ad Muttalibi, an advisor to the ministry of national dialogue and reconciliation, said: "This is the continutation of the evil plans of people who cannot see a stable, free Iraq and people with the intention of keeping American forces in Iraq after the agreement that was signed for the Americans to leave Iraq. "I think that this escalation of violence in Iraq is totally unacceptable as it is effecting the ordinary citizens," he told Al Jazeera. Despite a reduction in violence in recent months, attacks on security forces and civilians remain common in Baghdad and the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. The number of violent deaths fell by a third last month to 275 from 437 in June, following the pullout of US combat forces from urban areas at the end of the month. \|\|\|\|\| Wednesday's attacks killed 95 and injured more than 500 Iraq's prime minister has ordered a security review after the deadliest series of attacks in the country this year left 95 people dead in Baghdad. Nouri Maliki called Wednesday's bombings "a desperate attempt to derail the political process" in Iraq. They included two truck bombings close to government ministries located in a part of the capital which has generally not been targeted in recent months. Iraqi forces took control of security in Baghdad from US troops in late June. Though violence in the country has fallen since the peaks of 2006 and 2007, it continues to be the target of frequent bomb attacks. Mr Maliki blamed the latest strikes on al-Qaida in Iraq and loyalists of the late president, Saddam Hussein, who was toppled after US-led forces invaded in 2003. We must admit our mistakes, just as we celebrate our victories Maj Gen Qassim al-Moussawi Baghdad security spokesman In pictures: Baghdad attacks He said Iraqi security forces were "very capable of confronting terrorists", but acknowledged that a security review was necessary. "The criminal operations that happened today no doubt call for a re-evaluation of our plans and our security methods to face the terrorist challenges," he said in a statement. The prime minister also said insurgents had taken advantage of government efforts to restore normalcy by removing concrete blast walls from main roads in Baghdad. "These attacks represent a reaction to the opening of streets and bridges and the lifting of barriers inside the residential areas," he said. An Iraqi army spokesman said two al-Qaeda members had been arrested in Baghdad in connection with the attacks. There have so far been no claims of responsibility for the bombings. Crater The biggest explosion on Wednesday happened close to the foreign ministry, just outside the high-security Green Zone. It was powerful enough to break windows at the parliament building inside the zone, which houses government and diplomatic buildings. It also left a crater 3m (10ft) deep and 10m (33ft) in diameter, with the smouldering wreckage of cars scattered around the site of the explosion. Minutes earlier, there had been another blast close to the finance ministry in another hitherto relatively safe area of the city. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement At least four other explosions went off in other parts of Baghdad, including the southern district of Bayaa. Several mortars also fell inside the Green Zone itself. An interior ministry official said more than 560 people had been injured in the attacks, which appeared to have been co-ordinated. UN attack anniversary While Baghdad is often hit by bombings, it is unusual for them to penetrate such well-fortified areas of the city. Since Iraqi forces took over responsibility for security in the city in late June, most attacks have targeted poor Shia neighbourhoods, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Baghdad. KEY ATTACKS SINCE US PULLBACK 19 August: At least 95 killed in wave of attacks in central Baghdad 31 July: At least 27 dead in bombings outside five Baghdad mosques 9 July: 50 killed in bomb attacks at Talafar (near Mosul), Baghdad, and elsewhere 30 June: US troops withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities. Car bomb in Kirkuk kills at least 27 people Attacks threaten stability claims Wednesday's bombings confirmed some people's worst fears over the withdrawal of US troops from cities across Iraq, our correspondent says. Baghdad security spokesman Maj Gen Qassim al-Moussawi said the attacks represented a security breach for which Iraqi forces had to take most of the blame. "We must face the facts. We must admit our mistakes, just as we celebrate our victories," he was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. The US government condemned the bombings, but a spokesman said the overall number of attacks in Iraq was "at or near an all-time low". The violence came exactly six years after one of the first major attacks in Iraq after the toppling of Saddam Hussein. On 19 August 2003, the UN headquarters in Baghdad was hit by a suicide truck bomb, killing 22 people in what was the most deadly attack up until that point since the US-led invasion earlier that year. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in the violence that followed. The anniversary was chosen for the UN's inaugural World Humanitarian Day, in an effort to increase support for aid workers. Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	According to Iraqi police, at least 95 people have been killed and half a thousand wounded after six explosions in Iraq's capital of Baghdad on Wednesday. Eyewitness reports say that two main attacks targeted the finance and foreign ministries. Police sources say that the blasts, which were caused by vehicles filled with explosives, all took place within several minutes. Major General Qassim Atta, spokesman for the national armed forces' operation in the capital, said that "a truck bomb went off near the Salhiyeh intersection and it caused casualties and a number of civilian cars were destroyed. We accuse the Baathist alliance of executing these terrorist operations." As a result of the attacks, Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki called for a security review. "The criminal operations that happened today no doubt call for a re-evaluation of our plans and our security methods to face the terrorist challenges," he said. The attacks are the deadliest in Baghdad since June 24, when 62 people died after a bomb on a motorcycle detonated.
Making tracks a train crosses the Tuotuo River on the new Qinghai-Tibet railway. Chinese officials say the line, to be opened today, is the world's highest rail system. Photo: Reuters Mary-Anne Toy Herald correspondent in Shenzhen July 1, 2006 CHINA unveils its latest dazzling engineering feat today, the $5 billion Qinghai-Tibet railway. It is the world's highest railway and finally links Beijing to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in a travelling time of just under 48 hours. For more than 50 years the railway line from Beijing ended at Golmud, an ancient camel caravan stop in central Qinghai province. But China's leaders have long dreamt of building a railway across the roof of the world. Rail and engineering experts from the rest of world doubted it was feasible. The challenge of building at lung-defying altitudes of up to 5000 metres above sea level, and across hundreds of kilometres of permanently frozen earth in some of the most isolated and rugged terrain, was said to be too hard. Defying the doubters, the new track runs 1140 kilometres from Golmud, through seemingly endless swathes of grasslands on Qinghai's high plateau, via dazzling azure lakes and through the fabled Kunlun Mountains down to Lhasa. It links Tibet to China's extensive rail network. Most of the new line is above 4000 metres. The highest point is 5072 metres, and officials say this means the Qinghai-Tibet railway takes the honour of the world's highest railway from a Peruvian railway through the Andes, which is 200 metres lower. Critics of the project fear the railway will end Tibet's economic and cultural isolation, which has kept most of the autonomous region in poverty but has also helped mitigate the assimilation of Tibet into the Han majority culture that dominates China. Tibetan independence and environmental groups also fear the impact on the fragile ground cover of one of the world's few pristine environments, home to endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope. The link will undoubtedly accelerate the migration of Han Chinese from the overpopulated central regions, fuelling concerns that Tibetans will soon become a minority in their own capital. The line has important military benefits, allowing Beijing to more swiftly and efficiently move troops and supplies into Tibet and along China's border with India. The Chinese Government, which has pledged to reduce the growing inequality between central and western China and the prosperous eastern and coastal provinces, says the rail link will provide a cleaner, safer and quicker alternative to the existing, often perilous, Golmud-Lhasa Highway. Beijing says it will enable Tibet to participate in China's economic growth. The new rail link is projected to generate more than 4 billion yuan ($686 million), and bring 900,000 tourists to Tibet annually. To counter environmental concerns, more than $130 million has been spent on building tunnels for migrating wild animals, restoration after construction and other measures. A special garbage-collecting train will run once a week to pick up refuse from rubbish storage centres and sewage processing stations along the route. A basic ticket will cost 389 yuan from Beijing to Lhasa. \|\|\|\|\| The railway snakes for 1,000km across 'the roof of the world' See the railway The Qinghai-Tibet line boasts high-tech engineering to stabilise tracks over permafrost and sealed cabins to protect passengers from the high altitude. China says the 1,140km (710-mile) line will bring major opportunities to a poor region. But critics fear it will be used by China to assert its control over a contested border region. They also say the railway line threatens not only the delicate Himalayan environment, but also the ancient Tibetan culture. Red ribbon Mr Hu cut a red ribbon before the first train left Golmud in China's Qinghai province, carrying 900 passengers to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. "This is a magnificent feat by the Chinese people, and also a miracle in world railway history," Mr Hu said. He said it showed China's people were "ambitious, self-confident and capable of standing among the world's advanced nations". There have been protests against the railway, such as this in India Musicians in traditional Tibetan and Chinese dress banged drums and cymbals as thousands of workers who helped to build the line looked on. Minutes later, state TV showed another train departing Lhasa for Golmud. On Friday, three foreign activists were briefly detained at Beijing's central railway station on Friday after unfurling a banner that read: "China's Tibet Railway: Designed to Destroy." At its highest point, the railway will reach 5,072m (16,640ft) - beating by 225m a route through the Peruvian Andes that was previously the world's highest railway, the China Daily newspaper reports. In parts, the train line has been built on bridges elevated above the most unstable permafrost. Elsewhere, cooling pipes have been sunk into the ground to ensure it remains frozen to stabilise the tracks. QINGHAI-TIBET RAILWAY Connects Lhasa to existing China rail network New 1,140km stretch cost $4.2bn World's highest railway, reaching 5,072m Oxygen to be pumped into each carriage Restaurant car's rice cooked in pressure cookers, to mitigate effects of high altitude Beijing to Lhasa to take 48 hours, cost $50-$160 one way In pictures: New railway Railway raises fears Send us your comments The train carriages have windows with ultra-violet filters to keep out the sun's glare, as well as carefully regulated oxygen levels with spare supplies to combat the thin air. Zhu Zhensheng of the Chinese railway ministry called the new line a "major achievement" that will "hugely boost local development and benefit the local people". But exiled Tibetan Lhadon Tethong said the railway was "engineered to destroy the very fabric of Tibetan identity". "China plans to use the railway to transport Chinese migrants directly into the heart of Tibet in order to overwhelm the Tibetan population and tighten its stranglehold over our people," he said on a Free Tibet Campaign statement. The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader in exile since 1959, was more circumspect. "The railway line itself is not a cause of concern for the Tibetan people," his spokesman, Thupten Samphel, said. "How it will be used is the main concern."	The railway goes from Golmud to Lhasa The first trains were flagged onto the Qinghai-Tibet Railway line, the world's highest railway line connecting the Tibetan capital Lhasa with Golmud in Qinghai, China. At its highest point in the Tanggula Pass, the railway line reaches an altitude of 5072 metres. The line is designed for travel at speeds of 100 km/h on frozen ground to 120 km/h on non-frozen ground. The cabins are supplied with oxygen because of the thin air at the high altitudes. The windows have ultra-violet filters to keep out the sun's glare. Cooling pipes have been used to ensure the ground remains frozen. Air trips to Tibet are expensive and road trips slow and dangerous. Three trains, each carrying 900 passengers are scheduled to run daily along the line. The basic tickets cost 389 yuan to go from Beijing to Lhasa. The trip should take just under 48 hours. According to state television the tickets for the inaugural trip sold out within 10 minutes. Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony in front of the Golmud railway station, the Chinese President Hu Jintao said, "The project is not only a magnificent feat in China's history of railway construction, but is also a great miracle of the world's railroad history," The Chinese government states that it spent more than US$95 million reducing the environmental damage of this railway. Passengers will not be able to open the windows of the train to litter. There will be a rubbish train to pick up refuse from various sites along the line. Critics claim that the railway will be used to assert control over Tibet as the line can quickly transport Chinese troops to Tibet during unrest. They also claim that the railway will damage both the environment and the culture of Tibet. Tibet is home to many endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope. On Friday, 3 women from the United States, Canada, and Britain were detained for displaying a banner saying "China's Tibet Railway, Designed to Destroy" at Beijing's main station. "It's the first direct, low-cost, quick, and easy way for migrants to arrive in central Tibet. This will lead to the overwhelming of Tibetans and competition for scarce jobs. The eventual idea is the dilution of Tibetan language, culture and identity," said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of the New York-based Students for a Free Tibet. "The railway line itself is not a cause of concern for the Tibetan people," said Thupten Samphel, spokesman for the Dalai Lama's government in exile. "How it will be used is the main concern." "Despite the rosy economic forecasts and dire predictions of Chinese control, the train is unlikely to touch off social disaster or commercial windfall," said Andrew Fischer, an economics researcher at the London School of Economics. "When the railroad opens the commercial service and more people move in and out of the region, I think it will be good for the outside world to know more about Tibetan culture," Zhu, the railway official, said. "No culture can develop and thrive in a closed environment."
Weekend walkout over, Toronto transit returns to normal The strike that shut down most public transit in Canada's biggest city for just over 36 hours has been brought to an end by the Ontario legislature. A Spadina streetcar moves through Chinatown shortly after the strike ended late Sunday afternoon. (Carolyn Ryan/CBC News) An emergency session of the legislature Sunday afternoon resulted in quick passing of back-to-work legislation, ending the strike that made getting around Toronto a headache for most of the weekend. Nearly 9,000 bus, subway and streetcar drivers, maintenance workers and other staff are expected back on the job by Sunday evening. "It goes without saying that Toronto, our capital city, plays an important role for all Ontarians," said Premier Dalton McGuinty in the legislature. "By acting on behalf of Toronto workers, and families and businesses, we are acting in the best interests of all Ontarians." On Sunday morning, buses, streetcars and subways were already being readied to return to the roads and the rails in anticipation of the legislation. Gary Webster, general manager of the Toronto Transit Commission, told CBC News, "We're very hopeful two or three hours after the legislation is passed that we'll have some service out on the street. It will not be as much service as we would normally operate on a Sunday ... I think it's important that we send the message to the public, very clearly, that we're anxious to get back to work." Resumption of subway service will be gradual, but it is expected to be back to normal in time for Monday morning's rush hour. On a typical weekday, about 1.5 million riders use the TTC, making it the biggest public transportation system in the country. GM expects no problems Webster said he doesn't think there will be any difficulties and that the workers will be back at their jobs without any problem. "I don't believe that's the union's intention ... I think the union will honour what happens this afternoon and they'll probably get some information out to their members to make sure their members are aware of their responsibility to return to work." Police officers gather outside St. George Station at around 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, after the station reopened to TTC users. (Carolyn Ryan/CBC News) McGuinty called the rare Sunday session after Toronto Mayor David Miller requested back-to-work legislation to end the walkout. The bill imposes mediation and then arbitration on any issues that are still outstanding between the TTC and its union — and if the two sides cannot agree on a mediator-abitrator within five days, the government will appoint one. The legislation says the mediator-arbitrator has to take into account some factors external to the bargaining table, such as the city's and the province's ability to pay. The bill was given royal assent by Lt.-Gov. David Onley. If the union, or any of its members, defy the legislation, they could face fines of $25,000 per day for the union and $2,000 per day for individuals. \|\|\|\|\| Apology sought from Toronto transit union James Cowan , Canwest News Service Published: Sunday, April 27, 2008 TORONTO - The union representing 9,000 Toronto transit workers faced demands for an apology and criticism from all sides after the Ontario legislature held a rare Sunday session to force an end to the dispute and ensure full transit service is restored in time for Monday morning's rush hour. Buses, street cars and subway trains began to resume service after the dinner hour Sunday night. Provincial politicians took about 30 minutes to approve legislation aimed at ending the surprise strike. Workers represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 walked out on Friday night after rejecting a tentative contract proposal endorsed by union officials. Union officials were silent Sunday as they faced a hail of criticism for calling the strike on less than two hours notice. "The average operator and driver would not have found it reasonable to have started this strike the way it was started without consideration to the safety of the traveling public," Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said. "I think it might be up to them to take some of their leadership out in the back and give them a horsewhipping because it brought disfavour on the average member of the union." Average transit riders were equally critical of the executive. "I'm in a union myself so normally I'm sympathetic to union movements," George Shepherd, who posted an notice online looking to share the cost of a car rental with other commuters. "But I don't like the whole way this thing was pushed on the people. The other thing that really irritates me is that this really hurts new people in Canada, blue collar workers, the ones that are working two and three jobs just to keep their heads above water in this city. To knock them out for a weekend is disastrous." There were also repeat calls Sunday for an apology from the union, claiming it had put vulnerable residents at risk by not honouring a prior commitment to give 48 hours warning about an job action. "The leadership of the union failed to meet a commitment with respect to notice," said Bob Runciman, the Conservative house leader. "By doing so, they put many people in dangerous situations. We've heard concerns about young women being stranded, about the elderly stranded . . . this was irresponsible, in the view of many, outrageous and selfish." But Premier Dalton McGuinty appealed to transit riders to not vent their frustrations at average transit workers. "It seems to me that going forward that courtesy - courtesy and goodwill - is the foundation that we would like to build upon," McGuinty said. It remains unclear what prompted 65 per cent of union members to vote against the proposed settlement reached with the TTC a week ago. Rumours suggested some maintenance employees feared the TTC would contract out their work to outside companies. There were also suggestions that the strike was caused by concerns about worker safety or part of an effort to embarrass and oust Bob Kinnear, the union's president. TTC officials and union representatives did meet briefly on Saturday. At the time, the union presented a new list of demands during the meeting that would have meant "enormous" new costs for the TTC, according to Mayor David Miller. "It was a complete non-starter," he said Sunday Asked if he knew what issues had prompted the strike, the mayor replied "(The union) has told me the same things they have told you . . . nothing." For his part, Kinnear refused to speak with reporters all weekend. A statement issued by the union Sunday afternoon said it would not make a public statement because it was "working to ensure an orderly return of full service in time for the Monday morning rush hour." In a recorded message posted on the union's web site, Kinnear thanked transit workers for their "complete solidarity" during the strike. "We knew we would be severely criticized for striking with no warning, but our first duty as a union is to protect the safety of our members," Kinnear said. "If only one member had been assaulted by a passenger angered by the impending strike, that would have been one too many." The union boss urged workers to return to work for their scheduled shifts on Sunday night - if they felt well-rested. "If you have not had the proper rest and do not feel you can not properly your duties, you are not obligated to report for work," Kinnear said in the message. The surprise strike has renewed calls for the provincial government to take away transit workers' right to strike by declaring the TTC an essential service. However, NDP Leader Hampton argued that discussion had increased tensions between the union and the TTC. "I think that when essential service legislation was mentioned in the past five or six days in the context of this dispute, it added a whole new level of complexity . . . I think it's the wrong time to have this debate when we are trying to solve some specific issues," Hampton said. Under the back-to-work law, employees who fail to report to work face fines of $2,000 per day while the union could be charged $25,000. All outstanding issues will be referred to a mediator. Both the union and TTC have reportedly approved Kevin Burkett, who has handled high-profile cases involving Air Canada and the Toronto District School Board, as a mediator for their dispute. The deal voted down by union members included a three per cent raise each year until 2010, long-term disability benefits of up to $2,550 a month and a 100 per cent of take-home pay top-up to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits, u from the current rate of 93 per cent. National Post - with files from Mary Vallis and Kenny Yum jcowan@nationalpost.com © National Post 2008 \|\|\|\|\| Ontario acts to keep Toronto moving Legislation requires the TTC to go back to work TORONTO, April 27 /CNW/ - NEWS The Ontario legislature has passed legislation that requires Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) workers to return to work. The legislation governs labour disputes between the TTC and three unions, Local 113 Amalgamated Transit Union, Lodge 235 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2. The legislation requires any strike or lock-out at the TTC to be terminated on Royal Assent. The TTC is also required to resume its normal operations. All outstanding issues are referred to binding mediation-arbitration. The TTC and each of its three unions have five days to agree on a mediator-arbitrator, or one will be appointed by the Minister of Labour. QUOTES "Our government respects and believes in the collective bargaining process. We encourage the TTC and its unions to continue bargaining and to reach mutually acceptable agreements. At the same time, we cannot stand by while the dispute shuts down the vital transportation system in Toronto, affecting millions of people and businesses." Labour Minister Brad Duguid. << ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ontario.ca/labour-news Disponible en français BACKGROUNDER ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act, 2008 >> The Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act, 2008 ends labour disputes involving the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Lodge 235 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2. Termination of strikes and lock-outs The Act requires the TTC to terminate any ongoing lock-out and the TTC unions are required to terminate any ongoing strike. The TTC is also required to resume or continue its normal operations. There is also a prohibition on any further strike or lock-out with respect to this round of collective bargaining. Any action to call, authorize, threaten, counsel, procure, support or encourage a strike or lock-out is also prohibited. Appointment of Mediator-Arbitrator All outstanding issues in dispute between the TTC and its unions are immediately referred to binding mediation-arbitration. The TTC and each of its unions have five days to agree on the appointment of a mediator-arbitrator and to notify the Minister of Labour. If they are unable to agree, the Minister would appoint a mediator-arbitrator who is, in the Minister's opinion, qualified to act. The Minister would also appoint a new mediator-arbitrator if a replacement were to be required. Mediation-Arbitration The mediator-arbitrator has the exclusive power to determine all matters necessary to conclude a new collective agreement, and also has the ability to assist the parties in settling any related matter. Nothing in the Act prohibits the parties from continuing to negotiate, and they are encouraged to do so. If the parties execute a new collective agreement, they are required to inform the mediator-arbitrator, and the mediation-arbitration process would terminate. The mediator-arbitrator is required to begin the proceedings within 30 days of being appointed. The Act also requires the mediator-arbitrator to make an award within 90 days of his or her appointment. The parties and the mediator-arbitrator have the power to extend these time limits, on agreement, before or after they expire. In making the award, the mediator-arbitrator will be required to take into consideration a number of criteria, including the employer's ability to pay and the economic situation in Ontario and the City of Toronto. The award will be required to specify a term of operation for the collective agreement, which must be at least three years. The award will be final and binding on the TTC, the respective TTC union, and all employees who are members of that TTC union. Until a new collective agreement is in place, the terms and conditions of employment that applied the day before a strike became lawful will continue to apply with respect to the employees represented by TTC unions, unless the TTC and the TTC union agree otherwise. Enforcement A failure to comply with the provisions of the proposed act that require the termination of lock-outs and strikes and prohibit them from occurring would constitute an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine of up to $2,000 for an individual and up to $25,000 in any other case. Each day of non-compliance would constitute a separate offence. A strike or lock-out in contravention of the act would also be deemed an unlawful strike for the purposes of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, and the aggrieved party could apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Board for a remedy such as monetary damages. << ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ontario.ca/labour-news Disponible en français >> -30- For further information: Susan McConnell, Minister's Office, (416) 326-7710; Tom Zach, Ministry of Labour, (416) 326-7404 Other news releases disseminated by this ministry	Toronto subway train at St Andrew station Canada's largest public transit system is expected to resume service Sunday evening after the Ontario provincial government ordered striking Toronto transit workers back to work today. Service was shut down when transit workers suddenly walked off the job on Friday, having just voted to reject a labour contract deal made the previous weekend. The provincial legislature met in an extraordinary Sunday afternoon session to pass Bill 66, the ''Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act, 2008'' which not only orders the transit work to resume, but includes follow-up arbitration to resolve outstanding disagreements between transit management and its unions. The largest union affected is Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, but the legislation also affects workers unionised under International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 235, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2. Union members who defy this law could be fined C$2000 per day, while the union itself would risk a daily fine of C$25,000. However, ATU Local 113 president Bob Kinnear indicated that his union would respect the law and return to work while supporting the choice of Kevin Burkett as arbitrator. Wages were not an issue for union members, who voted against the earlier draft contract out of fears regarding compensation for on-the-job injuries, and for maintenance workers' job security. Toronto's subways, streetcars and buses will operate on a limited service for Sunday evening, with full service expected as the work week begins Monday morning.
Missiles from a suspected US drone (unmanned plane) have killed up to 20 people in a militant camp near Pakistan's Afghan border, security officials say. "Two missiles were fired, they hit two houses in Shakai and up to 20 militants were killed," a Pakistani intelligence agency official told the Reuters news agency on Sunday. Share Facebook Twitter Google Email Go To Officials say the compound is located in South Waziristan - a stronghold of Pakistan's top Taliban commander, Baitullah Mehsud. There was no immediate confirmation of the strike from the United States. \|\|\|\|\| A missile attack carried out by a suspected U.S. drone in the tribal regions of north-west Pakistan has killed 20 persons, reports quoting officials and witnesses said. The dead includes Mohammad Omar, a top Taliban commander, and eight al-Qaeda militants, reports said. The raid, conducted Sunday night, targeted a compound owned by Omar in Mandatta village in the troubled region of South Waziristan. Omar's mentor Nek Mohammed also met with the same fate four years ago. The area where the strike took place is a stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud, the head of Taliban's Pakistani wing. Seven students of a religious school were killed in a missile attack in North Waziristan Thursday. Aerial strikes by U.S. forces against suspected militant targets in the Afghan border region have become frequent recently. This often led to civilian casualties, evoking protests from Pakistanis. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com \|\|\|\|\| In its eagerness to reverse the mounting insurgency in Afghanistan, the United States has embarked on a policy course that could shatter our vital strategic partnership with Pakistan. By allowing American combat forces to freely conduct raids into Pakistani territory, a move that President Bush authorized in July, the United States intends to pressure Pakistani leaders to step up the fight against militants ensconced in the borderlands. But this policy threatens cooperation between the two countries, possibly to the breaking point. Pakistani insurgents, initially staggered by the U.S. reaction to the Sept. 11 attacks, have rebuilt their organizations in the border regions; from those havens, they launch attacks against U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan. The 80,000 to 120,000 Pakistani troops that have engaged the insurgents since 2003 have been funded by the United States at a cost of $1 billion a year. Yet whether it is because troops are ill-equipped, poorly trained or unmotivated, operations have been inconsistent and incomplete. As the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda have regrouped, Washington has come to question the sincerity of Pakistan's effort. U.S. officials, concerned that elements in Pakistan's security forces are sympathetic to the insurgents and more interested in protecting than pursuing them, understandably want to deal with the threat if Pakistan will not or cannot. But there is too much at stake for the United States to risk dangerous, misguided policies. Neither intrusions by U.S. Special Forces nor missile attacks by drones will, by themselves, take out the thousands of insurgents and their allies along the frontier. They also cannot seriously disrupt the global terrorist network. No one proposes deploying the tens of thousands of U.S. troops that it would take to saturate the tribal region and sustain any successes. And fighting a united tribal nation on its turf would cause massive civilian casualties. Even a more covert U.S. approach, designed to play radicalized tribal groups against one another, would likely reveal that their hatred for America exceeds any historic or personal animosities. So what is left? There simply are no quick fixes. The cooperation of the Pakistani military and its intelligence services, working with a civilian government, remains indispensable. At the moment, however, the Pakistani people offer no support; polls reveal that fewer than 20 percent of Pakistanis view the United States favorably. The U.S. invasion of Iraq galvanized their belief that, as in Afghanistan, the war was essentially about defeating Muslims. The United States alienated even our Pakistani friends by pursuing policies that came to be perceived as trying to salvage the presidency of Pervez Musharraf and thwart democratic processes. While there is some comfort to be found in President Asif Ali Zardari's views on combating terrorism, having Zadari as Musharraf's replacement in the role of U.S. point man will not help to build build a popular consensus against extremism. Just last week the Parliament voted unanimously to condemn the latest U.S. missile attack on Pakistani territory. If Zardari tries to blunt criticism of the United States, his governing coalition could be threatened. And the likely victor as prime minister in a new election, Nawaz Sharif, has a strongly jaundiced view of U.S. involvement in the frontier and Afghanistan. Proposals geared toward helping the United States regain the trust of Pakistanis are under consideration. Most, like the Biden-Lugar bill, recognize the importance of nonmilitary assistance that addresses Pakistan's endemic social problems and infrastructure deficits. Measures that help Pakistan weather its economic crisis will have an effect, as will a more favorable trade policy, especially on textiles. The United States can also be more convincing in its commitment to civilian rule and democracy. By contrast, openly violating Pakistan's territory will make matters worse. And Pakistan can easily retaliate. Most supplies for U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan are delivered to the port of Karachi and then shipped by road to Afghanistan. Early last month, trucks seeking to cross the border were stopped, a warning of what might happen if U.S. raids continue. Pakistan's most senior military officer, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, has said the army will defend Pakistani sovereignty at all costs. Cross-border raids risk provoking direct confrontation between U.S. and Pakistani forces and could accelerate the growing dissension in military ranks over continued Pakistani alignment with the United States. Terrorist sanctuaries are unacceptable. But eliminating them requires Pakistan's cooperation. The bombing of the Marriott in Islamabad last month was a reminder that we are fighting different faces of the same war. Continuing to carry out uninvited, inconclusive U.S. cross-border attacks will make finding cooperation with Pakistan more elusive. The writer is a scholar in residence at the Middle East Institute and a former State Department intelligence and research analyst on Pakistan and Afghanistan.	On Sunday, two attacks carried out by suspected missiles from unmanned US aircraft killed 20 militants near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in a militant camp, as reported by security officials. Pakistan Afghan Border. The death toll rose from seven to 20 as reported by military officials. Two missiles were dropped on the compound in the village of Badar. Military officials claim that South Wazirestan is the stronghold of Pakistan Taliban leader . A senior Taliban commander, Haji Omar, was among those killed in missile strike. Three other Taliban commanders were injured. Pakistani insurgents, initially staggered by the U.S. reaction to the September 11 attacks, have rebuilt their organizations in the border regions; from those havens, they launch attacks against U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan. The 80,000 to 120,000 Pakistani troops that have engaged the insurgents since 2003 have been funded by the United States at a cost of $1 billion a year. Despite the high cost, operations have been inconsistent and incomplete. "Cross-border raids risk provoking direct confrontation between U.S. and Pakistani forces and could accelerate the growing dissension in military ranks over continued Pakistani alignment with the United States," said Marvin G. Weinbaum, a former State Department intelligence and research analyst on Pakistan and Afghanistan, in an editorial published in Monday's edition of ''The Washington Post.''
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a class-action lawsuit against AT&T; on Tuesday, accusing the telecom company of violating federal laws by collaborating with the government's secret, warrantless wiretapping of American citizens' phone and internet usage. The suit (.pdf), filed by the civil liberties group in federal court in San Francisco, alleges AT&T; secretly gave the National Security Agency access to two massive databases that included both the contents of its subscribers' communications and detailed transaction records, such as numbers dialed and internet addresses visited. "Our goal is to go after the people who are making the government's illegal surveillance possible," says EFF attorney Kevin Bankston. "They could not do what they are doing without the help of companies like AT&T.; We want to make it clear to AT&T; that it is not in their legal or economic interests to violate the law whenever the president asks them to." One of AT&T;'s databases, known as "Hawkeye," contains 312 terabytes of data detailing nearly every telephone communication on AT&T;'s domestic network since 2001, according to the complaint. The suit also alleges that AT&T; allowed the NSA to use the company's powerful Daytona database-management software to quickly search this and other communication databases. That action violates the First and Fourth amendments to the Constitution, federal wiretapping statutes, telecommunications laws and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, according to the complaint. The suit, which relies on reporting from the Los Angeles Times , seeks up to $22,000 in damages for each AT&T; customer, plus punitive fines. AT&T; did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit comes a little more than a month after The New York Times reported that in 2001, President Bush ordered the NSA to begin warrantless monitoring of Americans' overseas phone calls and internet usage. The administration defends the eavesdropping program, saying it is only targeting communications to and from suspected terrorists, that government lawyers review the program every 45 days and that Congress authorized the president to track down 9/11 co-conspirators, thereby giving the president the ability to bypass wiretapping laws. Some Senate Democrats and Republicans, along with civil libertarians and former government officials, counter that the wiretaps are simply illegal and that wiretapping warrants can be acquired easily if the government has probable cause to believe an American is affiliated with terrorists. The government is not named in the lawsuit, though it is already being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union over the surveillance program. Bankston estimates that millions of people nationwide would be eligible to join the class action, pushing the possible total fines into the billions. However, he expects the administration will try to kill the lawsuit by invoking the rarely used state secrets privilege. "If state secrecy can prevent us from preserving the rights of millions upon millions of people, then there is a profound problem with the law," says Bankston. \|\|\|\|\| By Martin H. Bosworth ConsumerAffairs.Com February 1, 2006 The company is facing a lawsuit for its part in allowing the National Security Agency (NSA) to conduct surveillance on its customers, via granting the NSA access to their vast databases of customer records and information. AT&T is also potentially facing fines from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for failing to properly certify that its customers' records were safeguarded. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a class-action suit against AT&T in San Francisco yesterday (Jan. 31). According to the filing, AT&T provided the NSA "with direct access to all or a substantial number of the communications transmitted through its key domestic telecommunications facilities, including direct access to streams of domestic, international and foreign telephone and Internet communications." AT&T's cooperation enabled the NSA to "data-mine" the phone and Internet records for "suspicious" information, and to track communications that might lead to potential terrorist activity. The NSA's surveillance program has been criticized for violating Americans' Fourth Amendment rights to defend against unwarranted searches and seizures. The EFF lawsuit also considers AT&T's actions a violation of the First Amendment right of freedom of speech, as well as numerous laws governing telecommunications privacy and wiretapping. "Our goal is to go after the people who are making the government's illegal surveillance possible," Kevin Bankston, EFF staff attorney, told Wired magazine. Failing Certification Meanwhile, the FCC proposed fining AT&T $100,000 for failing to provide data certifying that it had complied with federal safeguards to protect customer privacy. In the FCC's "Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture," issued Jan. 30th, the agency stated that all major telecommunications companies had to verify their protection of their customers' proprietary network information ("CPNI"), or calling records. AT&T had provided information on its customer safeguards in its prior incarnation as SBC, but not as the old AT&T corporation. The report concluded that "AT&T has apparently failed to comply with the requirement that it have an officer certify on an annual basis…that AT&T has established operating procedures adequate to ensure compliance with the Commission's CPNI rules. For this apparent violation, we propose a forfeiture." The $100,000 fine was also levied against telecom carrier Alltel for failing to fulfill the certification. Both companies can avoid the fine if they provide more information on their security procedures. SBC posted earnings of $1.6 billion for the 4th quarter of 2005, after its acquisition of AT&T. The sale of calling records to third-party companies has provoked investigations from numerous national newspapers, and calls to Congress for stronger legislation governing the protection of customers' information. Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and the states of Illinois and Missouri have all filed lawsuits against All Star Investigations, the company behind Web sites such as Locatecell.com, implicated for selling cellphone and land line records to third parties.	A class action suit has been filed on Tuesday by the (EFF) against the telecom giant . The suit, filed in San Francisco, alleges that AT&T violated federal laws by collaborating with government to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens. The Bush Administration and NSA have come under fire over the issue. They defend the program by saying they are only listening in on suspected terrorists. The EFF claims that AT&T turned over 2 databases consisting of their subscribers' communication and internet usage records. Attorney Kevin Bankston representing the EFF said the government could not conduct their surveillance without the help of companies like AT&T. He also said their goal is to tell AT&T that it is not in their fiscal best interests, along with not being legal, to cooperate with the President's wiretap program. According to the class action suit, AT&T granted "access to all or a substantial number of the communications transmitted through its key domestic telecommunications facilities, including direct access to streams of domestic, international and foreign telephone and Internet communications." The lawsuit is seeking damages of $22,000 for each AT&T customer in addition to punitive fines. AT&T is also facing scrutiny from the and possibly fines for failing to properly certify that customer records were safeguarded.
Panjagutta Flyover under construction collapses At least 15 people dead, 20 injured; Rescue operations begins Hyderabad, September 9, 2007 A flyover under construction at Panjagutta has collapsed leaving 15 people dead and many injured. The collapse happened near Himalaya Book shop at the ever busy Nagarjuna Circle. The number of casulaties is believed to be huge. The injured are rushed to various hospitals. Many cars and auto rickshaws passing under the flyover are damaged severely. Many of the commuters moving below the flyover are believed to be dead when two huge concrete blocks fell all of a sudden. Hyderabad District Collector Chandravadan rushed to the spot and asked the district administration to take rescue steps. Staff from the Municipal Corporation have rushed to the spot. Police are asking people including the media to stay away from the spot. It is still uncertain if the incident happened because of lack of quality in the recently undertaken works, or lack of safety measures during undertaking construction activity or due to rains. Hyderabad experienced rain showers only few hours ago. The flyover constructions works are given to a leading constructing firm Gammon India Limited. The foundation stone for the construction of the bridge was done in September 2005. The flyover works were delayed and the administration extended the deadline asked the company to complete the works by November 2007. The 2 kilometer long flyover is set for construction at a cost of Rs. 33 Crores. Ambulances of the 108 Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) Service and Appollo Hospitals have rushed many injured. Doctors, Nurses, paramedic staff and other medical staff are alerted at all major hospitals in the region, particularly at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), a hospital that is very near to the accident spot are alerted. Medical staff had serious problems rushing to the spot because of traffic congestions. Taxi Driver Srinivas (38) has come to NIMS Hospital on an auto-rickshaw on his own and was treated by the medical staff who are alerted of the incident. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Senior Congress Leader and MLA from Khairathabad P Janardhan Reddy (PJR) and several Ministers have rushed to the spot and checked the situation. They left the spot after an initial inspection of the situation inorder to give way for relief workers. The Chief Minister ordered the authorities to report back to him about the flyover collapse in one hours time. Former Chief Minister and President of the Telugu Desam Party N Chandrababu Naidu visited the spot. Speaking with the press, Chandrababu Naidu said that corrupt practices have lead to poor quality in the flyover construction works. Mr. Naidu later visited Appollo Hospitals and checked up with the injured. Update at 11:50 PM IST: CISF Jawans and relief team from the Railways have arrived at the spot. District Collector R.V. Chandravadan when asked about the primary reason for the collapse said that technical experts have to go through the details to arrive at any conclusions and that they are currently concentrating on relief operations. Sources say that the traffic at the Panjagutta - Nagarjuna Circle will be sealed temporarily and city commuters are requested to take alternative routes. Join Discussions on AndhraNews.com \|\|\|\|\| Published on Sun, Sep 09, 2007 at 21:19 , Updated at Mon, Sep 10, 2007 in Nation section Hyderabad: Around 30 people were feared dead and another 20 injured after an under-construction flyover collapsed in Hyderabad's busy Panajagutta area late Sunday evening. The flyover had been under-construction for the past one year, and was to be inaugurated this December. Sources told CNN-IBN that the number of dead could be 30 at the city’s NIMS Hospital and Apollo Hospital, by late Sunday night. Four injured were taken to the city's Apollo Hospital. After hours of cutting through the concrete slabs, only two bodies had been recovered from the debris by 23:00 hours IST. A total of nine vehicles were still trapped out of which, 3 were autorickshaws and 9 cars. DCP West Zone Madhusudhan Reddy, who was at the spot when the flyover gave way said, the death toll could rise because a number of rescued people could not be taken to the hospital immediately due to the massive traffic jam that followed. “I was in the vicinity when the flyover collapsed. I was baffled to see the huge concrete beam falling down on a car. The death toll may rise because we can see a number of vehicles trapped under the debris,” said DCP West Zone Madhusudhan Reddy. Police had to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. “Ambulances have been called. The death count may rise because there are a number of vehicles trapped under the debris. Gas cutting machines have been called to clear the chunks of concrete,” said Police Commissioner of Hyderabad, Balwinder Singh. The flyover, according to sources, collapsed because its construction was not of good quality, which could not stand the rains. Also a major concern for the authorities was the damaged part of the flyover, which is still barely standing and may fall down anytime soon unless it is demolished properly using cranes and bulldozers. Though Chief Minister Y S Rajashekar Reddy rushed to the spot, excessive crowding forced him to return. The police had to divert the traffic from the busy commercial area. Punjagutta is an important commercial & residential area in Hyderabad, India. The shopping mall, Hyderabad Central is located here. It is also a major transit point for traffic going towards Ameerpet (a commercial hub) and S R Nagar (residential area).	At least 20 people have died and 20 more are injured after a partially constructed flyover (overpass) in Hyderabad, India collapsed onto traffic. The disaster occurred at the Panjagutta junction, near Nagarjuna Circle. Two large concrete sections dropped onto oncoming cars and motorised rickshaws, damaging several severely. A large emergency effort was immediately activated, but experienced severe difficulties in reaching the site due to congested traffic resulting from the collapse. Ambulances from the 108 EMRI Service and Appollo Hospitals attended the scene, and rushed the injured to a variety of nearby hospitals. All the region's major hospitals, particularly the nearby Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, have placed their medical staff on emergency alert. Rescuers are now using cranes and cutting equipment in an effort to reach anyone who may still be trapped. It is expected that the death toll could rise further as many vehicles remain trapped under tons of debris. Various politicians also attended the scene, including the local district collector, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Senior Congress Leader and MLA from Khairathabad P Janardhan Reddy and several other ministers. Police have asked both the public and the press to keep away from the area, in order to prevent further collapse of the unstable structure. Preliminary investigations suggest the flyover had been been poorly constructed. The construction project had been carried out by leading contractor Gammon India Limited. It had been delayed, the original foundations having been built in 2005. After a successful request by the company to have the deadline for the project extended, work was slated to cease in November of this year, with the flyover entering operation by December. It is believed heavy rains in the area a few hours prior to the collapse may have contributed to the disaster.

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