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Template:H:h A diff is the difference between two versions of a page. It can be viewed from the page history: for every version there are potentially two radio buttons: the left column is for selecting the older version, the right column for selecting the newer one. Clicking "Compare selected versions" gives the difference between the two versions. For special cases (the diff for a single edit or between an old and the current version) other possibilities are clicking cur or last in the page history or on the Recent Changes page. The diff is also shown during an edit conflict so you can see exactly what you need to reintegrate. From MediaWiki 1.5 diff works also in preview, showing the difference between the currently stored version and the current version in the edit box How it looks This example shows the top of the diff page (some of the links are dummies). The two versions are shown side-by-side. In left-to-right languages, the old version is on the left. This is reversed in right-to-left scripts. The links "Revision as of date" link to each version (from MediaWiki 1.4). If the newer version is the latest one, the link will be to the usual page and the wording will be "Current revision (date)" instead. The (edit) link will take you to the page for editing that version. You may be warned that you are editing an out-of-date revision, and if you ignore it and continue, you will revert all the edits done after that revision. The (undo) link on the newer revision's side will revert that specific edit. When you click the link you can check the diff page of the edit you are going to make, and the edit summary will be automatically filled in with the phrase of MediaWiki:undo-summary (Undid revision $1 by $2 (talk)). This summary can be edited before you submit your edit. When you are undoing several edits at once, the auto-summary may not work. Though the link exists on all diff pages, it does not function when the revisions conflict. Often versions older than the current one can not be undone in this way. If it does not work, you will be told that the edit could not be undone and end up in the regular editing page of the current version. Below that are links to the user page and talk page of the each user who edited the older or the newer versions. Links to the users' contribution lists are also shown. For sysops, a rollback button is also shown, allowing them to revert all of the edits done by that user. Note however that this is even shown when viewing the diff related to a version older than the latest, and when there is a newer edit done by another user, the rollback would not undo the change that is displayed. Then the edit summaries are shown in a parenthesis. If the user has used links in their edit summary, these act as links on the diff page as well. If the editor marked the edit as an minor edit, m appears before the summary. Previous diff and Next diff links make it possible to check earlier or later versions. When you are checking the differences between two versions in apart, you will be told that "(x intermediate revisions not shown.)". On the old version side, paragraphs which differ from the new version are highlighted with yellow, and on the new version with green. Text removed within a paragraph is shown in red on the old version. New text within a paragraph is shown in red on the new version. If a whole paragraph was removed or added, the text is not red but just black, while the other side is blank (white). Unchanged text is black on grey, only parts before and after changed text is shown. After the table of differences, the latest of the two compared versions is shown fully, unless one specifies in the preferences that this is not done. Simple way to make a diff link Find the page which contains the edit you want to refer to. Click on its history tab. Find the edit in the history list. (If that's a problem, clicking on the word "last" in the list will let you read the edit.) Right-click on its "last" button and select "Copy link location" (or however your browser expresses it). The diff you want is now in your clipboard. (Or, click on "last" and you are viewing the diff. Copy the url of the page you are then viewing.) Paste it into your text where you want it to appear. Include the whole of it, http:// and all. Put single square brackets "[]" around it. URL Any two versions, even of two different pages, can be compared using URLs. Open the revision of one page that you wish to compare to another, for example http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Help:Diff&oldid=78722 , and the revision of the other page that you wish to compare, for example http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=98420 . Copy the oldid number of one page ( &oldid=78722 in the first example) and replace the text oldid with diff : &diff=78722 . Paste this string into the URL of the other page between that page's title and its oldid ( &oldid=98420 in the second example), so you have something like this: http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=78722&oldid=98420 You may remove the page title ( title=Main_Page in the example above) from the URL if you wish, but this is not necessary. The resulting diff will compare the given versions of the two pages [1]. To compare the current version of the page and a given oldid, you can put "current" after "diff=" instead of an oldid. For example, http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Help:Diff&diff=current&oldid=124558 would compare the current version of this page with the version that has oldid 124558. Deleted revisions A sysop can see deleted revisions, but not directly apply a diff. For this purpose the page has to be (temporarily) restored (at least the two revisions between which the diff is desired). Redirect A diff is also used to render a redirect page as an ordinary page, showing also content after the redirect itself. The alternative is using preview. Miscellaneous When moving or copying a piece of text within a page or from another page, and also making other edits, it is useful to separate these edits. This way the diff function can be usefully applied for checking these other edits. The diff shows differences per line. Some editors find that adding manual line breaks improves the diff function. If searching the edit summaries does not help, to search for the edit between two revisions in which a particular change from some text A to text B was made (to find the user, the edit summary, and the context is which the change was made), take the diff between 1/3 and 2/3 of the "search space". From the diff and/or the "2/3" version one can conclude in which of the three parts the change was made (if there is A at 2/3, the change was made later; if there is B at 1/3 the change was made before; if the diff shows the change it was made between 1/3 and 2/3). This process can be repeated, every time reducing the search space by a factor 3. For changes in the wikitext which do not affect the rendered page, such as substitution of a template or editing HTML comments, take the diff between 1/2 and the end of the "search space" (if the diff shows the change it was made between 1/2 and the end, otherwise between the start and 1/2). If the change from A to B was made in steps (one finds a time interval where part of the change was made) one can continue the search for that part or the other part, or do the rest of the search for each of the two parts of the change. One can either search for a deleted phrase or for an added phrase. It is easiest to use a search phrase that applies both for wikitext and for rendered text. For example, to search for the addition of the piped link [[p\|q]], search for q. Copying the search phrase to your clipboard is on most browsers accomplished by highlighting the text and choosing "copy" from edit menu options, or clicking control+c. Searching is done by opening your browser's find option ("find" or control+f), pasting the text saved to your clipboard ("paste" or control+v), and searching for it. In the case of the Classic skin with quickbar, the diff page does not have the quickbar, to provide more space. Therefore the diff page is also useful for viewing the page on full screen width, without changing the preferences. With the Monobook skin the panels on the left are also on the diff page. On a diff page sometimes the display may be wider than the screen, because there are two columns, but also because URLs (especially long ones) are not hidden. In such cases, you must then use the horizontal scrollbar of the browser to see all the display. Template:H:fok \|\|\|\|\| Cary Bass, is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Wikimedia Foundation, joining in April 2007 . Cary Bass 2007 . He can be reached as Bastique on Commons or Bastique on Meta. \|\|\|\|\| Within Wikipedia, OTRS refers to the people and software that organize, handle, and respond to e-mails sent to the Wikimedia Foundation. The WMF utilises Open-source Ticket Request System software to process the e-mail that it receives. This provides an organized way for multiple people to categorize and respond to email. Quick facts about OTRS About half of all requests that OTRS members handle are written in the English language. The contents of e-mails handled by OTRS members are confidential. OTRS is a cross-wiki project For more information about OTRS, please see our page on Meta, and for more information about how OTRS handles e-mail relating to the English Wikipedia, please see info-en mission. Dispute resolution If you disagree with a change made to an article where an OTRS ticket number is used as the only reason, please e-mail the OTRS volunteer that made the change. Please do not undo the change until discussion has concluded. The OTRS volunteer is likely in possession of confidential information that should not be published on a public site. OTRS volunteers may edit articles in the course of replying to emails. Such edits usually involve the removal of vandalism or unsourced derogatory assertions. Less frequently, OTRS volunteers handle copyright infringement complaints using one of the standard processes, or delete personal information from article histories. The confidential nature of such emails makes normal wiki-based dispute resolution processes difficult, and often impracticable in many cases. This doesn't mean that OTRS volunteers can take arbitrary actions. The cautionary note at the top of this section ensures that disputed OTRS edits are subject to review. OTRS volunteers are ultimately subject to the communications committee and, as Wikipedia editors, to the Arbitration Committee through the normal processes of dispute resolution. OTRS access is "not a badge". To facilitate peer review, OTRS volunteers should reference the ticket number and this policy when citing OTRS as a reason for an action. If you would like to contact our OTRS members, please see list of OTRS volunteers.[1] If you would like to volunteer for OTRS, please see the volunteering page on meta. Note that volunteers must be willing to identify themselves to the Wikimedia Foundation; see the Foundation's Access to nonpublic data policy. Notes \|\|\|\|\| Hearing in threat case continues POMONA - A Hacienda Heights teenager remains in custody after a court arraignment on felony charges of making criminal threats was continued until Thursday at the Pomona Juvenile Court. The 15-year-old boy, who is not being named because of his age, is being charged with seven felony counts of making criminal threats against several students at Glen A. Wilson High School, according to the District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege that on April 16 the boy posted two messages on a Web site threatening to shoot six designated people and members of a school sports team. The threats prompted officials to search all students before school Thursday and cancel all after-school activities. The school was closed on Friday and resumed regular schedule Monday. Police seeking ID of body found in brush AZUSA - Police are trying to identify the body of a man that was found Monday in brush about 40 yards from San Gabriel Canyon Road in an unincorporated county area between Azusa and Glendora. Police believe the body has been in the brush since Friday but are unsure of how it got there. "It is a mystery as to why he was there and how he got there," said Detective Frank Salerno, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The detective said the man does not appear to be homeless, there is no obvious trauma to his body and he did not appear Advertisement to be a hiker. He had no identification on him. The male appears to be Latino and between the ages of 18 and 50, according to Salerno. His face had begun to decompose, making it difficult to estimate how old the man is, Salerno added. Officials hope to have the results of an autopsy by today. Victorian Fair planned in Industry INDUSTRY - The Homestead Museum will hold its Victorian Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. May 4. Visitors will be treated to music, living history performances, crafts, games and historic house tours. Victorian costumes are encouraged. Admission is free. For more information, call (626) 968-8492 or visit homesteadmuseum.org. Reading group to host benefit Monrovia Reads invites the public to a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta fundraiser for literacy programs in Monrovia from 5 to 7 p.m. May 5 at the Krikorian Theater, 410 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. The fundraiser includes a Mexican appetizer buffet and no-host Margaritas/beer for $25 per person. The event also will include an opportunity drawing for prizes, including a four-course wine pairing dinner for eight at the Doubletree Hotel valued at $1,500. Tickets for the drawing are $10 each. For more information, call Diane Delmatoff at (626) 303-6600 or ddelmatoff@ci.monrovia.ca.us. Spring tea set May 10 on museum grounds ROSEMEAD - The Dinsmoor Heritage Cultural Museum at 9632 E. Steele St. in Rosemead will have its annual Spring Tea Under the Oaks on May 10. Tickets are on sale at the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, 3953 Muscatel Ave. For more information, call (626) 288-0811. To submit briefs, e-mail news.tribune@sgvn.com \|\|\|\|\| POMONA - A Hacienda Heights teenager remains in custody after a court arraignment on felony charges of making criminal threats was continued until Thursday, April 24 at the Pomona Juvenile Court. The 15-year-old teen who is not being named due to his age is being charged with seven felony counts of making criminal threats against several students at Glen A. Wilson High School, according to the District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege that on April 16 the boy posted two messages a on a Web site threatening to shoot six designated people and members of a school sports team. The threats prompted officials to search all students prior to school Thursday and cancel all after-school activities. School was closed on Friday and resumed regular schedule Monday. \|\|\|\|\| POMONA, Calif. - Prosecutors have charged a Hacienda Heights teenager with seven felony counts of making criminal threats against students at Glen A. Wilson High School. In charges filed Monday, prosecutors say the boy posted two messages on a Web site and threatened six people by name plus the school's badminton team. Prosecutors will not reveal the identity of the 15-year-old, who was arrested Friday, because he is a minor. He will be arraigned Tuesday in Pomona Juvenile Court.	Incorporated areas in Los Angeles County, California. City of Pomona highlighted in red. A 15-year-old boy, arrested last Friday in conjunction with criminal threats made on Wikipedia, was charged Thursday with seven felonies in Pomona Juvenile Court in Pomona, California. Prosecutors stated that the teen posted two threats on Wikipedia, saying that six named students as well as members of his school's badminton team would be shot. The court arraignment had initially been set for Tuesday, but was continued until Thursday. ''Wikinews'' interviewed the Wikipedia administrator who contacted police after the threats had been made on the site. Though officials had said the boy made a full confession that he had made threats to other students via the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, he denied the charges at the Thursday court petition. The court ordered that he remain detained pending a May 9 scheduled appearance before Pomona Juvenile Court. He has remained in custody since his arrest. The threats were made via two separate edits to the Wikipedia article about Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, California on April 16. Wikipedia administrators were made aware of the threats in a post to the "Administrators' noticeboard" on April 16 by Wikipedia admin Dreadstar. Another Wikipedia administrator, John Reaves, contacted the police in Los Angeles, California, and helped them work with the Internet service provider to find more information on the IP address that made the threat. A third Wikipedia administrator, Persian Poet Gal, removed the threats from the edit history of the article after finding out that the student had been arrested. Students' backpacks were searched prior to entering Glen A. Wilson High School on April 17 and all after-school activities were canceled that day. All classes were canceled April 18, and classes resumed on Monday.
The Egyptian government says the court trying Nour is neutral Nour, who came second in a presidential poll in September, was first held in January this year accused of falsifying signatures to register his party, Ghad. Egypt denies Nour's claim that the charges are politically motivated. And the US has voiced concern at the trial. Hundreds of Nour's supporters at the court shouted slogans against President Hosni Mubarak as the verdict was given. "Hosni Mubarak's rule is illegal! The trial is illegal!" they chanted. According to the BBC's Bethany Bell in Cairo, the streets near the court were full of riot police and Ghad party supporters. Nour has been in hospital after starting a hunger strike earlier this month in protest at his detention. US concern His lawyer, Amir Salim, is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying the decision against him will "go into the dustbin of history". "This is a political verdict that will be annulled by the appeal court," he said. A co-defendant in the trial, Ayman Ismail, had admitted forging documents for Nour - but later withdrew his testimony, saying the confession was forced out of him with threats against his family. Despite the charges against him, Nour was allowed to compete in presidential polls, where his party finished second to Mr Mubarak's. He lost his assembly seat to a candidate from the ruling party in November. The has US earlier said it was watching Nour's trial, which it regards as a test of Cairo's tolerance of dissent. State department spokesman Adam Ereli said this month that the US was calling on Egypt "to make every effort to ensure that this trial conforms to international standards". \|\|\|\|\| The suspect in the fatal shooting of eight people at day spas in and around Atlanta indicated he had issues with sexual addiction and the shootings may have not been motivated by racial hatred, law enforcement officials said.	Egyptian opposition leader and former candidate in presidential election Ayman Nour has been sentenced today for 5 years imprisonment, as it was reported by both officials and Nour's lawyer. According to the court, he and his liberal democratic party, Ghad, falsified signatures required to register a political party in January 2005. Both Nour's punishment and his imprisonment have been condemned by the international community. Nour, who stood as a candidate in the recent presidential election, held on September 7 2005, claims that there was political pressure on the judgement and he'll take it to the court of cassation. The leader's lawyer, Amir Salim, said that the verdict would be annulled by the appeal court, as Associated Press reports. Groups of Nour's supporters, organized mainly by his wife Gameela Ismail, protested against the decision and the style of government of current president Hosni Mubarak, shouting "Down with Mubarak, Down with the regime." Ayman Nour was arrested in January, 2005 and then imprisoned. He was released when the presidential campaign started.
Oct 19, 2006 9:43 pm US/Pacific (CBS 5) SACRAMENTO It was a simple meal -- a beef and bean burrito. But the deep fried dish is giving one Sacramento woman deep thoughts after she claimed to see an image of Jesus' face burned onto its tortilla wrapping. Valencia Phillips said she's not crazy, not so religious either. But even though Phillips was quite hungry one evening, she didn't dare bite into what she calls the "holy burrito." "Right here, I see an emblazoned image of Jesus Christ on a burrito," Phillips said, pointing to the blackened image near the top right corner of the burrito she cooked for dinner. "It was amazing." Phillips was so excited after seeing the image that she ran to tell her neighbor about it and then told her kids. She prompty stored the burrito inside a plastic food container, resting on a bed of cotton balls. \|\|\|\|\| Oct 20, 2006 9:52 am US/Eastern (CBS) SACRAMENTO, CA It was a simple meal -- a beef and bean burrito. But the deep fried dish gave one Sacramento woman deep thoughts after she claimed to see an image of Jesus' face burned onto its tortilla wrapping. Valencia Phillips said she's not crazy, not so religious either. But even though Phillips was quite hungry one evening, she didn't dare bite into what she calls the "holy burrito." "Right here, I see an emblazoned image of Jesus Christ on a burrito," Phillips said, pointing to the blackened image near the top right corner of the burrito she cooked for dinner. "It was amazing." Phillips was so excited after seeing the image that she ran to tell her neighbor about it and then told her kids. She prompty stored the burrito inside a plastic food container, resting on a bed of cotton balls.	A woman in Sacramento, California claims to have spotted the holy figure of Jesus Christ in her burrito. Valencia Phillips said that, while she was very hungry and actually not very religious, she didn't dare bite into the chimichanga bearing the holy mark. "I've had an amazing, amazing experience. It's been something else," Phillips said. It is not currently known what will become of the burrito.
CONVICTED terrorism supporter David Hicks walked free from Yatala Prison yesterday, a man plagued by fears his life is in peril. Plump and sporting shoulder-length hair, he emerged at 8.20am (Adelaide time) and walked into the loving embrace of his father, Terry, who has waged an unrelenting battle to bring him home since his arrest in Afghanistan in 2001. An anticipated apology from the 32-year-old failed to eventuate. He was spirited away in a car under police escort - passing international and national media and 30 supporters waving placards - leaving his lawyer, David McLeod, to read a statement he penned in jail. The former al-Qaeda volunteer visited a police station to be fingerprinted and spent last night in an Adelaide safe house, having asked to be left alone after 5½ years of incarceration in Guantanamo Bay. He was expected to be reunited with his children - Bonnie, 14, and Terry jnr, 12 - and former partner Jodie Sparrow, who visited him several times in jail. Mr Hicks's family said that, despite his relief, he was crippled by fears that he would be a target for Muslim or far-right extremists, or inadvertently breach his plea bargain agreement and be sent back to Guantanamo Bay or be punished by the Australian or South Australian governments if he spoke out or be hounded by the media, exposing him to all these risks. Mr McLeod said his client had concerns for himself and his family because extremist groups believed that, by renouncing his Islamic faith in 2002, he had dropped his allegiance to Osama bin Laden. His al-Qaeda training and capture among Taliban forces in Afghanistan could also anger nationalist groups, he said. Mr McLeod declined to detail the nature of any threats that had been made and whether intelligence from police or the Federal Government had prompted these concerns. "David is concerned about the safety of his family from people who hold views he was purported to share," he said. "There are also a number of far-right nationalist groups in Australia who have spoken out about David." Mr McLeod read a statement written by Mr Hicks. "As part of my conditions of release from Guantanamo Bay, I agreed not to speak to the media on a range of issues before March 30, 2008," it read. "It is my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that may result in my return there. So, for now, I will limit what I have to say. I will say more at a later time." \|\|\|\|\| FORMER Taliban fighter and confessed terrorism supporter David Hicks walked free from jail yesterday six years after his capture in Afghanistan and seven months after he was brought home from Cuba's notorious Guantanamo Bay prison to serve out his sentence. His incarceration, which made headlines around the world, came to an end at 8.17am when he walked from Adelaide's Yatala Labour Prison to a waiting car. Hicks' release at the end of the nine-month prison term imposed on him in March by the US military commissions closed a chapter in the life of the military adventurer and one-time Muslim convert who was arrested trying to flee Afghanistan two months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Now 32 and no longer a Muslim, Hicks yesterday promised not to let down the Australian community he credited with helping to bring him home. "I will not forget, or let you down," Hicks said in a statement read by his lawyer, David McLeod. Mr McLeod, who began representing Hicks in 2005 and visited him at Guantanamo Bay prison at least six times, said Hicks had tearfully embraced his father, Terry, after pre-release papers were signed. "He was relieved, elated, (felt) great to be a free man for the first time in six years," Mr McLeod told reporters. As Hicks left the gatehouse, he looked in amazement at the group of up to 70 media people behind a police barrier, observing and photographing his every move with long-range lenses. Helicopters buzzed overhead as camera crews and photographers vied for the best view. Before his statement was read, Hicks was driven slowly through the prison gates in the back of a blue sedan with a member of his extended family, Terry Hicks' first wife and Fair Go For David support group organiser Bronwyn Mewett. Police escorted his car and prevented the media from trailing him. Hicks' location is being kept secret, at his request, so he can resume as normal a life as possible while dealing with the psychological fallout from prolonged detention, much of it spent in solitary confinement under a US military regime of deliberate psychological stress and deprivation. In his statement, which he was too unsettled to read, Hicks asked for space. "I ask that you respect my privacy as I will need time to readjust to society and to obtain medical care for the consequences of 5½ years at Guantanamo Bay," he said. "I have been told that my readjustment will be a slow process." \|\|\|\|\| David Hicks has been released from prison. Wearing jeans and a green polo shirt, the 32-year-old walked from Adelaide's Yatala Prison at 8.17am (CDT) and was escorted to a waiting car, bypassing the waiting media pack that had been keeping a round-the-clock vigil. A small crowd of mostly elderly supporters were outside the prison as Hicks left, many holding banners reading 'This could have been your son' and 'David Hicks is no threat'. The supporters surrounded the car in which Terry Hicks and lawyer David McLeod left the prison, cheering as the car left the prison grounds. Hicks glanced at waiting media as he was driven from the jail in a blue sedan, escorted by police. His lawyer, David McLeod, later read a statement of Hicks's behalf. In the statement read to the media by his lawyer, Hicks said he didn't want to risk breaking the gag order placed on him as he didn't want to risk going back to Guantanamo. He also said he didn't feel that he could face the media at this point. He thanked his lawyers, various politicians and organisations that had lobbied for his fair treatment. In the statement, Hicks, captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan in December 2001, did not apologise for his terrorist-related conduct. "I had hoped to be able to speak to the media but I am just not strong enough at the moment, it's as simple as that,'' Hicks said through his lawyer. "I am sorry for that. "As part of my conditions of release from Guantanamo Bay, I agreed not to speak to the media on a range of issues before March 30, 2008. "It's my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that might result in my return there. "So for now, I will limit what I have to say - I will say more at a later time.'' Hicks said he recognised "the huge debt of gratitude that I owe the Australian public for getting me home''. "I will not forget or let you down,'' he said. He also thanked his lawyers, various politicians and organisations that had lobbied for his fair treatment. "Right now I am looking forward to some quiet time with my wonderful Dad, my family and friends,'' Hicks said. "I ask that you will respect my privacy as I will need time to readjust to society and obtain medical care for the consequences of five and a half years at Guantanamo Bay. "I have been told that my readjustment will be a slow process and should involve a gentle transition away from the media spotlight.'' Hicks, a father of two, was driven from jail to a secret location in Adelaide. His father, Terry Hicks, said his son was "on a high''. "It's now up to him,'' Mr Hicks told reporters. "He now has got to get on with his life. "He's on a high, he seems alright but I suppose in the quiet times everything will come back.'' Hicks has been in custody since being captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan, in December 2001. The father of two has completed a jail sentence, after pleading guilty before a US military commission in March this year to a charge of providing material support for terrorism. Hicks will have to report to police within 24 hours. - with AAP	Back of Yatala Labour Prison, Northfield, South Australia. Australian David Hicks was released Saturday from Yatala Labour Prison in Adelaide, South Australia. Hicks, who until May 2007 had been held for five years at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, was serving out his remaining sentence in an Australian jail. At a U.S. war crimes tribunal, Hicks pleaded guilty to providing material support to a listed terrorist organisation and was sentenced to seven years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, all but nine months of the sentence was suspended and in May of 2007, Hicks was transferred to Yatala. A contentious part of his sentence was a ban placed on Hicks to prevent him from speaking with the media for a period of one year from the time he pleaded guilty, which was in March, 2007. On his release Saturday, Hicks indicated that he intended to comply with the suppression order. "It's my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that might result in my return there," said Hicks in a written statement read by his lawyer, David McLeod. "So for now, I will limit what I have to say - I will say more at a later time." A small group of supporters waited outside of Yatala and cheered as his car drove away. In his statement, Hicks had thanked his supporters for "the huge debt of gratitude that I owe the Australian public for getting me home." He added, "I will not forget or let you down." At his trial, Hicks admitted he attended training camps in Afghanistan, conducted surveillance of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and revealed that he had met Osama bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda. He had participated in fighting against the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan in late 2001, and was caught while trying to flee the area. David Hicks leaving Yatala Labour Prison. On his release from prison Saturday, Hicks was driven to an undisclosed location in Adelaide. His lawyer said that Hicks fears for the safety of himself and his family. "David is concerned about the safety of his family from people who hold views he was purported to share," said David McLeod. "There are also a number of far-right nationalist groups in Australia who have spoken out about David." Terry Hicks, David's father, said his son was pleased to be free. "He's on a high, he seems alright but I suppose in the quiet times everything will come back." "It's now up to him," said Terry Hicks. "He now has got to get on with his life."
BARI (Italy), March 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to southern Italy and interstate consultations produced a joint communique, and a series of bilateral agreements in energy, transportation and banking. In their joint communique, Putin and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said they were satisfied with bilateral relations in all areas, including trade, energy and high technologies, and expressed a commitment to giving further impulse to interaction. "The president and the chairman of the Council of Ministers stressed the importance in the results of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the past year," said the document, which crowned Putin's two-day trip to the European Union nation. The joint communique also enumerated crucial economic agreements signed during the visit. Energy One of the crucial energy deals was a memorandum of intentions between Italy's ENEL power supplier and Russia's Federal Agency for Nuclear Power to develop the energy sector and generate nuclear power, and also an agreement on alternative energy generation. ENEL and Russian utility company ESN already manage Russia's North-West thermal power plant. ENEL has also said it wanted to be involved in the privatization of Russia's electric power sector. Energy cooperation between Russia and Italy saw a serious breakthrough last November when Russian energy giant, Gazprom [RTS: GAZP], and Italy's ENI, Europe's fourth largest oil company, signed a strategic partnership agreement. The deal granted the Russian company access to Italy's oil and gas market and allowed ENI to join the development of Russian mineral deposits. ENI is also a member of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which includes such Russian, Kazakh and global companies as Chevron, LUKoil, ExxonMobil, BP, Rosneft, Shell, BG and Gazmunaigaz. The pipeline pumps oil from western Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. Transportation The Russian Railways monopoly and Italy's electronics-making company Finmeccanica signed a cooperation deal to use satellite technologies on railway transport, manage security in trains, and build a high-speed electric train for the Russian giant. "It is important that the agreement with Finmeccanica is very specific and will make it possible to put into service the most advanced systems and technologies for railway transport in Russia," the Russian Railways president, Vladimir Yakunin, said. Finmeccanica will be involved in another transportation project in Russia. Its subsidiary, Alenia Aeronautica, signed a cooperation protocol with Russia's Sukhoi fighter jet maker on the production of Superjet-100. The new aircraft is designed to replace Russia's ageing Tu-154 and Tu-134 models, and will enter service after 2012. Banking Banking is another promising area of economic cooperation between Russia and Italy. Putin's visit yielded a 122-million-euro credit agreement between Russia's Vnesheconombank (VEB) and Italy's leading investment bank Mediobank to finance a logistics terminal project, Ramenskoye, near Moscow. The terminal is expected to become a hub for industrial cargo transportation in European Russia, the Urals, Siberia, and the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. Ramenskoye will also have Russia's first flower exchange similar to the flower auction in the Netherlands. Another state-run Russian bank, the Vneshtorgbank [RTS: VTBR] foreign trade bank, signed a 200-million-euro credit agreement with Mediobank for five years. It also secured a 100-million-euro credit deal with Italy's second leading bank Intesa Sanpaolo SpA for 11 years to finance Italian imports of household equipment and durable goods to Russia. \|\|\|\|\| Vladimir Putin has once again confirmed his point of view on the Iranian nuclear issue. He said that no other means other than diplomatic should be used to solve the conflict around the Iranian nuclear program. On the press-conference, where the President of Russia and Italy's Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, have concluded their official meeting, Putin stated that the same diplomatic means should be also used in resolving other conflicts, like the ones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and any other case. According to Mr. Putin the current meeting proved that the governments of the two countries share their views on solving conflicts, including an unacceptable use of force.. Romano Prodi has acknowledged everything said by Mr. Putin, and added that there should be various approaches towards international events. He added that such a multi-sided approach and the potentials of the UN could move, one way or another, the intense situation around Lebanon from its dead point. Mr. Prodi said that during the meeting they have touched upon the issues of Iran, Kosovo, Lebanon, as well as the problem of peace in the Middle East. The Prime Minister stated that the two countries will also closely cooperate in the UN Security Council, because many conflicts have not seen any solution yet. Mr. Prodi said that the current Russian-Italian summit in Bari was probably the best proof of strategic partnership between the two countries. The Italian Prime Miniter also added that there is a necessity to develop bilateral relationship between both EU and Russia. For this the partnership agreements should comprise as many issues as possible, including the energy problem.	Vladimir Putin Romano Prodi After having a meeting in Bari, Italy, on the 13th of March, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Romano Prodi, gave a press-conference, summarizing the results of their conversations. The main point the two leaders agreed on was that only diplomatic means should be used in solving such international conflicts as in Afghanistan, Iraq and, especially, Iran with its nuclear program issue. Mr. Putin confirmed once again his views on any use of armed forces in resolving such international conflicts. Mr. Prodi agreed with the Russian President on this point and also stated that such conflicts should be solved using a multi-lateral approach, where several nations would take part in discussions. In addition to this the potential of the UN authority should be used, added Mr. Prodi. The Prime Minister said that Italy is looking forward to a closer cooperation with Russia in the UN Security Council, as well as in the energy sector. All of this could be reached only through thoroughly developed partnership agreements, he added.
A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z Contains Starts with Select a sport Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Canoe Sprint Cycling BMX Cycling Mountain Bike Cycling Road Cycling Track Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Gymnastics Artistic Gymnastics Rhythmic Handball Hockey Judo Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Shooting Swimming Synchronized Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Trampoline Triathlon Volleyball Water Polo Weightlifting Wrestling \|\|\|\|\| LONDON (Reuters) - Yi Siling of China took the honour of claiming the first gold medal of the London Olympics when she won the women's 10 metre air rifle at the Royal Artillery Barracks on Saturday. Yi finished with a winning total of 502.9. Poland's Sylwia Bogacka, who led for the first half of the final, claimed silver with a total of 502.2 after a costly shot in the eighth round. Yu Dan of China won bronze with a total of 501.5. Yi, the world number one, smiled in delight as she scooped what is sure to be the first of many golds for China at the London Games. Bogacka finished top of the 56 competitors in qualifying with a 399 mark and started the eight-woman final well before a costly 9.7 shot in the eighth round saw her 0.3 point lead over Yi turn into a 0.7 deficit after the Chinese fired a 10.7. Yi then closed out with further shots of 10.3 and 10.5 to huge cheers from the near 2,000 spectators at the indoor range in south east London. Among those in attendance was International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who clapped from his seat when Yi was confirmed the winner as Chinese dignitaries around him leapt to their feet in delight. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Mark Meadows) \|\|\|\|\| Please sign in to access this article and other exclusive content. Register Now If you don't have a registered e-mail address with The Washington Post, create an account now. It's free and easy. Customize your browsing experience, sign up for e-mail newsletters and alerts, and manage your subscriptions. Create Account	, a Chinese shooting competitor nicknamed the "Shooting Beauty" in China, won the first awarded at the held in London. Teammate received the bronze medal, and Poland's earned the silver in Saturday's women's 10 metre air rifle final competition. Bogacka was the leader midway through the final, but shot a 9.7 in the eighth round. Yi shot 10.7 in that round, then fired solid 10.3 and 10.5 shots afterwards, and finished with a total of 502.9 points. Bogaka shot an almost perfect 10.8 in her final attempt, finishing second with 502.2 and besting Yu, third with 501.5. Yi, also the Asian Games champion, earned her quota spot by winning the 2010 world women’s 10-metre air rifle championship. The 23-year-old left-handed shooter from province has been competing for China since 2009. China's gold and bronze mark the first time in 24 years a team has won two medals in the event. == Sources == * * * fr:Jeux olympiques d'été 2012 : la première médaille d'or pour la Chine
Guns N' Roses fans have waited more than a decade for this album Guns N' Roses have finally launched their highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy in the US, their first album in 15 years. The record will go on sale in UK shops from Monday, but it is available to buy on the UK iTunes store now. The group's album has been on their MySpace page since last week. Before then most of the tracks had already been heard in various ways, with Shackler's Revenge appearing on video game Rock Band 2's soundtrack. Free soft drink A blogger, who is alleged to have leaked nine new songs from the album, pleaded not guilty to breaking copyright laws at a Los Angeles court in October. Kevin Cogill put the tracks on his website Antiquiet, federal authorities say. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted, and longer if found to have profited from the leaks. Meanwhile a soft drinks manufacturer is promising to honour a pledge it made about the album. Dr Pepper agreed to give a free soft drink to all Americans if Guns N' Roses released a new album in 2008. The drinks company made the offer after several release dates for the rock band's long-awaited album passed. \|\|\|\|\| View larger image Axl Rose and lead guitarist Robin Finck of Guns N' Roses performing in Denmark in 2006. View larger image Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performing in Denmark in 2006. Pigs do fly, 'Chinese Democracy' hits store shelves CTV.ca News Staff In a cultural event rivalling the discovery of a unicorn or Big Foot, Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" hit stores Sunday morning. "Chinese Democracy" was released 17 years after the band's last original studio albums landed. Music stores around the country are opening at midnight for the Sunday release. However, it won't be available everywhere in the world -- it has been banned in China. The reclusive Axl Rose is the sole remaining original member of the band that took the world by storm in late 1980s with their distinct gritty punk-metal sound, which was in sharp contrast to the pop-focused "hair metal" bands such as Poison or Warrant, which dominated the charts at the time. In the estimated 14 years spent working on the album, numerous personnel changes were made to the band, and producers such as Youth, Moby, Sean Beaven and the legendary Roy Thomas Baker (Queen) came and went. The album's release also means that soft drink maker Dr. Pepper has to pony up a free pop for every American (minus former guitarists Slash and Buckethead) after the company promised to do so if the album was released in 2008. Americans can log on to Dr. Pepper's website for 24 hours starting Sunday to download a coupon to get their free pop. It is estimated that the bet could cost the company as much as US$20 million, even more than the massive amount it cost to produce "Chinese Democracy." Is it any good? The album had become a punch line for artistic indulgence in the music community and was never expected to see the light of day by many after numerous delays. And as time passed, Rose was stuck more and more between a rock and a hard place, making the album's release even more unlikely. Expectations for the record have grown to such levels that anything other than the perfect album would be considered a letdown for many. Critics would have a field day with it saying, "17 years for this?" But "Chinese Democracy" has not been ruthlessly plundered in many of the early reviews of the album. Rolling Stone magazine called it "great, audacious, unhinged and uncompromising hard-rock record." The Los Angeles Times wrote of the album: "The end result is a cyborgian blend of pop expressiveness, traditional rock bravado and Brian Wilson-style beautiful weirdness." Spin magazine, the BBC, the National Post, and influential writer Chuck Klosterman also gave positive to glowing notices of the album. "There are a lot of Guns N' Roses fans . . . and the overall response is 'everyone loves it,'" David Caplan of People magazine told CTV Newsnet Saturday evening. "At People, we were listening to it and we all sort of agreed that it has a charged, high-octane energy. "Other reviews described it as a high-velocity, almost a guttural kind of sound. It is really great for Guns N' Roses fans because it's pure Guns N' Roses." Certainly, the album - with its wall of sound worthy of Phil Spector and wide-ranging musical influences, many far from the original Guns N' Roses sound - is not totally well-received. The New York Times said the album "sounds like a loud last gasp from the reign of the indulged pop star" and compared it to the Titanic (the sunken ship, not the movie.) Financial success? Considering the album is believed to have cost at least US$13 million, executives at Rose's record label Universal are no doubt watching with baited breath at how well the album sells. Early indications suggest there is still a massive fanbase for the band. "Chinese Democracy" is being streamed on MySpace and broke records on the website, with more than three million spins of the album's songs in one day. That's about 25 plays per second. The album is being released exclusively through Best Buy in the United States but is available at all record stores in other countries. The marketing ploy proved successful this fall when AC/DC scored the year's biggest selling debut after going exclusive with Wal-Mart in the U.S. "We're expecting it to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, albums of the year," HMV Canada president Humphrey Kadaner told CTV.ca in October. Still, Guns N' Roses will have some major competition from Kanye West, The Killers and Ludacris, who all have new albums coming out next week as well. The American Music Awards take place Sunday night and there are rumours that Guns N' Roses could make an appearance. However, Rose rarely makes public appearances, and is generally rumoured to be appearing at every single music awards show. Rose is joined on "Chinese Democracy" by some combination of bassist Tommy Stinson (The Replacements), keyboardist Dizzy Reed (who joined GNR in 1990), guitarists Robin Finck (currently in Nine Inch Nails), Buckethead (who left GNR in 2004), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Richard Fortus (Love Spit Love) and drummers Brian Mantia (Primus) and Frank Ferrer.	''Chinese Democracy'', the new album from hard rockers Guns N' Roses, has been released today, hitting store shelves in the United States and Canada after fifteen years. Many felt it would never happen, with several release dates passing and Dr Pepper making good on a promise of a free can to every US citizen if the album came out this year. Actually, Dr Pepper isn't giving quite everyone a free can. Former band members Slash and Buckethead are excluded from the promotion. Kevin Cogill pleaded not guilty to charges of copyright infringement in October after leaking nine tracks from the album onto his website, ''Antiquiet''. He could be jailed for three years, or longer if he made money by putting the songs online. Not everywhere is going to see the album, though - topically enough, China has banned the record.
ABC News Aid From 30 Nations Pours Into Pakistan Relief Supplies From 30 Countries Pour Into Pakistan; 5-Year-Old Girl Pulled From Rubble Food is distribute to women in the northern Pakistani town of Muzaffarabad, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005 after last Saturday's earthquake. The Pakistani government's official death toll was about 23,000 people, but a senior army official involved in the rescue operations said that "according to our assessment, the death toll is between 35,000 to 40,000 people." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) By SADAQAT JAN Associated Press Writer The Associated Press MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan Oct 12, 2005 Helicopters flying in clear skies delivered aid to earthquake survivors Wednesday, a day after rain and hail grounded efforts. Relief supplies poured into Pakistan from about 30 countries, including from longtime archrival India. Many bodies were still buried beneath leveled buildings, and the United Nations warned of the threat of measles, cholera and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is on a regional tour, arrived in Islamabad and was expected to discuss quake relief with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Also Wednesday, rescuers pulled a dust-covered 5-year-old from the rubble, a shot of good news as hopes faded of finding other earthquake survivors. "I want to drink," the girl whispered. Zarabe Shah's neighbors on Tuesday recovered the bodies of her father and two of her sisters. Her mother and another two sisters survived. The 7.6-magnitude quake on Saturday demolished whole communities, mostly in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. The U.N. estimated that some 4 million people have been affected, including 2 million who have lost their homes. U.S., Pakistani, German and Afghan helicopters resumed aid flights suspended because of stormy weather. They brought food, medicines and other supplies to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir, and then ferried out the injured to hospitals. Some 50,000 Pakistani troops joined the relief effort. Still, residents in Muzaffarabad were desperate, mobbing trucks with food and water and grabbing whatever they could. The weak were pushed aside. Jan Vandemoortele, U.N. Resident Coordinator for Pakistan, said key roads into the quake zone that were blocked earlier have been opened up. U.S. military spokesman Col. James Yonts said that with the resumption of flights, helicopters had been able to unplug any backlog of aid. About 30 countries including the United States, France, Japan, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, and Syria have sent relief equipment, doctors, paramedics, tents, blankets, medicines, disaster relief teams. Many have also pledged financial assistance. \|\|\|\|\| A girl waits while food is distributed to victims of the earthquake in Pakistan, Wednesday. Residents of the northern Pakistani town of Muzaffarabad, affected by last Saturday's earthquake, jump to get some food given as aid, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005. (AP Photo / Lefteris Pitarakis) Pakistani men carry a body after they retrieved it from the rubble of a collapsed apartment complex destroyed in last Saturday's earthquake in the northern Pakistani town of Muzaffarabad, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005.(AP Photo / Lefteris Pitarakis) India helps Pakistan in earthquake effort CTV.ca News Staff The devastation caused by last week's earthquake appears to be easing the traditional rivalry between Pakistan and India. Indian troops have crossed the line dividing the disputed Kashmir region to help their Pakistani neighbours rebuild destroyed bunkers. Both India and Pakistan have also relaxed travel restrictions, allowing some Kashmiri families to return home via the border in Punjab. Meanwhile, as relief efforts in the worst affected areas were being stepped up, a strong aftershock shook Pakistan Thursday morning, just five days after a massive earthquake killed tens of thousands and left millions homeless. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 5.6-magnitude aftershock was centered about 85 miles northeast of Islamabad. It was not immediately clear if it caused any damage. Meanwhile hope for finding any remaining survivors after Saturday's 7.6-magnitude quake began to fade as bitter winter weather set in. The Pakistani government has put the official death toll at about 23,000 with 47,000 injured, but some reports suggest the toll could be much higher. However there was one bright moment Wednesday when rescuers pulled a five-year-old girl out of the rubble, 100 hours after her home crumbled on her. "I want to drink," the dust-covered girl named Zarabe Shah whispered to rescuers. Zarabe's father and two sisters were killed in the quake, which killed up to 23,000, but her mother and another two sisters survived. A day after bad weather temporarily grounded efforts, rescue work resumed and aid began pouring into the affected regions. However reports from the scene indicate there are still concerns about a lack of co-ordination, with supplies yet to reach some far-flung areas in the mountainous Pakistani Kashmir. CTV's Murray Oliver, reporting from Islamabad, described the scene as "a kind of survival of the fittest." "It's crowded, cold and there's little here to eat or drink," he said. "There is little distribution of aid outside the cities." Many bodies are still buried beneath piles of concrete, steel and wood. "Our resources are very stretched," said army Colonel Y.P. Sayyaj in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. "Every time we rush to one place we hear of another place that is worse. The United Nations has appealed for $272 million for quake survivors. About 30 countries -- including the United States, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, and Syria -- have sent relief equipment, medical staff, tents, blankets, medicine, and disaster relief teams. Many have also pledged financial assistance. Canada is dispatching Afghanistan-based Canadian Forces aircraft loaded with blankets to the affected area. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Pakistan after saying Washington would likely add to the $50 million US it has committed to the quake recovery effort. As aid begins to trickle in, health experts are warning the Himalayan region could become a fertile breeding ground for disease. United Nations officials are warning of a growing threat of measles, cholera, and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. Regional sanitation systems are damaged, hospitals have been destroyed, and victims are left without clean drinking water, making them more vulnerable to outbreaks. Nighttime temperatures are already falling to as low as 6 degrees Celsius and will drop even further by the end of the week -- further compounding the misery. The UN estimates that some 4 million people have been affected by Saturday's quake, including 2 million who have been left homeless. In Indian-held Kashmir, authorities say at least 1,200 people are known to have died, but officials fear the number will rise.	While Aid starts to pour in to the worst hit areas of South Asia Earthquake that has killed more than 30,000 people, bad weather is hampering the relief efforts with snow falling on the peaks of the earthquake-devastated areas of Pakistan. The measure of human suffering can't just be measured in the death toll, which officially stands at 23,000, but also in the 4 million who have been made homeless, hungry, and cold with 1 million in acute need, facing certain death without outside assistance. In the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, authorities say at least 1,300 people are known to have died, but officials fear the number will rise. ABC Australia reports of a man in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, who has been cut from aid, saying "I find that we are alone now. We have nothing. We are finished." Choppers are the main lifeline of support; trucks are unable to deliver relief supplies due to looting and general mayhem on the ground. The more snow, the less able aid agencies are to make their way to those in the direst need. Jan Vandemoortele, U.N. Resident Coordinator for Pakistan, said key roads into the quake zone have been reopened, as 30 countries including Australia, France, Japan, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, Syria and the US provide assistance in the form of money, doctors, tents, blankets, and disaster relief teams. United Nations officials are warning of a growing threat of measles, cholera, and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. There have been no reports of epidemic outbreaks so far, but the area's health infrastructure has completely collapsed, Vandemoortele said.
Cheney has tapped Iranian expatriate, arms dealer to surveil discussions with Iran, officials say Larisa Alexandrovna Published: Thursday April 20, 2006 Print This \| Email This The Department of Defense and Vice President Dick Cheney have retained the services of Iran-Contra arms dealer and discredited intelligence asset Manucher Ghorbanifar as their “man on the ground,” in order to report on any interaction and attempts at negotiations between Iranian officials and US ambassador to Iraq, Zelmay Khalilzad, current and former intelligence officials say. Speaking on condition of anonymity, three intelligence sources identified the Iran-Contra middleman as having been put back on the payroll, acting as a human intelligence asset and monitoring any movement in discussions about Iran’s alleged burgeoning nuclear weapons program. “Khalilzad has been authorized to enter into discussions with the Iranians over the issue of stability inside Iraq,” one former intelligence source said. These discussions, however, are now on hold for unspecified reasons. Sources close to the UN Security Council and a former high ranking intelligence official say that this latest failed attempt to bring Iran to the table is part of an ongoing attempt by Cheney and Rumsfeld to squash diplomatic activities. Another intelligence source confirmed the spiking of diplomatic action on Cheney’s behalf, explaining that the Bush administration sees such talks as a “sign of weakness.” Asked if Ghorbanifar was essentially being employed as a spy, one former senior counterintelligence official said, "You could put it that way." A former high ranking state department official, however, doubted that the Office of the Vice President would employ Ghorbanifar directly. “In my experience it would be highly unusual and even extraordinary if the Office of the Vice President would have such activities,” the ex-State Department official said. Yet the source added that the current Vice Presidency is in itself “unusual” and “extraordinary.” Cheney’s office did not return calls seeking comment for this article. As reported by RAW STORY last Thursday, the Defense Department has created a special operations arm of various Iranian dissidents, using terror group Mujahedeen-e Khalq to conduct operations on the ground in Iran. According to current and former intelligence officials, the latest revelations of Ghorbanifar’s involvement again illustrate that Cheney and the Pentagon continue to work on the periphery of protocol in order to bypass US intelligence agencies and resources. Reports of the Bush administration’s interest in meeting with Iranian officials continue to suggest that it is Iran that is pushing back against diplomatic talks. Yet all three intelligence sources and sources close to the UN Security Council say it is the US that is squashing attempts at talks between the two nations. Earlier this month, for example, the New York Times reported that Iran’s UN Ambassador, Javad Zarif, wanted discussions. In a New York Times op-ed, Zarif contended that Iran is committed to nuclear nonproliferation and eager for talks. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) approved using Ghorbanifar as an intermediary, intelligence sources say. Hoekstra attended at least one meeting in Paris with Curt Weldon and Harold Rhode to meet with Ghorbanifar. “Hoekstra okayed these channels,” one intelligence source said. “He gave his blessing.” In response to an email from RAW STORY , the House Intelligence Committee’s Republican spokesman Jamal Ware said he was out of the office and unable to discuss this issue with Congressman Hoekstra, adding: it was “doubtful we would have a comment either way.” Iran Contra middleman If these allegations are true, Ghorbanifar’s recruitment reinstates him to a position he held during the Iran Contra affair, when he was implicated in the scandal of selling arms to Iran in order to fund a right wing terrorist group, the Contras, who were battling the democratically-elected Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Ghorbanifar was also present at discussions in Rome in 2001 – talks which have received much attention because they were attended by Pentagon and Iranian officials. According to neoconservative Michael Ledeen, who participated in the talks, the topic was Iran. A second set of meetings later took place in Paris. “The Rome meetings had nothing whatsoever to do with Iraq, but with Iran and Afghanistan," Ledeen told RAW STORY . In an exclusive interview with Newsweek late last year, Ghorbanifar stated that the meetings in Rome and Paris were about regime change in Iran. The meetings included Larry Franklin, a Pentagon Iran analyst who has been convicted for passing secrets to an Israeli lobby, and Harold Rhode, a Defense Department consultant also under investigation in the case. “Ghorbanifar, a former Iranian spy who helped launch the Iran-contra affair, says one of the things he discussed with Defense officials Harold Rhode and Larry Franklin at meetings in Rome in December 2001 (and in Paris last June with only Rhode) was regime change in Iran,” Newsweek wrote. Ledeen says that Ghorbanifar’s role in the Rome meeting he attended was that of “occasional translator” and “organizer”. “Please note, once again, that Ghorbanifar was not an active participant in the December, 2001, meetings in Rome,” says Ledeen. “In all the discussions I attended, there was no discussion of Iraq; we talked about Iran, and particularly about Iran's activities in Afghanistan, aimed at American forces there,” he added. “Ghorbanifar has never made a secret of his desire to rid his country of the mullahs' tyranny,” Ledeen continued. “He has said that constantly since the first day I met him, in 1985. It shouldn't surprise anyone to hear that he may have spoken about that with US Government officials, in Rome and elsewhere. But if that happened, it was outside the meetings I attended.” As previously reported by RAW STORY , the Paris meetings, which were also attended by Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) on at least two occasions in the spring of 2003, involved attempts by Ghorbanifar to advance false intelligence in order to implicate Iran in a bizarre uranium theft claim. The assertions were debunked by the CIA and by other US intelligence and military experts. According to two of the three intelligence sources, the arms dealer was brought in to observe attempts by Khalilzad or Iranian officials at diplomatic activities and report back to Rumsfeld and/or Cheney through whomever is “holding” Ghorbanifar, sources say. \|\|\|\|\| IRAN : Defiant but Ready to Deal Praful Bidwai TEHRAN, Apr 27 (IPS) - As the deadline set by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to halt uranium enrichment descends upon Iran, the already narrow window of opportunity to resolve the crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme diplomatically may soon slam shut. If the Western powers, led by the United States, adopt a tough posture and demand that sanctions be imposed on Iran, or worse, launch a military attack on its nuclear facilities, they will strengthen the hands of the nuclear hawks who at present constitute a minority in the Tehran regime. A military attack on Iran could have catastrophic consequences for the entire Middle East, the world's most volatile region. The effects will be even more disastrous if the U.S. uses tactical nuclear weapons, which reports say, it is considering. If the West explores the route of diplomacy and negotiation, it could be rewarded with rich dividends, including effective oversight over Iran's nuclear activities and improvement in relations with its government, which is keen on being accepted as a "normal", "responsible" and a status quoist power. At this extraordinarily delicate make-or-break moment, Iran has fashioned a three-pronged approach to deal with the nuclear crisis which has steadily escalated since the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors passed two resolutions against it in September and February, and sent its case to the UNSC. First, Tehran remains defiant that it will not sacrifice its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to engage in peaceful activities, including uranium enrichment for power generation. It has threatened to "hide" its atomic programme, transfer nuclear technology to other countries, and cease cooperation with the IAEA, if the West takes "harsh measures". (The IAEA is due to submit a report on Iran's nuclear activities on Apr. 28.) These threats have emanated not just from cabinet ministers and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, often credited with harsh utterances, but from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who only rarely makes pronouncements on such issues. Second, the Iranian government is sending out signals that it is keen to reach a deal or compromise on the nuclear issue. Dr Hasan Rowhani, a member of the Supreme National Security Council, and Khamenei's nominee on it, has said that Iran is prepared to suspend its uranium enrichment for a short time. Iranian officials are also working diplomatic channels to let it be known that Tehran wants talks which will lead to a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue. The third prong of Iran's strategy is to reach out to its neighbours, including some pro-American states in the Persian Gulf, and to try to persuade them not to support a US military attack on Iran. Recently, former President Rafsanjani and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani were in Kuwait and Bahrain respectively. ''Iran's current position is based on a strong domestic consensus in favour of a civilian nuclear programme and of acquiring a degree of mastery over nuclear technology, not in favour of developing nuclear weapons or even a weapons capability,'' Prof. Nasser Hadian-Jazy, an international relations and security affairs specialist at the University of Tehran told IPS. "Most Iranian policy-makers believe that the gap between what Tehran wants and what pragmatists in the West will concede on the nuclear issue is not very wide, certainly not unbridgeable. They would certainly like to avoid a confrontation. Both sides know that the costs of a confrontation would be unaffordably high. Therefore, they can be realistically expected to try to negotiate a compromise. One can only hope the negotiations succeed", added Hadian-Jazy. A likely compromise, say insiders who insist on anonymity, would involve temporary suspension of uranium enrichment by Iran and a possible joint venture with Russia (and some other states like South Africa) to take Iran's uranium hexafluoride gas out of the country and enrich it elsewhere. Iranian scientists would have access to the relevant facilities and technologies in the joint effort. Iran would stick to its NPT commitments and ratify the tough IAEA ‘additional protocol'. In return, the West would recognise Iran as a ‘normal' state, and give it security guarantees and a ‘package' of economic incentives, including access to enhanced gas and oil production technologies. Numerous governmental and non-governmental experts, told IPS that there is fairly broad agreement that such a compromise proposal could be negotiated. It is however hard to verify this through public statements. Media debate on the nuclear issue is banned.. There seems to be very little support for the idea that Iran should become a nuclear weapons-state like India or Pakistan. The much-publicised picture of some young Iranians dancing with joy following the official Apr. 11 announcement that Iran has successfully enriched uranium to 3.5 percent is ''highly misleading'', said a member of the board of editors of a dissident publication. "That sentiment is not widely shared. There was no significant jubilation over Iran's claimed nuclear prowess". Many Iranians are also sceptical of the claim that Iran has achieved technological sophistication as regards uranium enrichment. They believe that the Isfahan and Natanz facilities are rudimentary. But not much is independently known about them thanks to the media ban. No tension or apprehension is detectable in the streets of Iran on the eve of the UNSC deadline. People go about their business in bustling cities as if unaware of the huge nuclear crisis. Yet, Iranian policy-makers seem to be acutely conscious of what is at stake. "It would be fair to say that they think Iran has much to lose from an overt pursuit of nuclear weapons", says Ramin Jehanbegloo, a political theorist in Tehran. "Contrary to Western stereotypes, they are sober, hard-nosed pragmatists, not ideologically driven. They know that nuclear weapons will make Iran more vulnerable and insecure, not more secure". Among the factors that weigh with policy-makers is the likely loss of Iran's conventional superiority vis-à-vis potential adversaries, and the "rebound" effect. Iran's bomb will invite Israel's active hostility and push the neighbourhood's smaller states towards Washington. And it will increase the likelihood of nuclear proliferation to non-state actors like al-Qaeda, which views Iran with suspicion. Iranian policy-makers believe Iran has a strong hand, legally and politically, without nuclear weapons. It is not in breach of any international treaty or law. Iran hopes to win a measure of international public sympathy if it is unfairly targeted and cornered by the U.S. and its close allies. Therefore, Tehran is unlikely to alter the status quo radically. If Washington does so by exercising the military option, it will invite serious trouble in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and in the entire Muslim world. As the Iran situation is delicately poised, sobriety and wisdom are at a premium. (END/2006) Send your comments to the editor	Veteran anti-nuclear activist and journalist Praful Bidwai claims that while Iranian authorities "will not sacrifice rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to engage in peaceful activities, including uranium enrichment for power generation", they are also "keen to reach a deal or compromise on the nuclear issue" and "are also working diplomatic channels to let it be known that Tehran wants talks which will lead to a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue." The alternative news website Raw Story published a story on April 20 that alleged United States vice-president Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld have obstructed the progress of diplomatic discussions which could help solve the conflict between the United States and Iran. The conflict involves the alleged plan of attack on Iran led by the United States, and Iran's alleged intention to develop nuclear weapons. Diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran have remained suspended since 1980, following the Iranian hostage crisis. The website alleges that information from several different unnamed sources claim that expatriate arms dealer Manucher Ghorbanifar, a key figure in the Iran-Contra Affair, has been ordered by US authorities to monitor and report on "any interaction and attempts at negotiations between Iranian officials and US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad." Raw Story also claims that sources "close to the UN Security Council", a "high ranking intelligence official" and another "intelligence source" attributed the failure of the recent attempts at direct contacts between Khalilzad and Iranian officials as "part of an ongoing attempt by Cheney and Rumsfeld to squash diplomatic activities". The claims of the Internet publication's allegations have not yet been independently verified. In addition, the Raw Story also claims that US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) "approved using Ghorbanifar as an intermediary" and "attended at least one meeting in Paris with Curt Weldon (R-PA) and Harold Rhode to meet with Ghorbanifar." Bidwai states that Dr. Hasan Rowhani, a member of the Supreme National Security Council chosen by Iranian head of state Ayatollah Khamenei, as saying that Iran is prepared to suspend its uranium enrichment for a short time. On April 18, when asked whether US action against Iran could include a strike using nuclear weapons, U.S. President George W. Bush answered "All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so."
Bloomberg poised for third-party campaign New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is prepared to spend an unprecedented $1 billion of his own $5.5 billion personal fortune for a third-party presidential campaign, personal friends of the mayor tell The Washington Times. "He has set aside $1 billion to go for it," confided a long-time business adviser to the Republican mayor. "The thinking about where it will come from and do we have it is over, and the answer is yes, we can do it." Another personal friend and fellow Republican said in recent days that Mr. Bloomberg, who is a social liberal and fiscal conservative, has "lowered the bar" and upped the ante for a final decision on making a run. The mayor has told close associates he will make a third-party run if he thinks he can influence the national debate and has said he will spend up to $1 billion. Earlier, he told friends he would make a run only if he thought he could win a plurality in a three-way race and would spend $500 million -- or less than 10 percent of his personal fortune. A $1 billion campaign budget would wipe out many of the common obstacles faced by third-party candidates seeking the White House. "Bloomberg is H. Ross Perot on steroids," said former Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael Toner. "He could turn the political landscape of this election upside down, spend as much money as he wanted and proceed directly to the general election. He would have resources to hire an army of petition-gatherers in those states where thousands of petitions are required to qualify a third-party presidential candidate to be on the ballot." Senior Republican officials -- including those supporting declared Republican presidential nomination contenders -- and several top Democrats told The Times they take the possibility of a Bloomberg candidacy as a serious threat in November 2008. The Bloomberg team is studying the strategies of Mr. Perot, the Texas billionaire whose 1992 presidential campaign helped President Clinton to win the White House with 43 percent of the popular vote. "Mike has been meeting with Ross Perot's most senior people about how they did an independent run in 1992," the Bloomberg business adviser said on condition of anonymity so as to avoid appearing to speak for Mr. Bloomberg. Talk of Mr. Bloomberg as a third-party candidate comes as Republican voters are deeply divided over their top-three declared candidates -- Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- and are casting longing glances at former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "Some of the people on McCain's [presidential campaign] staff have been calling me to see if Mike is running because they are ready to leave the McCain campaign, which is a biplane on fire and spiraling down," the Bloomberg adviser said. Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, another independent-minded Republican, dined recently with Mr. Bloomberg and suggested on CBS' "Face the Nation" over the weekend that he and Mr. Bloomberg might make an independent run for the presidency. advertisement advertisement Copyright © 1999 - 2007 News World Communications, Inc. http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070515-123142-3314r.htm \|\|\|\|\| ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg again rejected supporters Monday who wanted him to run for president. That includes Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel's suggestion that the nation could use an independent presidential ticket with Bloomberg and Hagel on it. "I think he was probably joking," Bloomberg said in an Albany news conference pushing his environmental plan for New York City. "He speaks his mind ... he's not happy with the same things that I'm not happy about." Hagel, a frequent critic of the Iraq war, made the suggestion on Sunday's "Face the Nation" on CBS. Bloomberg, serving his last term under the city's term limit law, said a New York Daily News poll this week that found him ahead of Republican Rudolph Giuliani was flattering, but "the current mayor always has a real advantage." "I thought Rudy Giuliani left the city better than he found it and I'm trying to take what he left and build on that," Bloomberg said. The billionaire businessman was in Albany the same day U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton received a formal endorsement for president in a large outdoor ceremony from Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Bloomberg insists it was a coincidence and his Albany lobbying trip was planned before the 2008 presidential endorsement by the state's top Democrats was announced. Bloomberg also shot down Republican state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's continued mention to reporters that the mayor would be a great governor and could knock off Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, with whom Bruno has been feuding. "I am not running for governor," Bloomberg said of the job held by his friend and neighbor for four months. "My hope is that Governor Spitzer _ and expect Governor Spitzer _ is going to be a great governor and that he will go on for a long time being governor and I wish him all the best."	Bloomberg giving a speech in August 2004. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is prepared to spend one billion dollars of his own money for a 2008 White House bid, the ''Washington Times'' reports, citing his friends and "close associates" . However, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday made light of Senator Chuck Hagel's suggestion that Bloomberg could run as an independent with Hagel as running mate. Bloomberg has so far denied that he is running but has not ruled out the possibility either. Media reports speculate that Bloomberg is considering a run if the Democratic and Republican nominees cater more to the parties' bases, leaving room for an independent candidate who can attract moderate voters for both camps. ''TIME'' magazine reports that Bloomberg was at first ready to consider spending US$500 million for a presidential run. Michael Bloomberg could have more money than either party candidates, former FEC chairman Michael E. Toner told the ''Times''. Those funds would come in handy to mobilize the thousands of petitions needed to qualify for a run in some states. The ''Washington Times'' also has reports of a Bloomberg adviser saying some people involved with John McCain's Presidential Campaign are prepared to leave and join Bloomberg's campaign if he does indeed run. Bloomberg's advisers have also said that they have been studying and learning from Ross Perot's Presidential campaign in 1992. They have called and talked with Perot's former advisers and campaign workers to learn from their mistakes and experience. Bloomberg made his fortune with his company Bloomberg L.P., a financial news and data company. ''Forbes magazine'' ranked him 44th on a list of wealthiest Americans and 142nd on a list of billionaires worldwide. His net worth is estimated at US$5.5 billion.
The online operation will have a reduced editorial staff The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the 146-year-old US newspaper, will print its final edition on Tuesday before becoming a strictly online operation. Owner Hearst Corporation has failed in its attempts to find a buyer for the paper, put on sale in January. America's newspaper industry has been badly hit by the downturn, and a number of titles face closure. The decision to go solely online is the first such venture for a large US paper. However, the website will be run solely as a source of local news and opinion, rather than an internet incarnation of the former newspaper. FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. More from BBC World Service There will be an editorial staff of 20, compared to the previous 150. The remaining editorial staff will be expected to write, edit, take photos, and shoot video. "We don't feel like we have to cover everything ourselves," said a statement from Michelle Nicolosi, who will lead the site as executive producer. "We'll partner for some content; we won't duplicate what the wire is reporting unless we have something unique to offer; we'll continue to showcase the great content from our 150 or so reader bloggers and we'll link to content partners and competitors to create the best mix of news on our front page." Industry woes Seattle follows Denver in losing a daily newspaper this year, after the Rocky Mountain news closed. And in Arizona, Gannett's Tucson Citizen is set to close on Saturday, leaving one newspaper in that city. Last month the San Francisco Chronicle said it plans to cut a "significant" number of jobs to meet cost-cutting targets, and that if the targets are not met, then the paper could be sold or closed down. The New York Times is struggling to service debts of some $400m, amid dwindling cash reserves and plunging revenue. Last year it had to mortgage its gleaming new headquarters (built in 2007 with much fanfare) to bolster its cash flow. The Tribune Company, which owns the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun and many other titles, filed for bankruptcy in December, and although its newspapers remain in publication, the repercussions of the bankruptcy filing are likely to lead to restructuring. Three other newspaper companies have also filed for bankruptcy in recent months. They are Star Tribune Holding Corporation (which owns the Minneapolis Star-Tribune), the Journal Register Company (which owns the New Haven Register and a number of other titles in the North East), and Philadelphia Newspapers LLC (which owns Philadelphia's two top newspapers, the Inquirer and the Daily News). The American newspaper industry has been hit by falling advertising revenue in recent years. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the city's oldest newspaper, will roll off the presses for the last time tomorrow, its owner said today. The Hearst Corporation also said on the P-I's website that it will keep the online version of the P-I alive, a decision that began to leak out earlier this month when some current P-I news staffers were offered jobs with the new internet venture. Additional details were not immediately available. The vast majority of the P-I's 167 employees, almost all in news, are expected to lose their jobs. The online enterprise will have a significantly smaller news staff. The demise of the print P-I had been widely anticipated since 9 January, when Hearst executives said they would put the paper up for sale for 60 days. If no buyer emerged, they said, the print P-I would be shut down. Finding a buyer always was considered a long shot. Newspapers across the US are reeling as advertising revenue plummets, buffeted by twin typhoons: the recession, and reader and advertiser migration to the internet. Some daily newspapers have closed. Other owners have filed for bankruptcy protection. Almost all have cut costs, trimming staff through buyouts and layoffs. Papers up for sale that are healthier than the P-I aren't attracting buyers. One of them, Denver's Rocky Mountain News, stopped publishing last month. The P-I traces its roots to 1863. Hearst bought it in 1921. When Hearst put the P-I up for sale, Chief Executive Frank Bennack and newspaper division President Steven Swartz said the paper had not made money since 2000. "We see no opportunity for us to publish the P-I on a profitable basis," the executives said in a letter to P-I employees. They said the P-I had lost $14m in 2008 and stood to lose more this year. Those losses came despite a joint operating agreement between the P-I and The Seattle Times, approved by the US justice department in 1983, that allowed the two papers to consolidate some operations to reduce costs. Under the JOA the Times and P-I maintain separate newsrooms while the larger Times handles advertising, circulation, production and other business functions for both papers. In return, the Times has received 60% and Hearst 40% of whatever revenue is left after the Times is compensated for the papers' combined non-news expenses. Since the Times switched from afternoon to morning publication in 2000 to compete head-to-head with the P-I, the P-I's weekday circulation has dropped from nearly 200,000 to about 117,000. The Times' circulation has slid less dramatically, to about 198,000. The Times also is in financial trouble. Its executives have said that, while the P-I's demise increases the Times prospects for survival long-term, in the short run it will hurt the Times economically. In addition to the P-I, Hearst owns 15 daily newspapers, 29 television stations, two radio stations, more than two dozen US magazines and a large portfolio of cable and online investments. It is a privately held company that does not disclose its finances, but has indicated its newspapers, like others, face financial difficulties. Last month Hearst said it would sell or close its money-losing San Francisco Chronicle if costs can't be cut quickly.	The ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' (P-I), the 146-year-old Seattle newspaper, will make its final print edition on today, before becoming an online-only news agency. However, the online version is to be for local news only. The editorial staff would consist of twenty people, less than one-seventh of the 150 staff that were employed before the closure. With this closure, the ''Seattle Times'' is now Seattle's only major daily newspaper. "We don't feel like we have to cover everything ourselves. We'll partner for some content; we won't duplicate what the wire is reporting unless we have something unique to offer; we'll continue to showcase the great content from our 150 or so reader bloggers and we'll link to content partners and competitors to create the best mix of news on our front page," said Michelle Nicolosi, who is to be the executive producer of the online paper. The Hearst Corporation, the owner of the P-I, was not able to find a buyer for the newspaper when it was put up for sale back in January. The newspaper industry in the country has been suffering as revenue from advertising plunges. Other newspapers in the United States have also shut down recently: Denver's ''Rocky Mountain News'' shut down earlier this year, whilst the ''Tucson Citizen'' of Arizona will print its final edition on Saturday.
Deloitte’s Neville Kahn, Lee Manning and Nick Edwards were today appointed joint administrators to Setanta Sport Limited and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Limited following an unsuccessful bid to make the necessary repayments. The broadcaster has 420 employees in the UK and Ireland, and approximately 1.2 million subscribers, with channels available in three million homes. Kahn said the business will be wound down after talks between the board, management team and financial backers failed. ‘This decision means that [Setanta] will shortly cease broadcasting to its customers in Great Britain. ‘Regrettably, approximately 200 employees will be made redundant in respect of the Great Britain business. Setanta has today suspended the collection of subscription payments from customers in Great Britain,’ he said. Further Reading: MP calls for full disclosure of costs of digital switchover Virgin Media signs deal with Setanta to show football \|\|\|\|\| 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 \|\|\|\|\| * Setanta's UK operations enter administration * Irish and international business continue trading * More than 1,000 jobs affected (Adds BSkyB comment) By Tom Freke LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - The almost three million British households which subscribe to broadcaster Setanta Sports will have their service switched off by the end of the day after the company called in administrators on Tuesday. The board of privately-held Setanta Sports appointed Deloitte as administrators after failing to secure additional financing, Setanta said. Setanta International and Setanta Ireland, which have around 200,000 subscribers, are not covered by the appointments and will continue trading, Deloitte said. The news comes after the English Premier League terminated its live match contract with Setanta on Friday, saying the company was unable to meet its payments. The League then awarded the lucrative rights to Disney ESPN (DIS.N) on Monday. "After a huge effort by the Setanta board, management team and its backers, it has not been possible to save the GB business, which will be wound down in due course," said Neville Khan of Deloitte. Setanta will wind down its British operations and its British output will go off air shortly, Deloitte said, leading to the loss of about 200 jobs, out of a total of 420. Third-party call centres contracted by Setanta will be hit by the news, with around 950 jobs likely to be affected, Deloitte said in a conference call. Subscriptions in the UK will stop being collected immediately and subscribers should act to stop any bank payments, Deloitte said. The company has no money to make any refunds for ending subscriptions early, the administrator added. IRISH RESCUE A buyer is being sought for the Irish and international operations, and a deal could be announced within days, Khan said in a conference call. A number of buyers are looking at the business, he added. The British business came close to being rescued 10 days ago, Khan said, but a deal could not be reached as the deadline ran out on payments due to the English Premier League. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Tuesday, June 23 2009, 15:51 BST By James Welsh Updated: June 23 2009, 22:15 BST Setanta's channels have gone off the air in Great Britain after the Irish sports broadcaster's British operations were put in the hands of administrators Deloitte. Full coverage of Setanta GB's collapse on Digital Spy > Setanta stops accepting GB payments Setanta is to stop accepting any form of payment from British subscribers with immediate effect. > Racing UK to continue broadcasting Setanta Sports Pack channel Racing UK will go it alone at £20 per month. > Video: Setanta Sports News goes off air Setanta Sports News ceased broadcasting at 6pm. Watch how the channel said goodbye to viewers. > Setanta Sports 1 to continue in Ireland Setanta Ireland will continue broadcasting. > ESPN America in talks after Setanta collapse Setanta Sports Pack channel is searching for other distribution platforms. > BT to refund advance Setanta payments BT Vision is to refund any customers who paid in advance for Setanta Sports. > Setanta collapse 'shows pay TV market failure' BT says Setanta's collapse is evidence of UK pay TV "market failure". > Sky attacks BT for "cheap opportunism" Sky responds to BT's comments about Setanta and the UK pay TV market. > Virgin to issue pro-rata Setanta refunds Virgin Media will issue pro-rata refunds to customers who subscribed to Setanta Sports. > ESPN America goes standalone on Virgin Setanta Sports Pack channel ESPN America becomes a standalone premium channel on Virgin's cable service. The full story as it broke Deloitte was appointed by Setanta at 2:30pm today after last-ditch efforts to secure a rescue package failed. 200 jobs have been lost with immediate effect as a result of the collapse. "This is a sad day for all concerned," said Setanta chairman Sir Robin Miller. "Since its inspired inception a number of years ago, Setanta and its financial backers, have invested hundreds of millions of pounds buying UK and international sports rights. With the hard work and dedication of its staff, a pay TV broadcaster was created which entertained people in three million homes with top-class sport. "Unfortunately, in a difficult and highly competitive market, and despite strenuous efforts by the board and management, it has not been possible to find sufficient additional funds in the time available to ensure its survival." Neville Kahn, Lee Manning and Nick Edwards of Deloitte have been appointed joint administrators to Setanta Sport Ltd and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Ltd. It is understood that Setanta Ireland and Setanta's other international operations, including those in the United States, are not affected by these appointments and will continue broadcasting. In a statement, Neville Kahn said: "After a huge effort by the Setanta board, management team and its backers, it has not been possible to save the GB business, which will be wound down in due course. This decision means that it will shortly cease broadcasting to its customers in Great Britain. "However, the international and Ireland businesses continue to trade on air whilst we are in discussions with parties to take on those businesses as going concerns. "Regrettably, approximately 200 employees will be made redundant in respect of the GB business. Setanta has today suspended the collection of subscription payments from customers in Great Britain. "Setanta customers should go to www.setanta.com for further information. We can confirm that no further monthly subscriptions or direct debits will be accepted from customers of the UK business." \|\|\|\|\| I f you would like us to contact you when we are able to accept new subscribers to our TV Service, Click Here To Subscribe and watch Racing UK now LIVE on your PC, Click Here For our full list of FAQ's Click Here Leading horse racing television channel Racing UK (RUK) today announced it will become a stand-alone channel again following the demise of Setanta. RUK aims to continue broadcasting on Sky channel 432 but will move to a new EPG number if necessary. The price point will revert to its 2004 launch price of £20 a month but this will include the £9.99 monthly subscription to Racing UK's on-line services for free. Subscribers will also continue to benefit from £600 worth of free race day tickets per year and members' club packs. Racing UK Chairman Will Wyatt said: "We enjoyed a good relationship with Setanta sinceAugust 2006, and the current situation at Setanta is very unfortunate. Racing UK flourished as a stand-alone channel before Setanta, and now we have a stronger financial base and an even better relationship with our customers. Racing UK is sound, safe and assured of its future." Racing UK will be in contact shortly with its 55,000 residential subscribers on how to re-subscribe directly. There will be no joining fee and the channel will be free to air (for all existing subscribers) while this happens. All current broadband subscriptions and the 2,350 pubs which subscribe to Racing UK will be unaffected. The channel is in discussions with Virgin Media to continue supplying cable customers. Monthly subscribers should not lose out through the closure/administration of Setanta and annual subscribers will get the channel free until their next annual renewal date.	The UK operations of Setanta Sports have been placed into administration. Financial firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu confirmed the division would be liquidated. The sports broadcaster, which employs 420 people in Ireland and the UK, entered administration after plans to raise fresh capital through the Russian-American businessman Leonard Blavatnik failed. With effect from today, the company is to cease accepting payments from television customers who had subscribed to its broadcasting services, and 200 employees in the United Kingdom are to be made redundant. Administrators will attempt to find a buyer for the Irish and international arms of the company. The administrators at Deloitte are Neville Kahn, Lee Manning, and Nick Edwards. The specific companies in administration are Setanta Sport Ltd and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Ltd. Setanta Ireland is not under administration. Setanta's UK sports channels, Setanta Sports 1 & 2, have ceased transmission in the UK, but are continuing transmission in Ireland. Other UK channels that have gone off-air include Setanta Golf and Setanta Sports News. Racing UK, which was bundled by satellite and cable television operators with Setanta channels, is not owned by Setanta and will continue transmission. Customers who subscribed to the channel via Setanta will be offered the option of subscribing to the channel directly. 64 of the people facing redundancy work for ITN, which had contracted with Setanta to produce Setanta Sports News. The rights that Setanta had to broadcast football matches to subscribers are to revert to their rights holders. The rights to broadcast 46 Premier League football matches for the next football season, and 23 matches for the three following seasons, have already reverted, and were sold to United States broadcaster ESPN for £260 million yesterday. Because of UK and European Union monopoly and competition laws, broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting is not permitted to bid for the broadcasting rights that Setanta had.
Paddy McErlean, 14, was killed in the quad bike collision in Maghera Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old boy who died in a quad bike accident in Maghera on Thursday night. Paddy McErlean was on the vehicle with a 16-year-old friend who remains critically ill in hospital. The bike crashed into a post on the Craigmore Road in the County Londonderry town at about 2200 GMT. Ann Scott, the head teacher at Paddy's school, St Patrick's College, said everyone was finding it hard to come to terms with the teenager's death. "This tragic accident really has brought a profound sense of loss to the school. "The loss of Paddy, who was only 14, has just shocked everybody at the college," she said. "He really contributed a lot to the school, he was full of life, he was such a lovely young lad, very popular with the staff and pupils and we will really miss him so terribly." It is understood the boys were travelling along the quiet, rural road close to the McErlean family home, when they crashed and were thrown from the quad. SDLP Maghera councillor Kathleen Lagan said she knew the family very well and described the boy's death as "utterly heart-wrenching". 'Traumatic experience' The 16-year-old was treated in the Antrim Area Hospital after the accident but he has since been transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Paddy's mother and two brothers are being comforted by relatives. Councillor Lagan said: "This is the most traumatic experience any parent, any person, can possibly got through and my heart goes out to the family. Children visited the scene of the crash where floral tributes have been laid "I know that the community, who hold the young boy and his family in such high esteem, will gather around and offer help or support during the tough times ahead. "It may be of little consolation to the family but it shows just how well they are thought of in the community." Ms Lagan also said she hoped the other boy injured in the incident would make a speedy and full recovery. Sinn Fein Councillor, Sean Kerr, who went to the scene of the accident on Thursday night said his immediate thoughts were with the two families. "One is facing an awful bereavement as they come up to Christmas, and then the other family, who are the bedside of the young boy that was injured. "I also think we need to think about the young people who were there at the time, it must have been a very traumatic experience for them," he said. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The death of a teenager who he fell off a quad bike in Co Derry was the third tragedy to hit his family in three years, it has been revealed. Paddy McErlean, 14, was on the machine on Thursday night with a friend when they collided with a post on the quiet and rural Craigmore Road, Maghera. The friend is being treated in hospital. His father Joe died three years ago and his uncle earlier this year. Paddy and his two brothers, Oisin in year 12 and Conleith in year 9, attended St Patrick's College in the town. Principal Anne Scott said: "He was very lovely, just a nice wee lad. He was lovely looking with bright eyes and a smiling face. "We are finding it very tough, the pupils at the school are devastated, we had special reflection time for each of the three classes (of the three brothers). The children are distraught, many of them are inconsolable." Paddy's mother Collette is being comforted by friends at home, a short distance from where the accident happened at around 10pm on Thursday. A 16-year-old was also injured in the accident and is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Sinn Fein Maghera councillor Sean Kerr said the collision happened on the edge of town on a narrow road in atrocious weather conditions. "It is a terrible tragedy all round, the town is basically in shock," he said. "He is from a very well-known and well-respected local family." Press Association	A 14-year-old boy has been killed in an accident involving a quad bike in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The boy has been identified as Paddy McErlean, who crashed near his house in the town of Maghera. What is believed to have happened is that Paddy was travelling on an all-terrain vehicle with a 16-year-old boy along a rural road at around 2200 GMT on Thursday when the vehicle smashed into a post, the boys were then thrown from the road. The 16-year-old boy is critically injured and as of yet has not been identified. Ann Scott, who is the head teacher in St. Patrick's College, which is the high school that Paddy attended, said: "This tragic accident really has brought a profound sense of loss to the school. The loss of Paddy, who was only 14, has just shocked everybody at the college. He really contributed a lot to the school, he was full of life, he was such a lovely young lad, very popular with the staff and pupils and we will really miss him so terribly."
Natasha Kaplinsky won the first series of Strictly Come Dancing Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky has given birth to a boy, but has not yet named the child. The birth was announced on the evening Five News bulletin, which Kaplinsky, 36, presented before she took maternity leave last month. Her husband Justin Bower, whom she married after a whirlwind romance in 2005, said: "We're absolutely thrilled." A spokeswoman for the presenter said: "Mother and baby are doing fine." Five News said: "Her colleagues here at Five News are delighted too - and we've sent our best wishes." The former Strictly Come Dancing star made her debut as the face of Five's news coverage in February, in a deal reported to be worth £1 million a year. Kaplinsky's first broadcast attracted one million viewers - almost double the usual audience. The move to Five marked the latest in a career that has seen Kaplinsky make an almost complete tour of the British news networks. She first started in broadcast when she was selected to present the early morning news bulletins at ITV Meridian in 1997. She has also worked for ITV London, Sky News and BBC Breakfast before moving to the station's Six O'Clock News. \|\|\|\|\| Natasha Kaplinsky has given birth to a baby boy Baby boy for TV's Natasha Kaplinsky Natasha Kaplinsky has given birth to a baby boy, it was announced. The newsreader, 36, who began her maternity leave a month ago, has not yet named the new arrival. Kaplinsky's first child was born at a London hospital. Husband Justin Bower, the investment banker Kaplinsky married in August 2005 following a whirlwind romance, said: "We're absolutely thrilled." The birth was announced on Five News. A spokeswoman for the Five newsreader and former Strictly Come Dancing star said the baby's weight was not yet known. She said: "They are both thrilled. Mother and baby are doing fine." Five said: "Her colleagues here at Five News are delighted too - and we've sent our best wishes." Kaplinsky made her debut as the face of Five's news coverage, in a deal reported to be worth £1 million a year, in February. Her first broadcast attracted one million viewers - almost double the usual audience. The move to Five marked the latest in a career that has seen Kaplinsky make an almost complete tour of the British news networks. Since first being selected to present the early morning news bulletins at ITV Meridian in 1997, she has worked for ITV London, Sky News and BBC Breakfast before moving to the station's Six O'Clock News. \|\|\|\|\| Mother and baby are both doing well and dad Justin says they are “absolutely thrilled”. There’s no name as yet, but we’ll keep you posted. It’s just a month since Natasha departed the sofa to begin her maternity leave.	British newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky gave birth to a baby boy earlier this morning at around 08:30 BST. She had been on maternity leave since August 21. Kaplinsky had only been working with Five News just over a month when she announced she was pregnant. Her husband of three years, investment banker Justin Bower announced "We're absolutely thrilled." Kaplinsky first started to work for the BBC in 2002 after a two year tenure with Sky News. She started on the BBC Breakfast show but later moved onto the BBC Six O'Clock News and later became only the third woman to present the BBC Ten O'Clock News. She left the BBC in October 2007. She also spent a short time with ITV News. Five News released a statement saying "Her colleagues here at Five News are delighted too - and we've sent our best wishes." They also said both Kaplinsky and the baby are doing fine.
View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes. From flooding tragedies in Haiti and South Asia, to the Sept. 11 anniversary at the Pentagon. BREAKING NEWS MSNBC News Services A Metrolink commuter train and a freight train collided Friday in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, injuring an unknown number of people. Firefighters worked to douse flames at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. One car of the Metrolink train derailed along with what appeared to be the engine of the freight train. Footage of the collision was broadcast from a KABC-TV helicopter over the scene. Rescue crews were on the scene looking for victims. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Metrolink is a commuter rail system that links Orange County with surrounding areas, including Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. © 2008 MSNBC Interactive \|\|\|\|\| Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> An NTSB investigator is dwarfed by the mangled wreck of a Metrolink engine in Chatsworth on Saturday. Investigators will examine many possible causes of crash Email Picture Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> An NTSB investigator is dwarfed by the mangled wreck of a Metrolink engine in Chatsworth on Saturday. Possibilities include a warning signal malfunction, a crew member's failure to notice a signal and a lapse in following protocols for moving trains safely through the area. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board will examine many possibilities, but the most immediate questions are these: Did a warning signal malfunction? Did crew members not notice a stop signal, or did an engineer fail to follow protocols designed to move trains safely through the area? Tom Dinger, a retired Amtrak engineer, said the common practice is for northbound passenger trains to effectively pull over onto a side track at the Chatsworth station until southbound freight trains have passed. Between Chatsworth and Simi Valley there is only one set of tracks because of narrow tunnels that trains use to go beneath the Santa Susanna Pass. "We were always stopped at Chatsworth to wait for the heavy UP [Union Pacific Railroad] trains to get off the hill," said Dinger, 64, of Silver Lake. "The UP train was almost at the siding -- it was less than a mile away. It's a shame." \|\|\|\|\| Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> Rescuers work to pull people from mangled wreckage in Chatsworth. 'Total destruction': At least 17 die in head-on Metrolink crash Email Picture Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> Rescuers work to pull people from mangled wreckage in Chatsworth. Commuter train with 225 aboard slams into freight train on winding route in Chatsworth. More than 135 are injured. Hours after the crash Friday afternoon, Los Angeles City Fire Capt. John Virant, his face glistening with sweat, described the scene as "total destruction . . . chaos." "They are in there removing dead bodies that are lying on top of survivors," Virant said. In the front train carriage, he said, "it was as if somebody had just taken all the seats and thrown them in there." Metrolink's Train 111, en route from Los Angeles' Union Station to Moorpark, had just left the Chatsworth station when the crash occurred at 4:23 p.m. on a 45-degree bend. The engine of the freight train embedded itself in the front Metrolink carriage as both trains derailed, sending one of the train's three cars full of homebound commuters keeling onto its side. An earsplitting concussion rocked nearby homes, followed by screams from those aboard. "I saw it coming," said Eric Forbes, 56, an administrator at Cal State Northridge who was riding in the second or third car of the Metrolink train when he glanced out the window to see the freight train bearing down. He spoke later at a nearby triage center, his raspy voice swelling with emotion as he was wheeled on a stretcher to an ambulance. "There was no time to stop," he said. "The next thing I knew I was in a seat in front of me. It was horrible." Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrell said officials did not yet know how the accident occurred. "Obviously two trains are not supposed to be at the same place at the same time." Tom Dinger, an engineer who retired last year from Amtrak after a 43-year railroad career, said normal procedure called for the northbound passenger train to pull into a rail siding at the Chatsworth station to allow the southbound freight train to pass. He said he had steered through that stretch of track hundreds of times. Between Chatsworth and Simi Valley there is only one set of tracks because of narrow tunnels that trains use to go through the Santa Susana Pass. He said he talked by telephone with Metrolink conductor Bob Hildebrand, who was injured. Hildebrand told him he was in the rear club car when the trains collided. "He told me they were going 40 mph and came to a dead stop," Dinger said. Metrolink said the train's engineer, whom it did not identify, died in the crash. There was no word on the fate of the Union Pacific crew. Joelle Ouellet, 38, said she was a few hundred feet away, turning around her horse on a nearby ranch, when the trains collided. "I heard a huge crash," she said. "Then I saw a fireball. I ran over there and there were people lying all over the hill." As the rescue effort swung into full gear, yellow-clad firefighters clambered over the train cars and peeled back the roof of one car to gain entry to the passenger compartment. "Victims are on top of victims," Los Angeles Fire Chief Douglas Barry said after surveying the scene. "Metal and debris is all tangled together. It's a difficult situation." At one point, a Los Angeles police officer went to the house of Jim Halty, who lives near the tracks. They had a brief conversation and the officer left with an American flag. A short time later, alongside the wreckage, scores of uniformed Los Angeles Police Department officers formed two lines in a makeshift formation waiting for rescue crews to extract the body of an LAPD officer on her way home from work. With somber faces and hands clasped in front of them, they waited in silence, many peering up at the hole cut in the twisted metal of the front train car, from which firefighters were pulling bodies. Shortly after sunset, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke to reporters at the scene, saying: "We don't know the number of people still trapped inside. We don't know what condition they're in. There are people trapped in there dead and alive -- they know that some are dead." He said at least 10 fatalities had been confirmed by the coroner's office and that the number of injured "is hard to estimate at this point. We know that dozens of people have been injured, probably over 100." The death toll was later raised to at least 15. Villaraigosa also said he was heartbroken by what he called "the devastation, the carnage," adding, "I haven't seen anything like it." There were three passenger cars on the Metrolink train, each capable of carrying up to 155 people. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Ten people were killed and many others injured Friday when a Metrolink train packed with hundreds of rush-hour commuters collided with a freight train in suburban Los Angeles, officials said. A commuter rail car lies on its side after a collision Friday near Los Angeles, California. The apparent head-on collision between Metrolink train 111 and the Union Pacific train occurred about 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. ET) in Chatsworth, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles. It sparked a fire that was brought under control. Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said 10 people had died, as rescuers continued to search the wreckage. An estimated 350 to 400 people were on the commuter train, which was heading north, said Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell. Passengers were still being evacuated, she said. Three passenger cars and one locomotive were involved in the crash. At least one car from the commuter train had derailed and was lying on its side. Five victims -- three males and two females, all in critical condition -- were received at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, said spokeswoman Natasha Shows. More are expected, she said, as ambulances from the hospital remain at the scene. The Associated Press reported that firefighters pulled passengers out a rear door and down a ladder from the toppled commuter car, which had been separated from the rest of the train by several feet. Crumpled and charred freight cars were strewn across the tracks, the AP said, and dazed and injured passengers sat on the ground and milled about on both sides of the tracks. Video from the scene showed a number of injured people lying on blankets. Passersby had attempted to free some passengers from the train cars before fire and rescue crews arrived. A helicopter was on the scene, ferrying people to hospitals. Watch a report on the collision » CNN affiliate KCAL reported about two dozen people were injured. The AP said that one of the largest medical facilities in the area, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, was told to prepare for the arrival of injured passengers, according to hospital spokeswoman Christina Zicklin. "We are expecting some people. I don't know the number yet," she said, according to AP. Tyrrell said the train left Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and was headed northwest to Moorpark in Ventura County, according to AP. "We don't know if we hit another train or another train hit us," Tyrrell said, according to AP. The cause of the collision is unknown. The AP said the crash happened in an area where the tracks form a "U" shape, about 2,500 feet (762 meters) wide. At the top of the bend is a 500-foot-long tunnel that runs beneath Stoney Point Park, popular with climbers for its large boulders, the AP reported. CNN's Ted Rowlands 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. All About Train Travel • Los Angeles \|\|\|\|\| Rescuers remove a victim with a gurney attached to an aerial ladder as others continue rescue efforts after a MetroLink commuter train collided with a freight train in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) At least 10 killed in LA commuter train wreck LOS ANGELES (AP) — A commuter train believed to have been carrying up to 350 people during the afternoon rush collided with a freight train Friday, killing at least 10 people, injuring dozens and trapping an unknown number of others in a mangled passenger car imploded by its own engine. Firefighters extinguished a blaze under part of the wreckage and were working hours after the collision to free people from the destroyed commuter car, which was left toppled on its side with the train's engine shoved back inside it. Two other cars in the Metrolink train remained upright. The Union Pacific freight train's engine was also turned onto its side, with the rest of the train splayed out like an accordion behind it. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at the scene there were between 10 and 15 fatalities, and 50 to 60 people injured. "This is the worst accident I've ever seen," Villaraigosa said. "Clearly the injuries are going to mount and so are the fatalities." Police Lt. John Romero said the death toll was 10 to 20. The crash "made a terrible sound, like a bomb, a huge noise," said Julio Pedraza, 35, who lives and works at a nearby horse boarding facility. He said he saw passengers emerging from the wreckage, and he and others helped the injured, one with skin peeling off of his forehead. "They were yelling for help and crying," Pedraza said in Spanish. Firefighters treated the injured at three triage areas near the wreck, and helicopters flew in and out of a nearby landing area on medical evacuation flights. Rescuers worked atop the wreckage and through breaches in the passenger car to reach victims. Dazed and injured passengers sat on the ground and milled about on both sides of the tracks. Surgeons were sent to the scene. Dr. Stephanie Hall, chief medical officer at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, said three people in critical condition — two females and a male — were being treated at the hospital. "They are massive injuries," she said. One of the largest medical facilities in the area, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, was told to prepare for the arrival of injured passengers, said hospital spokeswoman Christina Zicklin. "We are expecting some people. I don't know the number yet," she said. A male passenger told KNBC-TV he boarded the Metrolink train in suburban Burbank and was talking with a fellow passenger when the crash occurred. "Within an instant I was in my friend's lap. It was so quick. It was devastating," he said. The man was visibly injured, but able to walk with the aid of firefighters. The man said he was involved in a devastating 2005 Metrolink crash in Glendale and was talking about it with the other passenger when Friday's crash occurred. The trains collided in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley. Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said the train left Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and was headed northwest to Moorpark in Ventura County. She couldn't confirm how many people were on the train, but said that in rush hours there would usually be about 350 people on board. "We don't know if we hit another train or another train hit us," Tyrrell said. She said the Metrolink train was being pulled by its locomotive rather than being pushed. The push mode is controversial due to claims that it makes trains more vulnerable in accidents. The condition of the freight crew was not immediately known. Union Pacific spokeswoman Zoe Richmond said a freight train usually has a two-person crew. She also said it is common in California for freight and commuter trains to share the same track. "You see it a lot in California where commuter trains share tracks with freight trains," Richmond said, adding she couldn't speculate about the cause of the crash. The federal investigation into the crash will be headed by the National Transportation Safety Board, said Steven Kulm, a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration. The FRA will conduct a review of whether any federal rail safety regulations were violated, he said. Asked about how the two trains ended up on the same track, Kulm said, "We are nowhere near having any information on that." The crash happened in an area where the tracks form a "U" shape, about 2,500 feet wide. At the top of the bend is a 500-foot long tunnel that runs beneath Stoney Point Park, popular with climbers for its large boulders. The toppled passenger car was part of a Bombardier BiLevel coach, commonly used for regional railways from Seattle's commuter rail Sounder to New Jersey Transit. Each double-decker car is about 16 feet high and 10 feet wide and can seat up to 160 passengers, depending on its configuration. The worst disaster in Metrolink's history occurred on Jan. 26, 2005, in suburban Glendale, when a man parked a gasoline-soaked SUV on railroad tracks. A Metrolink train struck the SUV and derailed, striking another Metrolink train traveling the other way, killing 11 people and injuring about 180 others. Juan Alvarez was convicted this year of murder for causing the crash. Associated Press writers Raquel Maria Dillon, Greg Risling, Denise Petski, Josh Dickey, James Beltran and John Rogers contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES A freight train collided with a rush-hour commuter train in Los Angeles on Friday evening, killing at least 18 people and injuring scores of others, many of them critically. The crash was potentially the deadliest accident in the history of the Southern California commuter trains. The accident happened in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley, north of downtown Los Angeles, just before 4:30 p.m. Pacific time. Almost immediately after the collision, firefighters, using large cranes and ladders, swarmed a toppled and twisted car, reaching through smashed windows and frantically trying to extract passengers. Firefighters said they expected the death toll to rise as they tried to search through the toppled car. A stream of helicopters flew in to remove the injured some of them gravely so, legs snapped, heads bleeding, arms twisted behind them to several hospitals, and scores of ambulances lined the area as well. Hundreds of police officers joined the rescue effort, which fanned into a nearby park, where a triage unit was set up. \|\|\|\|\| Mayor: At Least 10 Killed In Metrolink Crash LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Friday night that "at least 10" people were killed -- and scores injured, as many as 47 critically -- when a Metrolink commuter train crashed into a freight train in Chatsworth before the evening rush hour.One of the confirmed dead is a Los Angeles Police Department officer, according to LAPD Media Relations. The officer's name was not released.Reporting overhead in Sky 9, Gary Lineberry said it was a "real mess. And it's a bad one...no doubt about that."The freight train looked accordioned. Several cars on the freight train derailed. Several cars of the commuter train overturned.Tim Lynn reporting overhead in Chopper 2 said the crash was "head on." He added, "We saw people crawling out of the train trying to escape flames. The fire department immediately got into rescue mode."Just looking at the aftermath Lynn said, "this crash had to be horrific."A Metrolink spokeswoman confirmed at least seven people were killed as of 7:30 p.m. Lineberry said police sources were confirming casualties are expected to mount.Later in the evening, a somber Mayor addressed reporters and said the rescue effort had turned into a recovery effort and that "at least 15 people" were dead. Also, officials called in cadaver dogs to look for more victims.The crash occured near Topanga Boulevard about 4:40 p.m.The most serious injuries are believed to be in the front car of the Metrolink train.Some people were believed trapped.Rescue teams were on hand to extricate at least three people from the overturned cars, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The Los Angeles Police Department called a citywide tactical alert in response to the crash.Metrolink says the train had 350 passengers.Fire crews think that there might be some bodies trapped underneath some of the overturned cars, debris and rubble.They have requested heavy machinery to move the wreckage.Lineberry reporting over the triage area said responders were separating the wounded and injured by color-coded blankets: the most serious injuries were put on red blankets, serious -- but not critical -- injuries were given yellow blankets, and wounded people who did not require immediate attention were put on green blankets. (© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| Driver dies when Metrolink train hits car in Corona The unidentified woman drove around crossing gates onto the tracks, officials say. The driver of a car heading south on Sheridan drove around the lowered arms of the crossing gate onto the train tracks, Corona Police Lt. Brent Coleman said. Coleman said there was no way the engineer could have seen the car because a commercial building blocked the view. The seven-car train was 300 yards from its next stop, Main Street. The driver, an unidentified woman in her 40s traveling alone, died at the scene. An investigation of the crash continues, but it appears the driver tried to beat the train, Coleman said. A passenger on the train was taken to Corona Regional Medical Center for anxiety. No one else was injured, authorities said. "By no means should you try to beat the train," Coleman said. "You will not win." esmeralda.bermudez@ latimes.com	Firefighters stand near a locomotive on September 12, 2008 after a Metrolink passenger liner collided with a Union Pacific freight train near Chatsworth, California. At least 25 people have been killed and many more injured when a Metrolink commuter train collided yesterday afternoon with a Union Pacific freight train in the Chatsworth district of Los Angeles. Around 250 firefighters have responded to the accident scene. Estimates are that 350-400 people were on the number 111 commuter train which departed from Los Angeles' Union Station at 3:35pm PDT. The collision occurred on Friday at about 4:25pm PDT on Metrolink's Ventura County Line. The area in which the crash took place is hilly and contains a single track; it is just north of the Chatsworth Metrolink station. The force of the collision sent the locomotive of the Metrolink train to penetrate deep into the lead bi-level passenger car of the three-car train. The collision then knocked the Union Pacific and Metrolink locomotives on their side along with the lead passenger car. According to various sources, upwards of 10-15 passengers, possibly even more than 20, have been killed, including a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer. The LAPD has not released the name of the officer. The engineer of the Metrolink train is believed to be another of the fatalities. The number of injured is believed to be 135, although the precise number is still unclear. According to emergency responders, the injured have been transported to Los Angeles area hospitals, including the University of California, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and Huntington Hospital. “This is the worst accident I’ve ever seen. Clearly the injuries are going to mount and so are the fatalities,” Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, said. It is unclear how the accident occurred. Some of the possibilities include a signal malfunction, a failure by a crew member to notice a signal or a lapse in protocol for moving trains safely in the area. According to Metrolink and the Los Angeles Times, the National Transportation Safety Board has a team on scene and is investigating. In an apparently unrelated incident less than an hour after the crash in Chatsworth, another Metrolink train collided with a car in Corona, California, killing the female driver of the automobile.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. BP has slowed the flow of oil and gas from a ruptured well into the Gulf of Mexico, a US official told local media. The company's "top kill" effort has "stabilised the wellhead", Coast Guard commander Admiral Thad Allen said. But he cautioned it was too early to declare success. This is the first step in BP's plan to seal the well for good. Meanwhile, a panel of US scientists said the oil leak was much worse than previously estimated, making it the nation's worst spill. US Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt said BP 'slows leaking Gulf oil well' government teams estimated the flow ranges from 12,000 barrels (504,000 gallons or 1.9 million litres) to 25,000 barrels per day. Up to now, BP had estimated the leak at 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day, while cautioning that figure was unreliable. If the new estimates are confirmed, it would mean the leak has far eclipsed the previous worst oil spill in US history - the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. Official resigns Later on Thursday, President Barack Obama is expected to extend a moratorium on deep-water offshore drilling for six months, the White House has said. The move comes as his administration faces criticism of its handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Hours before Mr Obama was due to speak, US officials announced the resignation of the head of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the US agency which oversees drilling operations. Elizabeth "Liz" Birnbaum, who had run the MMS since July 2009, has endured criticism in the weeks since the oil spill over alleged lax oversight of drilling and what President Obama has called an overly cozy relationship with industry. Eleven workers were killed in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on 20 April. Millions of gallons of oil have poured into the sea since then. 'Low pressure' Adm Allen told US media the "top kill" procedure, which began on Wednesday, has pumped enough drilling fluid to block some of the oil and gas escaping from the well. Earlier, he had indicated that all the leaking oil and gas had been stopped, telling National Public Radio that BP engineers had "been able to force mud down and not allow any hydrocarbons to come up." An aide to Adm Allen later clarified his statement, saying the procedure had a way to go before it proved successful. It was the first positive official assessment of BP's latest attempt to plug the well, after previous efforts failed. TOP KILL PROCEDURE Continue reading the main story Drilling mud pumped from surface Goes into blowout preventer If pressure and density sufficient, oil and gas flow stops Well then filled with cement What is a 'top kill'? BP shares were up more than 5% in London trading following the announcement. BP has not yet commented in detail on the situation, saying merely that its "subsea efforts [were] advancing on several fronts". The company did not know how long the operation would take, a BP official said. The top kill attempt, which began on Wednesday, involves pumping heavy drilling fluids into the top of the well to try to halt the oil flow. If it succeeds, cement would then be injected to seal the well. The oil leak has already soiled more than 110km (70 miles) of Louisiana's coastline, threatening fragile marshlands and putting the Louisiana fishing industry at risk. US officials warn the coming hurricane season could make things worse. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts 14 to 23 named storms, with 8 to 14 developing into hurricanes, making it one of the most active on record. Are you in the region? What is your reaction to the apparently successful attempt to stem the flow of oil and gas? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. \|\|\|\|\| “I’m hopeful that the reforms that the secretary and the administration are undertaking will resolve the flaws in the current system that I inherited,” she said in a statement. Mr. Obama plans on Friday to inspect the efforts in Louisiana to stop the leak and clean up after it, his second trip to the region since the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20. He will also visit with people affected by the spreading slick that has washed ashore over scores of miles of beaches and wetlands. Even as Mr. Obama acknowledged that his efforts to improve regulation of offshore drilling had fallen short, he said that oil and gas from beneath the gulf, now about 30 percent of total domestic production, would be a part of the nation’s energy supply for years to come. “It has to be part of an overall energy strategy,” Mr. Obama said. “I mean, we’re still years off and some technological breakthroughs away from being able to operate on purely a clean-energy grid. During that time, we’re going to be using oil. And to the extent that we’re using oil, it makes sense for us to develop our oil and natural gas resources here in the United States and not simply rely on imports.” In the top kill maneuver, a 30,000-horsepower engine aboard a ship injected heavy drill liquids through two narrow flow lines into the stack of pipes and other equipment above the well to push the escaping oil and gas back down below the sea floor. As hour after hour passed after the top kill began early Wednesday afternoon, technicians along with millions of television and Internet viewers watched live video images showing that the dark oil escaping into the gulf waters was giving way to a mud-colored plume. That seemed to be an indication that the heavy liquids known as “drilling mud” were filling the chambers of the blowout preventer, replacing the escaping oil. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. US President Barack Obama has defended his government's handling of the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He unveiled a series of measures, including a continued moratorium on drilling permits for six months. The move comes after an opinion poll said 60% of Americans were unhappy with the government's response. BP has resumed pumping heavy mud into the ruptured well after a pause to assess the effect of its "top kill" operation. The procedure is aimed at stemming the oil flow, from what some experts say is the country's worst-ever spill. New estimates from a panel of US scientists said at least 12,000 barrels (504,000 gallons) were leaking into the Gulf every day, far exceeding the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. The leak was caused by an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on 20 April, which also killed 11 workers. Corruption charges Speaking at the White House, President Obama vowed to hold BP accountable for the "horrific disaster". He stressed that his administration, and not oil company BP, was in charge. TOP KILL PROCEDURE Continue reading the main story Drilling mud pumped from surface Goes into blowout preventer If pressure and density sufficient, oil and gas flow stops Well then filled with cement What is a 'top kill'? But he admitted the government did not have the technology to deal with the damaged oil well nearly a mile (1.6km) below the surface, meaning that Washington must rely on BP to plug the ruptured well. The president's comments came as questions were increasingly being asked about whether he had been sufficiently engaged in handling the disaster, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington. In a shake-up of the offshore oil industry, Mr Obama suspended test drilling on 33 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as halting exploratory deepwater drilling for another six months. In addition, he cancelled the sale of some offshore leases off the coasts of Alaska and Virginia. Correspondents say the move marks a shift in policy since March, when President Obama gave the go-ahead to widen the scope for offshore drilling in order to reduce dependency on oil imports. Hours before Mr Obama spoke, the head of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which oversees drilling operations, resigned. Elizabeth Birnbaum and the MMS have come under fire from lawmakers over lax oversight of drilling operations. The president blasted the "scandalously close relationship" between oil companies and regulators, and said officials granting exploration permits would no longer be responsible as well for ensuring safety. Also on Thursday, Mr Obama's top spill response official - Coast Guard commander Admiral Thad Allen - approved part of an ambitious plan to build barrier islands to stop oil from coming ashore in Louisiana. 'Worst spill' The oil leak has already soiled more than 110km (70 miles) of Louisiana's coastline, threatening fragile marshlands and putting the Louisiana fishing industry at risk. In the first official estimate of the size of the oil leak, US Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt said government teams estimated the flow ranges from 12,000 barrels (504,000 gallons or 1.9 million litres) to 25,000 barrels per day. Up to now, BP had estimated the leak at 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day, while cautioning that figure was unreliable. If the new estimates are confirmed, it would mean the leak has far eclipsed the previous worst oil spill in US history - the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. Making matters worse, US officials warned the coming hurricane season could be one of the worst on record. But BP said its latest attempt to stem the flow was making progress. It would take 24-48 hours before BP engineers could tell whether the "top kill" procedure had worked, company officials said at about 2000 GMT on Thursday. The procedure, which began on Wednesday, involves pumping heavy drilling fluids into the top of the well to try to halt the oil flow. If it succeeds, cement would then be injected to seal the well. Are you in the region affected by the oil? What is your reaction to the apparently successful attempt to stem the flow of oil and gas? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below.	A US official said today that BP's latest effort to plug the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been successful in slowing the amount of oil leaking from the well. The official, Admiral Thad Allen, said that the procedure, known as a "top kill" operation, has been able to block some of the leaking oil at the source, the top of the damaged well. The operation involves pumping material into the well to plug the leak before cement is used to permanently seal the leak. Allen said the operation has "been able to force mud down and not allow any hydrocarbons to come up." BP hasn't confirmed the success of the top kill operation, saying only that the "operation is proceeding as we planned it," and that there had been no major incidents thus far. Although the possibility of failure is still present, experts say that the longer the procedure continues, the less likely it will be that anything goes wrong. The procedure began yesterday afternoon, after diagnostics on the damaged equipment on the ocean's surface indicated that it could withstand the added pressure of the mud being pumped into the well. Although engineers involved with the operation wore concerned that the pressure of the mud might not be able to overcome that of the oil, that has thus far not been the case. Separately, a group of US scientists announced new estimates of how much oil was flowing from the well, ranging from 12,000 to 25,000 barrels a day, far higher than BP's original estimate of 5,000 barrels a day, a figure which BP warned was possibly inaccurate. In a press conference Thursday afternoon, US president Barack Obama also announced new measures in response to the spill, which include: Suspending off-shore test drilling for six months Extending the moratorium on issuing drilling permits for an additional six months *Cancelling the sale of leases for off-shore drilling. In statements, Obama criticized the "scandalously close relationship" between government officials and oil companies in the past, saying that the Mineral Management Service, which is the agency responsible for monitoring off-shore drilling, had been corrupt for years.
Wikipedia is one of the internet community's big successes The 12-hour ban hit large numbers of people in the country because all web traffic in Qatar is routed through a single net address. Wikipedia says pages about the US, sex and the birthday of the prophet Muhammad were vandalised. The site is run by its users and anyone is free to alter posts in good faith. Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, wrote: "This IP (internet protocol) number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy." In an earlier post on the Wikipedia site, it said: "Anonymous editing from this internet address is currently disabled due to a large volume of spam and vandalism that we have received from this address." Specific users In other cases Wikipedia bans specific users who vandalise entries to the encyclopaedia. But it was not able to do that for users in Qatar because of the way the net is configured in the country. There is only one high speed internet service provider in the country which acts as a gateway for all users. We wish to allow the maximum numbers of people, from everywhere Florence Devouard, Wikimedia foundation chair It was thought the ban was permanent but Mr Wales made clear the ban was temporary. "In the English Wikipedia, such an action [a permanent ban] would require approval of at a minimum the English Arbitration Committee and/or me personally, and would never ever be undertaken lightly, nor without extensive attempts at direct negotiation with the ISP and/or nation in question," he wrote. Qatar is one of the wealthiest middle eastern countries, with a population of about 630,000. It is also the home of Al-Jazeera TV, one of the most well-known Arabic TV networks. Florence Devouard, chair of the Wikimedia foundation, told BBC News: "None of us is against any country. We come from countries all over the world. Not only the USA, not only Europe. "We are aware some of our very good editors are sometimes blocked after a vandalism spree, this happened just a few days ago in Thailand. We unblock people as soon as possible. "We wish to allow the maximum numbers of people, from everywhere. We just have to protect ourselves from vandals from time to time." \|\|\|\|\| January 02, 2007 (4:00 PM EST) Wikipedia Founder Refutes Claims That It Banned Qatar By Thomas Claburn , Reports that Wikipedia has banned the residents of Qatar from editing entries have been greatly exaggerated. In response to posts on TechCrunch and Slashdot titled "Wikipedia Bans Qatar" and "Wikipedia Blocks Qatar," respectively, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales posted a note on Wikipedia to correct the record. "If you came here from a news headline saying that Wikipedia has banned all of Qatar, please pop right back over there and post in the comments that the story is not true," Wales wrote. "This IP number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy. "In all language Wikipedias, such an action would require a series of administrative processes, and would never ever be undertaken lightly, nor without extensive attempts at direct negotiation with the ISP and/or nation in question," Wales explained. In an e-mail, a Wikipedia spokesman elaborated, "Qatar has not been banned from Wikipedia. Apparently Qatar basically has only one ISP, and nearly all of its traffic shows as coming from a single IP address." He explained that the IP address "was briefly blocked (from editing, not from viewing) because of a burst of spam or vandalism coming through it. Normally this is a fairly routine action, but the person who blocked this IP address was unaware that it effectively blocked an entire ISP or country, and as soon as people figured out what had happened the block was removed. The whole thing lasted less than half a day, and there is no way we would ban an entire country from contributing to Wikipedia." Wales considers the reports of a ban inaccurate. "I object to the story completely," Wales wrote in e-mail. "A block of an IP number is not a 'ban' in our usage. It's just part of how Wikipedia functions." Wikipedia's discussion page for the IP address in question, 82.148.97.69, notes that the address "has been repeatedly blocked from editing Wikipedia in response to abuse of editing privileges. Further abuse from this IP may result in an immediate block without further warning." This is not quite the same thing as "Wikipedia Bans Qatar," but headlines seldom have room for subtleties. The irony here is that Wikipedia, repeatedly pilloried for inaccuracies, finds itself on the defensive against bloggers who play fast and loose with the facts. For example, in a post titled "Wikipedia Bans Qatar," TechCrunch's Michael Arrington wrote, "Qatar, home to nearly a million people, has been blocked from editing any entry on Wikipedia 'due to a large volume of spam and vandalism.' " Qatar may indeed be home to 885,359 people, according to a July 2006 estimate in the CIA World Factbook, but this supposed ban affected far fewer of them than TechCrunch's headline suggests. Qatar has only 219,000 Internet users, and almost certainly not all of them bother editing Wikipedia entries. The IP address in question was the source for some 200 edits in December, according to Wikipedia's spokesman. Really, the story, if it even deserves media attention, should have had a headline like "A Few Hundred in Qatar Inconvenienced for a Half Day by Wikipedia Administrative Error." Good luck getting anyone to read that. Related Stories: Search Wags The Long Tail China Removes Block To English-Language Wikipedia, But Chinese-Language Version Still Blocked Wikipedia Founder Plans Search Engine	Wikipedia blocked editing by a proxy IP address belonging to Internet users in the Middle Eastern kingdom of Qatar for a period of twelve hours due to persistent vandalism originating from the IP. Only one provider of high-speed Internet access operates in Qatar, and this provider has configured its network such that all its users share the same single IP address. In most cases, a single IP address corresponds to one user or a small group of users in one building or school. Because of this single-address configuration, Wikipedia was not able to implement its usual countervandalism solution, the blocking of individual IPs or user accounts. Wikipedia said that the action was taken after 200 repeated vandalism edits of the articles on sex, the United States, and the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. A spokesperson for Wikipedia, said: "Qatar has not been banned from Wikipedia. Apparently Qatar basically has only one ISP, and nearly all of its traffic shows as coming from a single IP address." Jimmy Wales, the Wikipedia founder, emphasized the temporary nature of the block, saying, "This IP number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy." At 21:26 UTC (5:26 p.m. ET) a Wikipedia admin unblocked the IP address with the reason given as: ''"This IP is the address for the entire nation of Qatar; it should not be blocked."'' Qatar only has around 219,000 Internet users, and much less of that number would actually be affected by the block.
Sports > ravens/football Ryan 'ready' if Chargers make offer Sun reporter What caught the eye of everyone in the Chargers' organization was Ryan's jewelry - the Super Bowl ring he won with the Ravens in January 2001. "That would be something that we'd be targeting," Ryan told San Diego reporters after meeting with Chargers executives yesterday. "We'd like to get several of those, but we want to put a different logo on it." Ryan was the second candidate to interview for the job that became open when the Chargers suddenly fired Marty Schottenheimer four days ago. San Diego officials spoke with San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary Wednesday and then sat down with 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner after meeting with Ryan. It marked the first interview for a head coaching job for Ryan, who spoke with Chargers president Dean Spanos, general manager A.J. Smith and executive vice president Ed McGuire from 8 a.m. to noon yesterday. "It was quite an experience," Ryan said. "I think once you go through this process, you realize how much you really do want to be in this position. I know I'm ready." Last season, in his second season as defensive coordinator, Ryan directed the Ravens to the top of the NFL rankings for the first time in team history. If hired, he would be the third Ravens defensive coordinator to become a head coach, following Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan. Ryan's strength has been his creativity, keeping offenses off-balance with defenses that would change nearly every snap. He also gained a reputation for being a players' coach because he sought their input, which usually resulted in getting their respect as well as their best effort. "What I would bring is a great passion," Ryan said. "It's something that I was born to do. It's something I know how to do. I'm a football coach, No. 1. I love the game. I'm committed to the game. My family is committed to it and I think that will be obvious once I do hopefully get the opportunity to be a head coach." During his talk with Chargers executives, Ryan spoke about being brought up in a football family. His father, Buddy Ryan, was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986 to 1990, and the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and 1995. Ryan made a point to differentiate his coaching style from the one used by his father, a brash Korean War veteran who brought a military ethic to his teams. "I think my personality might be a little different," Ryan said. "I think I'm just the opposite. I've learned a great deal from my father, how to attack offenses and how to do different things in football. But I've also learned what not to do as well. With his help." Ryan then added, "And you hope you don't punch out an assistant coach on the sideline." Ryan was alluding to Houston's 1993 season finale, when then-Oilers defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan threw a punch at offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the sideline. After meeting with Rex Ryan yesterday, the Chargers seemed impressed with him as well as his ring. "We talked quite a bit about what it was like during that special run of 2000," Smith, the Chargers' general manager for the past four seasons, told the team's Web site. "The goal of this search is to find someone who can help us get there." Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was scheduled to be interviewed today. If Ryan were to leave, the Ravens likely would look at consultant Vic Fangio, linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald and former secondary coach Donnie Henderson to be their next defensive coordinator. "Everybody just wants to win around here," Ryan said. "Obviously, 14-2 record [last season], it would be a unique situation to come into as a head coach." jamison.hensley@baltsun.com Ravens quick links: Schedule \| Roster \| Photos \| More coverage Subscribe to Jamison Hensley's podcast In interviewing for the San Diego Chargers' coaching job yesterday, Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan dressed to impress.What caught the eye of everyone in the Chargers' organization was Ryan's jewelry - the Super Bowl ring he won with the Ravens in January 2001."That would be something that we'd be targeting," Ryan told San Diego reporters after meeting with Chargers executives yesterday. "We'd like to get several of those, but we want to put a different logo on it."Ryan was the second candidate to interview for the job that became open when the Chargers suddenly fired Marty Schottenheimer four days ago.San Diego officials spoke with San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary Wednesday and then sat down with 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner after meeting with Ryan.It marked the first interview for a head coaching job for Ryan, who spoke with Chargers president Dean Spanos, general manager A.J. Smith and executive vice president Ed McGuire from 8 a.m. to noon yesterday."It was quite an experience," Ryan said. "I think once you go through this process, you realize how much you really do want to be in this position. I know I'm ready."Last season, in his second season as defensive coordinator, Ryan directed the Ravens to the top of the NFL rankings for the first time in team history.If hired, he would be the third Ravens defensive coordinator to become a head coach, following Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan.Ryan's strength has been his creativity, keeping offenses off-balance with defenses that would change nearly every snap. He also gained a reputation for being a players' coach because he sought their input, which usually resulted in getting their respect as well as their best effort."What I would bring is a great passion," Ryan said. "It's something that I was born to do. It's something I know how to do. I'm a football coach, No. 1. I love the game. I'm committed to the game. My family is committed to it and I think that will be obvious once I do hopefully get the opportunity to be a head coach."During his talk with Chargers executives, Ryan spoke about being brought up in a football family.His father, Buddy Ryan, was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986 to 1990, and the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and 1995.Ryan made a point to differentiate his coaching style from the one used by his father, a brash Korean War veteran who brought a military ethic to his teams."I think my personality might be a little different," Ryan said. "I think I'm just the opposite. I've learned a great deal from my father, how to attack offenses and how to do different things in football. But I've also learned what not to do as well. With his help."Ryan then added, "And you hope you don't punch out an assistant coach on the sideline."Ryan was alluding to Houston's 1993 season finale, when then-Oilers defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan threw a punch at offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the sideline.After meeting with Rex Ryan yesterday, the Chargers seemed impressed with him as well as his ring."We talked quite a bit about what it was like during that special run of 2000," Smith, the Chargers' general manager for the past four seasons, told the team's Web site. "The goal of this search is to find someone who can help us get there."Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was scheduled to be interviewed today.If Ryan were to leave, the Ravens likely would look at consultant Vic Fangio, linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald and former secondary coach Donnie Henderson to be their next defensive coordinator."Everybody just wants to win around here," Ryan said. "Obviously, 14-2 record [last season], it would be a unique situation to come into as a head coach." Advertisement Get Sun home delivery Copyright © 2007, The Baltimore Sun Talk about it E-mail it Print it Contact us \|\|\|\|\| Brodie Croyle(QB, Alabama) with good coaching and a veteran quarterback to guide him, Croyle could eventually become a starter in the NFL. However, his...[ with good coaching and a veteran quarterback to guide him, Croyle could eventually become a starter in the NFL. However, his...[ More Chad Greenway(OLB, Iowa) is known for being a very good tackler, since he rarely misses one. He may need to get a little more built to get past NFL offensive linemen. Demetrius Williams(WR, Oregon) has very good body control near the sideline and when leaping to snag balls. Sometimes he loses focus and runs before securing the ball.	On February 13, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders announced his re-retirement from the NFL. Last January, many assumed Sanders would be leaving the league after spending 14 years in it. Sanders won back-to-back Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Sanders is the first professional athlete to win a World Series and Super Bowl in his pro career. The All-Pro Cornerback had 53 interceptions, was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times and was once Defensive Player of the Year. Reports speculate Sanders, who broadcast with ''CBS'' after his first retirement, may go back into news broadcasting, possibly on the ''Fox'' NFL Pre-Game Show. After his retirement, current Ravens Cornerback Chris McAlister stated, "I'll miss Deion, just as the rest of the Ravens organization will. I learned a lot from him."
To complain so candidly while still in office is unusual, but Obama highlights what historians may come to see as his major flaw in international affairs \|\|\|\|\| A bomb in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir Tuesday evening killed seven people and injured 17 others, the local governor's office said. Authorities said the bomb was made from powerful explosives and was set off by a cell phone timer. It was not immediately known who placed it. Diyarbakir Deputy Gov. Ahmet Aydin said children were among the killed and that two of the injured were in serious condition at a local hospital. Local news stations said five of the seven killed were children. The blast apparently took place near an elementary school, a Kurdish news agency reported. Diyarbakir is Turkey's largest Kurdish-majority city, and the explosion comes as Kurdish rebels fighting for autonomy in the region have stepped up their attacks. It is the third suspected bomb attack of the day. \|\|\|\|\| Authorities said the blast, which occurred at a park in the poor Baglar area of the city, was probably detonated using a mobile phone timer. At least five of the dead were reported to be children. The blast came as a US envoy arrived in Turkey for talks on curbing a wave of bombs blamed on Kurdish separatists. Bomb attacks in tourist resorts and other cities in recent weeks have killed a total of 12 people and wounded dozens. One separatist militant group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (Tac), has said it carried out those attacks. It also warned on its website last week that it would turn "Turkey into hell". Shattered The explosion happened at about 2100 local time (1800 GMT) at a park popular with locals in an area of the city largely populated by Kurdish migrants. The local governor's office said it suspected a bomb had been set off, but that investigations were continuing. Police cordoned off the site as rescue workers converged on the scene. Upsurge in violence Diyarbakir, the central city of Turkey's south-east, is a heartland of Kurdish separatist militancy. The district mayor is from the Kurdish DTP political party, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul, which recently called on the outlawed Kurdish separatist group the PKK to announce a ceasefire following an upsurge in violence in recent weeks. The Tac group, which is said to be linked to the PKK, called on foreign tourists not to travel to the country following recent attacks. Retired US air force General Joseph Ralston will meet Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday for talks on the Kurdish issue.	Ten people, 7 of which are children, are dead, and at least 17 injured as a bomb went off in , Turkey. Police say that the bomb was set off by a timer on a mobile phone. The blast happened inside a park in the Baglar region of Diyarbakir. A group called the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons or TAC has claimed to be responsible for the blasts. The group threatened Turkey last week when it posted a message on their website saying that they would turn the country "into hell." "Our grief is great for the victims of this terror, especially as our children have been the victims," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister.
Haji Yar Mohammad Karzai was killed during a night raid in the early hours of Thursday, south of the city of Kandahar. The presidential palace said Mr Karzai was "extremely sad" at the news and once again called on Nato forces "to avoid killing civilians". Afghan officials said troops had raided a compound in Karz village of Dand district which is the home of the Karzai clan. During the raid at around 2am, Yar Mohammad, a cousin of the president's late father, had apparently tried to leave his home and had been mistakenly shot. Ahmad Wali Karzai, the president's brother and Kandahar's main powerbroker, said: "It was a mistake. The forces conducted an operation, he was at his home, he came out and was shot." "It was a mistake. What can you do about it?" A Nato press statement had said the raid targeted a Taliban leader who smuggled weapons and bombs to insurgents in Kandahar. It said an "armed individual", believed to be the target's father, had been shot when he emerged from a neighbouring building inside the compound carrying an AK-47. When reports it was Yar Mohammad later emerged, the coalition said it was "aware of conflicting reports about the identities of those involved" and had begun an investigation. Civilian deaths cause deep resentment of foreign forces among Afghans and are a constant source of tension between Mr Karzai and Nato. He recently refused initially to accept an apology from Gen David Petraeus after a coalition helicopter mistakenly killed nine boys in an airstrike as they collected firewood in Kunar province. Yar Mohammad, who was aged around 60, was the principal player in a vendetta which has split the Karzai family for 30 years. He allegedly killed the father of Hashmat Karzai, a first cousin of the president, in Quetta in a row over a failed arranged marriage. Two years ago Yar Mohammad's son, Waheed, was shot dead by unknown assassins who burst into his home and murdered him in front of his younger sister. According to reports at the time, Waheed used his dying breath to claim Hashmat was behind the killing. Yar Mohammad later complained that his son's death had never been adequately investigated. Meanwhile a senior Afghan official said Kabul would take control of security in up to four provinces and three major cities this July in the first stage of a handover which will allow Nato troops to leave the country. Hamid Karzai is expected to announce the first areas to be handed over in a speech to mark Afghan new year on March 21. \|\|\|\|\| Nato 'kills cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai' The death comes just days after Hamid Karzai lambasted US forces over civilian deaths A relative of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been mistakenly killed by Nato troops in southern Afghanistan, officials say. Yar Muhammad Khan was at his home in Dand district near Kandahar city when he was shot dead in an overnight raid. Nato says it is investigating the incident. Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of the capital, Kabul, last week to protest about civilian deaths at the hands of foreign forces. ''There were operations taking place near his house. He was killed by mistake. He was not a target," Ahmad Wali Karzai, the brother of President Karzai and head of Kandahar's provincial council, told the BBC. It comes just days after President Karzai lashed out at US-led forces over the recent accidental killing of nine boys in eastern Kunar province. US President Barack Obama, Gen Petraeus, the commander of international troops in Afghanistan, and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates have all apologised for the incident. 'Extremely sad' The man killed on Thursday does not appear to have been a close relative of Hamid Karzai. He has been described by various sources as a cousin of President Karzai and a cousin of his father's. However, President Karzai's spokesman said that the president knew the man and that they came from the same village. "He was extremely sad, just as he's sad over any incident that takes the life of any innocent Afghan civilian," Waheed Omer said. Continue reading the main story 2010: A BLOODY AFGHAN YEAR 2,777 civilians killed - 75% by the Taliban 83% rise in abductions 105% increase in targeted killings 588% and 248% rise in civilian killings in Helmand and Kandahar provinces 26% decline in the number of civilian deaths caused by coalition and Afghan forces 21% rise in the number of child casualties 6% rise in the number of women casualties Source: United Nations The president "once again calls on Nato forces to avoid killing civilians," he is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. Mr Khan is thought to be a farmer between 60 and 65 years old. He is reported to have left the house at night carrying a weapon. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says it is not unusual to carry weapons at night in such volatile areas, especially for those in the Karzai clan. However, reports say he was spotted by the Nato team with a weapon and shot dead. A record number of civilians were killed in Afghanistan last year. More than 2,700 civilians were killed in 2010 - up 15% on the year before. A UN report on civilian deaths said that the Taliban were responsible for 75% of all deaths. The numbers killed by Afghan and Nato forces fell, accounting for 16% of civilian deaths. Nevertheless the issue of civilian deaths is highly sensitive in Afghanistan. Our correspondent says that public anger over the deaths of the nine boys in Kunar shows that the deaths of Afghans by foreign hands provokes greater outrage than killings by the Taliban. In 2009 Gen Stanley McChrystal, the former commander in chief in Afghanistan, made reducing civilian casualties a priority for coalition forces. Analysts see this as a critical year for the conflict: fighting is expected to get worse and human rights groups fear that the Taliban are becoming more brutal. They say civilians will continue to be caught in the middle, with even higher casualties expected in the year ahead. Kandahar province, where Mr Khan was killed, is the spiritual homeland of the Taliban and is a key focus of the coalition offensive to drive out insurgents. \|\|\|\|\| Karzai's Cousin Killed by Coalition Forces, Says President's Brother Photo: VOA Afghan President Hamid Karzai's brother said Thursday that NATO-led forces mistakenly killed a cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai during operations in southern Afghanistan. Provincial council chief Ahmad Wali Karzai said Yar Mohammad Khan was killed at his home in the Dand district of Kandahar province late Wednesday as coalition forces pursued insurgents in the area. Afghan and NATO officials are investigating the incident. Earlier on Thursday, the coalition said NATO and Afghan forces captured a Taliban leader, killed an armed individual and detained several suspected insurgents during operations in Kandahar city on Wednesday. It's unclear whether the individual reportedly killed in those operations is Karzai's cousin. President Karzai has called the killing of civilians in NATO operations unacceptable. On Thursday, he urged the United Nations to put pressure on NATO to exercise greater care in protecting civilians while pursuing insurgents. Mr Karzai last week rejected an apology from General David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, after a NATO airstrike killed nine boys in northeastern Kunar province. Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan, German troops accidentally killed a woman during a gun battle Wednesday in the Chardara district of Kunduz province, police said. Coalition officials said Thursday they were investigating the incident. Also Thursday, NATO says a roadside bomb killed one of its service members in southern Afghanistan. This week, the United Nations reported the number of war-related civilian deaths increased 15 percent last year. Comments (3) Nice! Let's start another war in the Middle East and go around killing people! Collateral damage... Nice, is not it! I am quite furious about killing civilians. No democracy is worth extra deaths, however collateral!!! Writers 1 & 2: Al Qaida started the war in NYC and the Taliban extended it by giving Al Qaida a home base. Both guilty; both being punished. More Muslim's killed by them than by NATO. Russia is proof that democracy goes down the toilet, if the people aren't willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Putins happy,are you? Post Your Comment * Required	Hamid Karzai was said to be "extremely sad" over the shooting A relative of the Afghan president Hamid Karzai has been mistakenly shot dead by NATO troops, according to officials. Yar Mohammad Khan, who was in his 60s was killed during a night raid in the . Khan, who also possibly used the surname of Karzai, was believed to have been a cousin of either the president or a cousin of the president's father. The president's brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, released a statement over the shooting. He said, "It was a mistake. The forces conducted an operation, he was at his home, he came out and was shot. It was a mistake. What can you do about it?" Several officials have apologised for the incident including United States president Barack Obama, US defence secretary , and commander of international troops in Afghanistan . Khan's death come only days after President Karzai called the killing of civilians unacceptable. The president urged the United Nations to pressure NATO to take more care during operations when searching for insurgents. Karzai rejected a previous apology from General Petraeus over the killing of nine boys during an air strike.
WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict XVI began the first full day of his U.S. visit being serenaded by thousands of spectators at the White House and ended it with a sweeping speech to the nation's bishops in which he admitted the sex abuse scandal was "very badly handled." With Washington in a celebratory mood, President George W. Bush invited the pope -- just the second pontiff to visit the White House -- for an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn and then the two leaders privately discussed issues ranging from immigration to the Middle East. Thousands filled the streets of downtown Washington as Benedict shuttled between events in the popemobile. Much attention was focused on the pope's highly anticipated speech to 350 American bishops Wednesday evening. Echoing introductory remarks by Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Benedict said the sex scandal was "at times very badly handled. "It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliations and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," Benedict told the bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Papal observers said the pope, who said Tuesday that he was "deeply ashamed" by the abuse scandal, was trying to tackle head-on the most important issue facing the American church. "This is the first time there has been a public acknowledgment by a pope that sometimes the bishops handled the sex abuse scandal very poorly. ... This is a mea culpa by the church," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and author of books on the Vatican. Benedict did not directly address the conduct of some bishops accused of sheltering pedophile priests from scrutiny, nor did he propose concrete steps for reform. The speech was "a middle way" that likely will not satisfy all lay Catholics and abuse victims, said Stephen Pope, a professor of moral theology at Boston College. "The issue that hasn't been dealt with here is that of accountability," Pope said. The pope's remarks came in the middle of a long address Wednesday evening on topics ranging from declining marriage rates to the faltering numbers of priests. Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre did not attend the speech -- nor any other events in Washington -- because his sister was seriously ill in Boston, said Diocese spokesman Sean Dolan. Murphy is expected to be at papal events in New York on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dolan said. Earlier in the day, Benedict largely steered clear of controversy, and Washington turned out in force to welcome him to the United States. As the popemobile carried Benedict through the streets, throngs of people transformed downtown Washington into a church of sorts on a bright clear spring morning. Many sat in circles and played religious songs while others strained their necks, hoping for a glimpse of the pontiff. Teresa Glover, 44, of Fairfax, Va., took the day off work to stand on Pennsylvania Avenue and watch the procession. She had seen John Paul II once as a teenager, but "honestly, I didn't appreciate it," Glover said, clutching a prayer bracelet she hoped the pope would bless. "That's why I definitely wanted to be here for this." On the South Lawn, 13,500 spectators attended an elaborate ceremony for the pontiff that included a rendition of the Lord's Prayer by soprano Kathleen Battle and a 21-gun salute. Later, the crowd spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday" to the pope. In a short address, Benedict called on Americans to use their great wealth to help the poor and create "a more humane and free society." "Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility," the pope said, as Bush looked on. Bush praised the moral leadership of Benedict, who has emphasized the threat relativism poses to the church in the modern world. "In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this 'dictatorship of relativism,' and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said. Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who had led the congressional delegation to watch Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger ascend to the papacy in 2005, said yesterday's ceremony was "very moving, very significant. It was a feeling of being present at a very historic moment." Bush and Benedict met in the Oval Office and discussed a host of issues, including immigration and conflicts in the Middle East. Afterward, the White House and the Vatican released a joint statement calling for a coordinated immigration policy, specifically addressing the pope's long-held concern for the "humane treatment and well-being" of immigrant families. The pope and Bush also "expressed hope for an end to violence and for a prompt and comprehensive solution to the crises" in the Middle East, the statement said, omitting any reference to the pope's opposition to the Iraq war. Staff writers JENNIFER MALONEY, BART JONES, JENNIFER BARRIOS, KRISTEN DAUM and MICHAEL AMON, Washington bureau chief CRAIG GORDON contributed to this story. It was written by AMON. \|\|\|\|\| 8.15pm BST / 3.15pm ET Thousands gather to greet Pope at White House Miguel Lenarduzzi travelled for 24 hours by van from Texas to join more than 13,000 of the faithful from across the US to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Washington today. "We made a long trip. We are tired. But our faith is bigger than that. The thousands of people here just want to say hi to the Pope," the 43-year-old waiter said. With the country in the grip of Pope-mania, about 9,000 gathered on the White House lawn to hear the pontiff. Another 4,000-plus without tickets, like Lenarduzzi, lined the streets outside to sing, pray and catch a glimpse of his motorcade. The Pope, making his first visit to the US since his election in 2005, was greeted on the White House lawn by President Bush, and given a 21-gun salute and a serenade from a top opera singer. Spectators sang happy birthday to Benedict — 81 today — who smiled, clasped his hands together and bowed in acknowledgement. Lenarduzzi, who travelled in a convoy of nine vans from Dallas, had four hours' sleep before getting up early to bag a spot in the street close to the White House. He and his noisy, banner-waving and guitar-playing retinue plan to follow the Pope for the next six days. The crowds have caught the US by surprise. There had been an expectation that this Pope, only the second to visit the White House, might not generate the same fervour as his predecessor, whose charisma he does not share. Addressing the crowd outside the White House, he delivered a short address in halting, barely audible English. A strong critic of the Iraq war, he avoided any mention of it, or any other reference that might embarrass his host. Instead, he concentrated on saying he had "great respect for this vast pluralistic society". He ended with a call of "God bless America". The only remark in any way critical was a call to support the UN, a target of the Bush administration. The Pope called for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress." In stark contrast, Bush used the occasion to make several explicit political points. He declared that the visit was a reminder to Americans to "distinguish between simple right and wrong". He added: "We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth." Bush told the pontiff that in America "you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of religion in the public square" and that "in a world where some evoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that God is love. And embracing this love is the surest way to save man from falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism". At a private meeting afterwards, Bush presented him with a birthday cake. The Pope, as he had promised, then raised the Iraq war and his concern for the treatment of illegal immigrants in the US, who make up an estimated 12 million to 20 million of the population, most of them Latino. Back on Pennsylvania Avenue, decked out in the red, white and blue of the US and the yellow and white flag of the Holy See, was another who had travelled a long way, Alex Bengoa, 33, an IT manager from New Orleans. He is sleeping with 300 others in a gym provided by a parish on the outskirts of the city. He too will follow the Pope to New York but did not know where he would stay: "In New York, the Lord will provide." Dancing and singing behind him was Kevin Waymel, 26, who travelled from San Francisco with 80 others, the youngest of whom was 12 and the oldest in her 60s, a mixture of Latinos, Anglos and African-Americans. He said his faith had helped get him off drugs and he wanted to "come to show support for the Holy Father". There were few public protests. About 200 people held banners objecting to various aspects of Catholic orthodoxy, as well as the sexual abuse scandal. Bush is set to hold a dinner in honour of the Pope at the White House tonight, with a menu heavy on Bavarian food. But it will be a dinner with the guest of honour missing. The Pope has chosen to spend the evening with his bishops. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON Far from tamping down emotions, Pope Benedict XVI’s expression of remorse on Tuesday for the church’s sexual abuse scandal prompted an angry and skeptical response from victims, who said they wanted actions, not words from the Vatican. “He talks about feeling shame for the scandal but it’s a far cry from the shame that victims have had to live with our entire lives,” said Becky Ianni, 50, an abuse victim who joined a vigil in front of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church here. Holding an eight-foot-long vinyl banner with photographs of more than 60 children abused by priests, a group of about a half-dozen victims and supporters gathered to voice their frustrations with the pope. The protesters explained that the 15 or so faces on the banner that were framed with black boxes were those of abuse victims who committed suicide. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Wednesday acknowledged the Church had handled the pedophile priests scandal “very badly” and told U.S. bishops to bind up wounds and seek reconciliation with those who were “so seriously wronged.” For the second consecutive day, the pope said the scandal had caused “deep shame” and enormous pain as the result of priests betraying their vocation by sexually abusing minors with such “gravely immoral behavior.” After visiting the White House on Wednesday morning and praying with President George W. Bush, he dedicated a section of a speech to the bishops to the scandal that rocked the Church starting in 2002 and has forced U.S. dioceses to pay over $2 billion in damages. “It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged,” he said. He said he agreed with an assessment by the head of the U.S. bishops conference that the crisis had been “sometimes very badly handled” and that only recently was “the scale and the gravity of the problem” more clearly understood. The Church was criticized for transferring known abusers rather than defrocking them or turning them over to police. “While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work ... it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded by those who would cause harm,” Benedict told the bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. But he said the problem ran deeper, saying children should be “spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent” in society today. PRAYING IN THE WHITE HOUSE On Wednesday morning, the pope made just the second visit by a pontiff to the White House and urged Americans and their leaders to base social and political decisions on moral principles to create a more just society. During the visit, the pope and Bush and his wife, Laura, who are Methodists, prayed together for the institution of the family, a Vatican spokesman said. Both Bush and the pope have said the traditional family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman, is under threat. “I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society,” Benedict said after Bush welcomed him at a garden ceremony that included a fife and drum band in colonial garb and a 21-gun salute. Slideshow ( 41 images ) As some 10,000 people applauded, Bush cited the role of faith in U.S. life, saying, “Here in America, you’ll find a nation of prayer.” Bush referred to the September 11 attacks, which the pope will commemorate when he prays at Ground Zero, the New York site where the World Trade Center towers once stood. “In a world where some invoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that God is love,” he said. The pope smiled as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” and was treated to a large white cake inside the White House. Slideshow ( 41 images ) He sprinkled his speech with references to the U.S. founding fathers -- citing the Declaration of Independence and the first president, George Washington. But he made no specific references to issues such as abortion and the Iraq war, avoiding anything that could be seen as commentary on the presidential campaign apart from saying that freedom demanded “reasoned public debate.” Benedict and Bush oppose abortion and embryonic stem cell research but differ on the Iraq war and capital punishment. As the pope spoke, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling clearing the way for executions to resume. As U.S. and Vatican flags fluttered, it was Bush who referred to abortion, a hot-button issue particularly with the presidential election in November. “In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred,” he said. Outside the White House, some 200 people protested, with one banner reading: “Catholic priests are pedophiles.” But the overwhelming number of those who lined his motorcade route welcomed the pope with joy, dancing and shaking tambourines as they waited for hours to glimpse him. (Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Andy Sullivan, David Alexander and Jeremy Pelofsky) (Writing by Philip Pullella; Editing by Patricia Zengerle) \|\|\|\|\| The president made the unprecedented gesture of greeting the Pope's plane Pope Benedict XVI has received an unprecedented presidential greeting from George W Bush after arriving for his first official visit to the US. Mr Bush and his wife Laura were waiting on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base when the Pontiff's plane touched down. During his six-day visit, the head of the Catholic Church will address the UN and lead prayers at Ground Zero. Before arriving the Pope told reporters on board his plane that he was "deeply ashamed" of sexual abuse by US clergy. Pope Benedict, who was elected three years ago, vowed to work against a recurrence of the crisis, which tarnished the Church's reputation, saying "we will absolutely exclude paedophiles from the sacred ministry". In recent years, the US Catholic Church, which has around 65 million followers, has paid $2bn (£1bn) to settle clergy sexual abuse cases. The BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope, says that damage limitation over past scandals is not the main purpose of the Pontiff's first trip to the US though. Our correspondent says he wants to deliver a message of Christian hope to American Catholics and non-Catholics alike, describing his journey as a pilgrimage to a "great people and a great country". Pilgrimage Hundreds of spectators had turned out for Pope Benedict's arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington. The crowds cheered and clapped as he made his way onto the runway to be met by Mr Bush, his wife Laura and daughter Jenna. On Wednesday, the Pope will pay a formal call upon Mr Bush at the White House. It is more important to have good priests than many priests Pope Benedict XVI Pope's tour: Reporter's diary Latinos welcome Pope's words During the flight from Italy, he said he would talk to Mr Bush about the plight of some Hispanic immigrants in the US, our correspondent says. The US Church has been changing in recent years with the arrival of millions of new Latino immigrants. The Pope also paid tribute to the fact that there was no state religion in the US, adding that a secular state where all religions can be welcomed is a positive model from which Europe can learn, our correspondent adds. During the visit the Pope is due to celebrate two huge Masses at baseball stadiums in Washington and New York, as well as praying at Ground Zero, the New York site where the World Trade Centre was destroyed on 11 September 2001. Birthday dinner Although there have been 24 previous meetings between a sitting US president and a Pope - and Benedict XVI's predecessor, John Paul II, visited the White House in 1979 - there will be numerous firsts during this visit. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A crowd expected to number 10,000 will gather on the White House's South Lawn on Wednesday to mark his official arrival. The unprecedented crowd, even larger than the 7,000 who greeted Queen Elizabeth II during a 2007 visit, will hear the anthems of both the US and the Holy See, as well as a 21-gun salute. Mr Bush is due to host a lavish dinner in the White House's East Room to mark Pope Benedict's 81st birthday on Wednesday. The meal's Bavarian-style menu will celebrate the Pope's German heritage, although the Pontiff himself is unable to attend. Instead, he is expected to lead US bishops in a prayer service in Washington. The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the theologically conservative Pope may get a warmer reception for his views in the US than in Europe. Mr Bush is close to the Pontiff in opposing abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research. But the two differ on issues including the war in Iraq and capital punishment, both of which the Vatican has opposed. Personal suffering On board his flight to Washington, the Pope briefed reporters on his handling of the clerical sex-abuse crisis. The sexual abuse by clergy had been a great suffering for the US Catholic Church and for him personally, he said. "I am deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future," he said. "It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound." The Pope has been asked to meet some victims of clerical abuse and their families during his visit but has so far declined to do so. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| By Philip Pullella WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pope Benedict arrived in Washington on his first papal visit to the United States on Tuesday, facing the sexual abuse scandal tarnishing the Roman Catholic Church's image here by declaring himself "deeply ashamed" even before he landed. On his flight from Rome, the pope vowed to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood. The scandal of priests sexually abusing youths broke in 2002 and has forced U.S. dioceses to pay over $2 billion in damages. Five have gone bankrupt. The six-day visit includes a United Nations address, masses in baseball stadiums and meetings with Catholic educators and leaders of other religions, but the German-born pope sent a signal that he would not avoid the scandal issue. "We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," Benedict told reporters on his flight. The Church will screen candidates for the priesthood, he said, "so that only really sound persons can be admitted." "It is more important to have good priests than to have many priests," Benedict said. President George W. Bush greeted the pontiff on arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside the capital, the first time he has gone to the airport to meet an incoming dignitary. Neither made a public statement, but onlookers sang "Happy Birthday" for Benedict, who turns 81 on Wednesday. A Washington Post-ABC news poll published on Tuesday showed almost three-quarters of U.S. Catholics approve of Pope Benedict but most find the Church out of touch with their views and criticize the way the sex abuse scandal was handled. Half wanted the pope to stress traditional teachings and 45 percent preferred policies that "reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of modern Catholics." Continued... \|\|\|\|\| CNS Story: POPE-ARRIVE (SECOND UPDATE) Apr-15-2008 (610 words) With photos. xxxn Pope Benedict greeted by Bush as he begins first U.S. visit By Catholic News Service ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (CNS) -- Welcomed by U.S. President George W. Bush and an array of church officials, Pope Benedict XVI began his first pastoral visit to the United States as pope April 15. The papal plane landed under an almost cloudless sky at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 3:51 p.m. EDT, nearly 10 minutes ahead of schedule. The pope was to spend the next two days in Washington before traveling to New York April 18. Among those greeting the pope were Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington; Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services; Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., USCCB vice president; and Mary Ann Glendon, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. Although the two spoke privately for less than 10 minutes in a building on the air base grounds, neither Bush nor the pope delivered any formal remarks at the air base. The pope's official welcome was to take place the next day at the White House. In their meeting, Pope Benedict sat at a small round table, and the pontiff accepted a glass of juice. The president sat on the pope's right and the first lady on the pope's left. Cardinal George and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, also were at the table. It was the first time in his presidency that Bush had gone to Andrews to welcome any head of state. The air base has hosted more than 300 arrivals or departures by heads of state since 2006. Joining the president in greeting Pope Benedict were first lady Laura Bush and the Bushes' daughter Jenna. White House press secretary Dana Perino said at an April 15 briefing before the pope's arrival that Bush would tell the pontiff at the White House that "the hearts of the American people are open to the Holy Father's message of hope." Pope Benedict "will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need at home and across the world," Perino added. Perino admitted that the pope and the president disagreed on issues such as the war in Iraq and the death penalty but said that "there is much more agreement between these two leaders than there is disagreement." "I really don't think that the president is planning to spend a lot of time talking about the issues of Iraq with the pope," she said. "But I do think that the root cause of ... terrorism and extremism is something that they will talk about." At Andrews, the wind ensemble from Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., provided entertainment while a crowd of approximately 1,200 people assembled before the pope's arrival. The group was chosen to perform because they were going to Disney World for a competition later in the week and would miss the April 17 papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington. After Pope Benedict spoke privately with the president, he and Archbishop Sambi boarded a limousine that was to take them to the apostolic nunciature, where the pope was to spend the night. - - - Contributing to this story was Patricia Zapor at Andrews Air Force Base. END Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 \|\|\|\|\| Pope Benedict to Visit In April November 12, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2007 POPE BENEDICT XVI TO VISIT IN APRIL His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, will visit the Archdiocese of New York from April 18-20, 2008 as part of a pastoral journey to the United States. The Holy Father will arrive in New York following a visit to Washington, D.C. from April 15-April 17. On April 18, the Holy Father will address the United Nations, and participate in an Ecumenical Service at a New York parish. A morning Mass with priests, deacons, and members of religious orders will be held on Saturday, April 19, in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, followed by a visit to Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers where the Pope will participate in an event with youth and young people. Pope Benedict will spend his last day in New York by visiting Ground Zero, and by celebrating a Mass in Yankee Stadium. He will return to Rome in the evening of April 20. His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, reacted with great joy to the news that Pope Benedict will be visiting. “When our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, told me last July that he would be visiting New York this coming April, I was delighted with the news and shared it with the People of God of the Archdiocese of New York and the entire community of Greater New York. The response of all was both rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord for the great grace of the presence of the Successor of Saint Peter in our midst. I have assured the Holy Father of a warm and prayerful welcome. We all look forward to his visit with pleasure and anticipation,” the Cardinal said. Additional details about the visit will be made known as soon as they are finalized, meanwhile, if you wish to contact the contact the Papal Visit Office, please call: 212-371-1011 Ext. 7673 XXX	Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, April 15, 2008. Pope Benedict XVI began his visit to the United States on Tuesday. In an unprecedented gesture, he was greeted by President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna, upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Today, which is also the Pope's 81st birthday, Benedict XVI visited the White House and more than 9,000 people with tickets were there to see him speak. This makes it "one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House," according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. An estimated additional 4,000 people without tickets lined the streets. Benedict XVI addresses the gathered crowd today at the South Lawn. The Pope was given a 21-gun salute and greeted by President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House. Benedict XVI addressed the crowd in a short speech. He appealed for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress." He further said, "As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society." Benedict said he has "great respect for this vast pluralistic society" and ended his speech with "God bless America." Kevin Waymel, 26, travelled from San Francisco with 80 others to see the Pope. He told ''The Guardian'' that he had "come to show support for the Holy Father," and credited his faith for getting him off drugs. Laura Bush present a birthday cake to Benedict XVI. Afterwards, inside the White House, the first couple presented the Pope with a birthday cake. In a private meeting with Bush, Benedict XVI brought up his concerns about the Iraq war and the treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States, who may number as many as 20 million. Most of these are from Latin America and therefore overwhelmingly Catholic. After the meeting, Benedict XVI rode along Pennsylvania Avenue in the popemobile with throngs of people lining the street. Wednesday evening, the Pope met with US bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He addressed the bishops about sexual abuse by the clergy, which the Pope has said made him "deeply ashamed." The US Catholic Church has paid out an estimated US$2 billion to settle abuse cases in recent years. Bendict XVI told the gathered bishops that the sex abuse scandal had at times been mishandled and urged them to reach out to the victims. Children along Pennsylvania Avenue wait for the popemobile to pass before them. "It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," the Pope said. Some victims had hoped the Pope would have critcised bishops for transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish. He did not go that far and instead praised training programs for priests and lay people who deal with children. "In this regard your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society," said Benedict XVI. Benedict XVI passes the White House in the popemobile "It's the closest the Pope has come to saying that the bishops didn't do their job right. I think that's quite significant," said the Reverend Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest and author. Prior to his arrival, hundreds of people were already gathered outside the Basilica as Benedict XVI arrived. "I'm really excited," said an unnamed onlooker to NY1. "It's like a dream, almost. There are, like, other foreign dignitaries, and then there's the pope. It's a unique experience and I can't wait to see him." During his flight to the United States, Benedict XVI told reporters that he intended to discuss poverty and development aid to poor countries with President Bush. "The United States has to help these countries develop. It is in the interest of everyone, not only these countries but of the world and particularly of the United States," he said. This is the first Papal visit to the United States by Benedict XVI, and the first visit of a Pope to the U.S. since John Paul II's visit in 1999. The pope scheduled to stay in Washington through Thursday. After that, he will travel to New York City where he plans to address the United Nations, visit the World Trade Center site, and celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium.
Held in pristine 20-foot Chilean surf, Marcos Monteiro has won the 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos. In a final packed with big-wave all-stars, Monteiro's win is proof further that Brazil has hands down arrived as the most powerful surf nation on the planet. Given the green light to run earlier in the week, the first event of the 2011 Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) drew notables such as Greg and Rusty Long, Peter Mel, Gabriel Villaran, and Ramon Navarro (who took "Drop of the Day" honors). Also making the trek to desolate Punta de Lobos were two former BWWT champs in Jamie Sterling and Carlos Burle. "We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial," said Big Wave World Tour Contest Director, Gary Linden. "It looks like patience is going to pay off as we're seeing solid 20- to 25-foot faces with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to the season." Courtesy Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Big and clean, not a bad way to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour season. Big and clean, not a bad way to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour season. Three years in and you can probably drop "fledgling" from the list of adjectives used to describe the BWWT. It's taken a couple years to get their feet under them, but as evidence by today's success in Peru, things are coming together. The lineup of surfers is less random and more recognizable, and with the exception of an uncooperative webcast, the infrastructure also seems to be coalescing. And financially speaking -- because you're only as strong as your available capital -- there is word of a significant sponsorship deal in the works. BWWT CEO Pierre Camoin confirms that talks are underway, and that should thing work out the BWWT's status and visibility will be drastically enhanced, but he also is quick to note that nothing has been signed or made official yet. As for Brazil and Monteiro's win, when you consider that Danilo Couto won the XXL Awards this year and there are slew of small-wave specialists lining up to jump on the ASP World Tour come mid-season adjustment, the rest of the world has their work cut out for them. 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Results: 1. Marcos Monteiro 2. Ramon Navarro 3. Gabriel Villaran 4. Kohl Christianson =5. Greg Long, Cristian Merello \|\|\|\|\| 2013 Quiksilver Ceremonial Trials Congratulations to Fernando Zegers, Camilo Hernandez, Morris Tapia, and Ismael Herrero, who will be joining the world's best in the main event. \|\|\|\|\| Quiksilver Big Wave Monteiro no topo do Chile Por Redação Waves em 28/05/11 18:03 GMT-03:00 Marcos Monteiro vence primeira etapa do Big Wave World Tour em Punta de Lobos, Chile. O big rider carioca Marcos Monteiro faturou o título do Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Invitational, válido pela primeira etapa do Big Wave World Tour 2011 e realizado neste sábado em Pichilemu, Chile. Clique aqui para ver as fotos Na bateria final, disputada em ondas gigantes no pico de Punta de Lobos, o brasileiro derrotou os chilenos Ramon Navarro e Cristian Merello, o peruano Gabriel Villarán, o havaiano Kohl Christensen e o norte-americano Greg Long. "Viva Brasil! Primeiro quero agradecer a Deus, pois estão todos bem e ninguém saiu machucado. Também quero agradecer aos locais de Pichilemu por liberarem as ondas e aos pilotos dos jet-skis, que trabalharam duro o dia inteiro. Sabia que esse dia ia chegar", comemora o campeão, que recebeu o cheque de US$ 10 mil pela vitória. Monteiro somou 21.17 pontos para deixar Ramon Navarro em segundo, com 19.32. Gabriel Villarán foi o terceiro com 14.81 e Kohl Christensen, atual campeão do circuito mundial de ondas grandes, ficou em quarto com 2.00. Os brasileiros Carlos Burle e Felipe Cesarano também participaram do evento e não conseguiram chegar à bateria final. A janela de espera para a próxima etapa do Big Wave World Tour 2011 começa no dia 1 de julho em Pico Alto, Peru. Confira mais informações e fotos em nossas próximas atualizações. Resultado do Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Invitational 2011 1 Marcos Monteiro (Bra) 2 Ramon Navarro (Chi) 3 Gabriel Villarán (Per) 4 Kohl Christensen (Haw) 5 Cristian Merello (Chi) 6 Greg Long (EUA) Leia mais Tropa na batalha \|\|\|\|\| Estrellas mundiales del surf esperan hoy olas de nueve metros en Punta de Lobos Este año, el Quiksilver Ceremonial reunirá a 24 deportistas internacionales, que intentan dominar las grandes marejadas. por Tamara Meruane Ampliar Kohl Christensen, uno de los surfistas más importantes a nivel mundial y número dos de la especialidad, está en Chile otra vez, esperando, al igual que la elite internacional del deporte de las olas, la subida de las marejadas que hoy podrían alcanzar los nueve metros de altura en la costa de Pichilemu. En 1998, cuando recién estaba partiendo el Quiksilver Ceremonial de Punta de Lobos, en esa localidad de la VI Región, ganó el torneo y desde esa época ha venido continuamente al país. Así, cuenta que se hizo amigo de los más reconocidos del surf chileno, cuando ellos recién estaban iniciándose. Con Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina y Cristián Merello, se ven casi todos los años en Chile o en su natal Hawai. Conocedor de las olas chilenas dice: "Si no fueran buenas, yo no volvería. Ellas son poderosas, lo que hace de Chile un buen lugar para entrenar". Junto a los mencionados y otros como Jamie Sterling, Peter Mel, Carlos Burle y Grant Baker, que conforman un total de 24 surfistas de países como Perú, Estados Unidos, Sudáfrica o Argentina, esperarán su turno desde las 7.30 para entrar al mar. Esta es la versión número 14 del ceremonial, el cual es parte del torneo Big Wave World Tour, que recorrerá lugares como Hawai o Sudáfrica. Según Carlos Ferrer, marketing mánager de Quiksilver, "este campeonato ha logrado posicionarse como una de las grandes fechas del circuito mundial de surf. Es de clase internacional". Para este año, una de las novedades es que por primera vez se transmitirá en calidad HD, que incluye tomas submarinas. Para verlo sólo hay que entrar a www.quiksilver-ceremonial.cl. La preparación En Punta de Lobos ayer se respiraba gran expectación. Muchos foráneos llegaron a mirar con cámara de video y de fotos por si se topaban con alguna pirueta de los riders. "Ha arribado la misma cantidad de gente que llega un fin de semana largo a Pichilemu, pero esta vez, sólo a ver el campeonato", dice Rodrigo Farías, director de la revista de surf Glass.cl y que vive hace años en la zona. Además, comenta que las olas del año pasado fueron de ocho metros de alto y que a diferencia de ésas, se prevé que las de hoy serán más ordenadas. El año pasado hubo mucho viento y sol en contra, lo que afectó la visibilidad del público. "Ahora va a estar un poco nublado y habrá más períodos entre ola y ola, por lo que podría haber más tubos, lo que será mucho mejor visualmente", dice Farías. \|\|\|\|\| The 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Big Wave Invitational Presented By Sony Ericsson And Suzuki Is A Go! Event Called for Saturday, May 28th; Kick Off of the 2011 Big Wave World Tour Punta del Lobos, Pichilemu, Chile (May 23, 2011) – The 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Big Wave Invitational presented by Sony Ericsson and Suzuki has officially been called “ON” by Big Wave World Tour Contest Director Gary Linden for Saturday, May 28. “We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial,” said Big Wave World Tour Contest Director, Gary Linden. “It looks like patience is going to pay off as we are expecting surf in the 30 to 40 foot range with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to season.” The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Big Wave Invitational will commence this weekend with the world’s top big wave riders competing for a $20,000 prize purse. As the first stop on the 2011 Big Wave World Tour, the Quiksilver Ceremonial is one of the world’s most anticipated big wave events, featuring some of the best waves and skilled surfers from around the globe. Past winners of the event Christian Merello (2010) and Grant “Twiggy” Baker (2009) will return in an attempt to reclaim their titles. The complete line-up of 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial participants includes: Jamie Sterling, Kohl Christensen, Anthony Taschnick, Carlos Burle, Marcos Monteiro, Peter Mel, Chris Bertish, Cristian Merello, Greg Long, Gabriel Villarán, Mark Healey, Kealii Mamala, Jaimie Mitchell, Danilo Couto, Sebastian De Romana, Rusty Long, Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina, Fernando Zegers, Reinaldo Ibarra, Matías López and León Vicuna. The event will be webcast live and hosted by Chad Wells & Strider Wasilewski at www.quiksilver.com/chile. Competition updates and information will be posted at www.quiksilver.com, www.facebook.com/Quiksilver and www.twitter.com/quiksilverusa.	Promotional poster of the world championship. Attendants to the Quiksilver ceremonial, looking forwards to the rocks. The fourteenth Ceremonial Big Wave Invitational surf championship took place on Saturday in the Chilean city of Pichilemu, often called the "Capital of the Surf." In this year's competition, 24 surfers from countries such as South Africa, Peru, Chile, the United States, and Argentina participated in the championship, including Pichileminians Ramón Navarro and Cristian Merelló, and Hawaiian Köhl Christensen. The surfers competed for a 20,000 prize. ===Background=== The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos has been a tradition since 1998. Christensen won that championship, and has regularly participated in it since then, according to ''''. "If the Chilean waves weren't that good, I wouldn't come back. They're powerful, that's what makes of Chile a great place to train," Christensen told ''La Tercera''. The competition was scheduled to take place sometime between April 1 and May 31; it was confirmed to take place on May 28 by Gary Linden, the Big Wave World Tour Contest Director. "We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial. ... It looks like patience is going to pay off as we are expecting surf in the 30 to 40 foot range with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to season," Linden said. "The Quiksilver Ceremonial is one of the world's most anticipated big wave events, featuring some of the best waves and skilled surfers from around the globe," Hawaiian media ''Aloha Update'' reported. Carlos Ferrer, marketing manager of Quiksilver Chile, said: "This championship has managed to put itself as one of the great dates of the worldwide surfing scene. It is of international class." Mayor of Pichilemu Roberto Córdova with the championship organizers on Thursday. On Thursday, Mayor of Pichilemu Roberto Córdova reunited with organizers of the ceremonial, Carlos Ferrer, Gary Linden, and Ricardo Parot from Wetfly Productions, at the . "The mayor reiterates his commitment to the community with these kinds of events in the low-season as they are great attractions that help support Pichilemu's tourism industry," city hall representatives said on its Facebook profile. Many people visited Punta de Lobos on Friday, as the surfers were practicing. "There was great expectation in Punta de Lobos yesterday on Friday," ''La Tercera'' reported. "It has arrived the same amount of people coming a long holiday weekend to Pichilemu, but this time, only to see the championship," director of surf magazine ''Glass.cl'' Rodrigo Farías told the newspaper. Farías also told ''La Tercera'' that during last year's ceremonial there were waves eight-meters high, and "Saturday's waves are expected to be more ordained." He predicted that it would be "a bit cloudy, and there will be more time between one wave and another, so there could be more tubes, which will be much better visually." ===The championship=== Video footage of the first stage of the semi finals of the Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos. The surfers dropped into the sea to begin the championship at 07:30 local time (11:30 UTC). It is estimated that least two thousand people from Chile and other countries attended the event throughout the day. A helicopter flew overhead at Punta de Lobos, recording and photographing the surfers and attendants. The attendants were given free fruit juice, fruits, as well as drinks at the end of the day. The 24 competing surfers were: Köhl Christensen, Carlos Burle, Marcos Monteiro, Peter Mel, Chris Bertish, Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina, Cristian Merello, Rusty Long, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Fernando Zegers, Reinaldo Ibarra, Greg Long, Gabriel Villarán, Jamie Sterling, Anthony Taschnick, Mark Healey, Kealii Mamala, Jaimie Mitchell, Danilo Couto, Sebastian de Romana, León Vicuña, and Matías López. The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos was broadcasted live in HD quality for the first time in the championship's history through its official website. The footage included underwater shots. The championship lasted until 17:30 local time (21:30 UTC), and the results were as follows: # Name Country Score 1 Marcos Monteiro link= Brazil 21.17 2 Ramón Navarro link= Chile 19.32 3 Gabriel Villarán link= Peru 14.81 4 Köhl Christiensen link= USA 2.00 5 Cristián Merelló link= Chile 0.00 5 Greg Long link= USA 0.00 "Viva Brazil! Firstly I want to thank God, because everyone's okay and nobody got injured. I also want to thank the residents of Pichilemu for giving us good vibes and to the jet-skis pilots, who worked hard all day. I knew this day was going to come," Marcos Monteiro, the winning surfer said shortly after the championship ended during a press conference. The Big World Tour's next stop is , Peru, on July 1. ===Photographs===
A coalition of prominent British Jews has attacked the country's Jewish establishment, claiming it puts loyalty to Israel before the human rights of Palestinians. An open letter entitled "A Time to Speak Out: Independent Jewish Voices" was published in Monday's issue of the Times and in the Internet edition of the Guardian newspaper. It marks a growing division within the Jewish community over the nature of its ties to Israel. "We come together in the belief that the broad spectrum of opinion among the Jewish population of this country is not reflected by those institutions which claim authority to represent the Jewish community as a whole," said the letter, which was signed by 140 people, including actors Stephen Fry and Zo Wanamaker, playwright Harold Pinter, fashion designer Nicole Farhi, film director Mike Leigh, and academics Eric Hobsbawm and Jacqueline Rose. However, the letter continued, the nation's Jewish leadership has "consistently put support for the policies of an occupying power above the human rights of an occupied people." Uncritical support of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians has "undermined" the "battle against anti-Semitism," they argued. "British Jews should take the moral high ground in the Israel/Palestinian dispute, reclaiming "the tradition of Jewish support for universal freedoms, human rights and social justice." The coalition has scheduled a public meeting in London to be chaired by television presenter Jon Snow for February 19, seeking to recruit support from the community. A similar dispute arose in the United States after publication of an American Jewish Committee essay last month entitled "Progressive Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism." In the foreword, AJC executive director David A. Harris wrote that what had been surprising and distressing in a recent upsurge in rhetoric was "the very public participation of some Jews in the verbal onslaught against Zionism and the Jewish state." While "A Time to Speak Out" did not name names, Oxford University philosopher Brian Klug singled out the Board of Deputies of British Jews and British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. In an article accompanying the declaration published in the Guardian, Klug said the Board of Deputies had become a mouthpiece for the Israeli government, devoting "much of the time and resources of its international division to the defense of Israel." He also criticized Sacks for telling a pro-Israeli rally last year: "Israel, you make us proud." "Others felt roughly the opposite emotion," said Klug, the author of 2004's "The Myth of the New Anti-Semitism." Supporters of the declaration said justice required they act. Prof. Susie Orbach of the London School of Economics said she had endorsed the declaration because, "as a Jew, I feel a particular duty to oppose the injustice that is done to Palestinians." Dr. David Goldberg, rabbi emeritus of London's Liberal Jewish Synagogue, said that "when Israel's Jewish supporters abroad don't speak out against disastrous policies that neither guarantee safety for her citizens nor produce the right climate in which to try and reach a just peace with the Palestinians - but seek instead to justify those policies by turning a blind eye to flagrant human rights abuses in the occupied territories - then they are betraying millennial Jewish values and acting against Israel's own long-term interests." The Board of Deputies did not respond to requests for comment. \|\|\|\|\| We will not accept the vilification of those who protest at injustices carried out in the name of the Jewish people. February 5, 2007 07:15 AM \| Printable version If there is one thing on which Jews can agree, it is this: it's good to argue. Jewish culture has thrived on argument - frank, sincere disagreement - ever since Moses disputed with God. But today an oppressive and unhealthy atmosphere is leading many Jews to feel uncertain about speaking out on Israel and Zionism. People are anxious about contravening an unwritten law on what you can and cannot discuss, may or may not assert. It is a climate that raises fundamental questions: about freedom of expression, Jewish identity, representation, and the part that concerned Jews in Britain can play in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to find their way to a better future. As the situation in the Middle East deteriorates yearly, more and more Jews watch with dismay from afar. Dismay turns to anguish when innocent civilians - Palestinians and Israelis - suffer injury and death because of the continuing conflict. Anguish turns to outrage when the human rights of a population under occupation are repeatedly violated in the name of the Jewish people. No one has the authority to speak for the Jewish people. Yet during Israel's war with Lebanon last summer, Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, told an American audience: "I believe that this is a war that is fought by all the Jews." His belief is not based on evidence: it is an article of faith, a corollary of the doctrine that Israel represents Jewry as a whole - in Britain included. This is a fallacy; and, moreover, a dangerous one, since it tars all Jews with the same brush. Yet this misconception is reinforced here by those who, claiming to speak for British Jews collectively or allowing that impression to go unchallenged, only ever reflect one position on the Middle East. On its own account, the Board of Deputies of British Jews (which calls itself "the voice of British Jewry") devotes much of the time and resources of its international division to "the defence of Israel". When a "solidarity rally" was held in London last July in the midst of the conflict with Lebanon, it was the board that organised it. All of which suggests that British Jewry, speaking with one voice, stands solidly behind the Israeli government and its military operations. Two things are wrong with this suggestion. First, it's false. Jews were deeply divided over Israel's campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon last year. Certainly, there were those who shared the sentiment of the chief rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, who, addressing the rally, said: "Israel, you make us proud." Others felt roughly the opposite emotion. Second, the board has no business taking a partisan position on the Middle East. Let groups such as the Zionist Federation or perhaps the Israeli embassy organise solidarity rallies. The role of the board is to promote the welfare of British Jews in all their variety, not to defend Israel. Similarly, the chief rabbi is entitled, ex officio, to bring a religious perspective to political matters, but it is not his role to act as political spokesman for his flock. Faced with this state of affairs, a group of Jews in Britain has come together to launch Independent Jewish Voices (IJV). We come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life. Some of us are religious, some not. A number feel a strong attachment to Israel as Jews, others feel none. We do not all share the same vision for the Middle East. We are a network of individuals, not a movement or political party. But we are united by certain fundamental commitments. These are set out in our launch statement, published today on the Guardian's Comment is Free website and in advertisements placed in the Jewish Chronicle and the Times. They include: putting human rights first; giving equal priority to Palestinians and Israelis in their quest for a peaceful and secure future; and repudiating all forms of racism aimed at Jews, Arabs, Muslims or whomever. We believe that these commitments - not ethnic or group loyalties - define the limits of legitimate debate. We invite like-minded Jews in Britain to add their names to the list of IJV signatories. Jews abroad who are confronted with the same climate are taking similar steps to make their voices heard. The Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians has been formed to promote "an alternative public Jewish voice" on Israeli policies. Last July "concerned South African Jews" appealed to "all who share our commitment to a common humanity" to call for Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon. In the past few years, Jewish groups speaking out against Israel's violations of human rights have proliferated, notably in the United States, but especially in Israel itself. We are not setting ourselves up as an alternative to the Board of Deputies or any other body. But we challenge the standard concept of "the Jewish community" as a collective entity for which the board is the secular voice and the chief rabbi the religious voice. This system was developed in another era - though it is being used today as a template for other minorities. It pictures "the Jewish community" as a single bloc that, whatever its internal complexity, presents a common face to the outside world via its ambassadors. There is an affinity between our initiative and the New Generation Network, which was launched in the Guardian last November. A diverse group of Britons questioned the idea that the pie of British society (or that portion consisting of "minorities") can be divided into neat ethnic or religious slices: discrete "communities" with authoritative "leaders". For many of us, this model is suffocating and goes against the grain of our experience. Among other things, it places a premium on keeping disagreement "in the family". For Jews, this ethos is especially stifling if the subject is Zionism or Israel. Some people, rightly condemning demonisation of the Jewish state, do not hesitate to demonise fellow Jews who, when expressing their views on these subjects in public, cross an invisible line of acceptability. We reject any attempt to suppress legitimate public debate and we abhor the culture of vilification. The slur of "traitor" or "self-hating Jew" is especially noxious. For, if we feel compelled to protest against injustice to Palestinians, this is partly because of the lessons of our own history: the Jewish experience of marginalisation and persecution. Furthermore, when the language of human rights is spoken, many of us (secular and religious) hear the voices of those Hebrew prophets, rabbis, writers, activists and other Jewish figures down the centuries for whom Judaism means nothing if it does not mean social justice. So, when we speak out against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, or the bombing of Lebanon, or discrimination against Palestinians within Israel itself, we are not turning against our Jewish identity; we are turning to it. Some of us, recalling that nearly 40 years have passed since Israel's occupation began, hear a resonance. This was the length of time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, near the end of which Moses gave them a directive: "Justice, justice shall you pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20). It is a compass bearing for all humanity, especially when we are trying to find our way - or help others to find theirs - to a better future. Click here for a full list of articles in the Independent Jewish Voices debate. del.icio.us \| Digg it \| Tailrank \| Reddit \| Newsvine \| Now Public \| Technorati \|\|\|\|\| A group of prominent British Jews has formed a new organisation which rejects uncritical support of Israel. The Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, actor Stephen Fry and film director Mike Leigh are among almost 150 high-profile figures who have joined Independent Jewish Voices (IJV). advertisement Other signatories to the group’s founding declaration, calling for freer debate about the Middle East, include the fashion designer Nicole Farhi and the historian Eric Hobsbawm. The group’s website declares: “The initiative was born out of a frustration with the widespread misconception that the Jews of this country speak with one voice - and that this voice supports the Israeli government’s policies. “Our project is to create a climate and a space in which Jews of different affiliations and persuasions can express their opinions about the actions of the Israeli government without being accused of disloyalty or being dismissed as self-hating.” The IJV’s principles also include the belief that both Palestinians and Israelis have a right to peace and security, and the condemnation of Islamophobia as well as anti-Semitism. One of the signatories to the declaration has explicitly criticised the Board of Deputies of British Jews, seen as the mouthpiece of Britain’s Jewish community, for devoting “much of the time and resources of its international division to the defence of Israel”. Brian Klug, the Oxford University philosopher, also criticises Britain’s chief rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, for telling a pro-Israeli rally in London last year: “Israel, you make us proud.” “Others felt roughly the opposite emotion,” Mr Klug writes in an article today for The Guardian’s Comment Is Free website.	A group of almost 150 prominent British Jews has launched a new organisation, Independent Jewish Voices, and criticized the British Jewish establishment for its uncritical views on Israel. An open letter titled "A Time to Speak Out: Independent Jewish Voices" was published in Monday's edition of the ''Times of London'' and reprinted on the ''Guardian'''s online site, stated that the group has "come together in the belief that the broad spectrum of opinion among the Jewish population of this country is not reflected by those institutions which claim authority to represent the Jewish community as a whole" and that the leaders of Britain's Jewish community, the Board of Deputies, has "consistently put support for the policies of an occupying power above the human rights of an occupied people," referring to Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza strip areas, which have been occupied and illegally settled by Israel since 1967. The letter was signed by over 140 prominent writers, actors, academics and intellectuals including author and writer Stephen Fry, academic Brian Klug, historian Eric Hobsbawm and film director Mike Leigh. Klug, in an article published in ''the Guardian'' announcing the launch of the group, argues for its necessity by asserting that the Board of Deputies actions in defence of Israel "suggests that British Jewry, speaking with one voice, stands solidly behind the Israeli government and its military operations," despite the fact that, according to Klug, "Jews were deeply divided over Israel's campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon last year." The launching of the new group comes on the heels of a dispute within the American Jewish community after the American Jewish Congress published an essay titled "Progressive Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism" in which criticism by liberal Jews of Israel was criticized as facilitating antisemitism.
Chantelle Houghton said she was 'living the dream' The "fake" celebrity beat entertainer Michael Barrymore into second place in the live final on Friday night. The 22-year-old was allowed to stay in the Channel 4 show after fooling fellow housemates she was a famous singer. Chantelle took 56.4% of viewers' votes, with entertainer Michael Barrymore polling 43.6% to come second. Former Baywatch actress Traci Bingham and singers Pete Burns, Preston and Maggot were also finalists. Chantelle, a model from Essex, said she believed the public had voted for her because she was "down to earth". I'll never change. I'm just little old me Winner Chantelle Houghton In pictures: Big Brother Final A visibly shocked Chantelle walked away with a cash prize because she entered the show as a non-celebrity. The other contestants would have seen any winnings going to their chosen charity. More than £450,000 was raised for charity during the contest, with three million votes cast by the public by phone and text message. When asked at a press conference what she would do with her winnings Chantelle replied: "That's a lot of money, a hell of a lot of money. I really don't know. It hasn't sunk in that I'm actually getting it. "First I will be able to pay the debts I owe my mum; once that's out of the way I don't know, go shopping. "Make up, clothes, orange lipstick - I need one of them, I love that. I've got to make sure I get a stock of that. "I would like to take my mum and everyone on holiday because that would be a nice thing to do." Not ashamed Respect MP George Galloway was booed by the crowd when he returned for the final on Friday. The politician, who had caused controversy by appearing on the reality show, was evicted on Wednesday. Mr Galloway later defended his appearance, telling the BBC he had done nothing to be ashamed of. Mr Galloway had defended his appearance on the show Mr Barrymore returned to the UK to take part in the show having left to live in New Zealand following the media furore surrounding the death of Stuart Lubbock in his swimming pool in 2001. During the series, an attempt was made to serve Mr Barrymore with documents relating to a legal action being brought over the death, but producers Endemol refused to accept them. After leaving the Big Brother house, he was close to tears when interviewed by host Davina McCall. He said he did not know what his plans for the future were, but added: "I've got me back. This is all extras." The other celebrities who took part in the series included glamour model Jodie Marsh, former Football Association secretary Faria Alam, actress Rula Lenska and US basketball player Dennis Rodman. \|\|\|\|\| Latest News Chantelle - You Are A Winner! Day 23, 22:18Friday 27 JanuaryYou are having a larrrfff! First in, last out. With a whopping 56.4 per cent of your votes, Chantelle has won this year's Celebrity Big Brother.Chantelle walked into the Big Brother house three weeks ago as a Paris Hilton lookie-likey and girl band faker. And tonight, she walks out a bona fide star. The non-celeb that won Celebrity Big Brother - ooh, the irony.Over the past three weeks the Essex girl has charmed her way to the nation's heart - with her note-imperfect rendition of 'Kandyfloss' I Want It Right Now, her four-times-daily costumes changes, not to mention her blossoming friendship with li'l ol' Preston.But this blonde ain't dizzy - as she's batted away Pete's insults and taken no shit from Big Bad Dennis like a seasoned celeb. Mental!So tonight, we wave farewell to Chantelle. At last she's reuinited with her much-missed mum. As Chantelle would say, that must be wicked-on-the-decks! \|\|\|\|\| First came the celebrities who were famous for being famous. Now, thanks to Chantelle Houghton, we have a celebrity who is famous for not being famous. Late last night, the 22-year-old from Wickford in Essex won Celebrity Big Brother - the irony being that the nearest she had come to celebrity before the series was by appearing in pubs as a Paris Hilton look-alike. Article Length: 749 words (approx.)	Chantelle Houghton has won the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother. Michael Barrymore came in second place. Houghton, 22, was the only non-celebrity on the show and was given a secret mission for four days by Big Brother to convince the other housemates she was a member of the fictional band "Kandy Floss". The television show, aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom is a spin off of the popular series shown around the world. This series of the show started on 5 January 2006 and lasted for 23 days. There were 11 housemates, six of whom were evicted on the 27 January 2006. Unknown to either the audience nor the winner until her exit interview, Houghton won £25,000 for winning the show and not being a Celebrity. Also evicted on the 27th were: Chantelle Houghton (non-celebrity promotions girl and Paris Hilton look-a-like) - Winner Michael Barrymore (television broadcaster and comedian) - Runner Up: 2nd Place Maggot (member of Goldie Lookin' Chain) - Runner Up: 3rd Place Samuel Preston (lead singer of The Ordinary Boys) - Runner Up: 4th Place Pete Burns (former Dead or Alive singer) - Runner Up: 5th Place Traci Bingham (actress from Baywatch and model) - Runner Up: 6th Place
Trends tailored just for you. Trends offer a unique way to get closer to what you care about. They are tailored for you based on your location and who you follow. \|\|\|\|\| FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 file photo,Radio personality Don Imus interviews Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by telephone during his debut show on the Fox Business Network in New York. Disc jockey Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to radio stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. He was 79.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 file photo,Radio personality Don Imus interviews Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by telephone during his debut show on the Fox Business Network in New York. Disc jockey Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to radio stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. He was 79.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) NEW YORK (AP) — Radio personality Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died. He was 79. Imus died Friday morning at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, after being hospitalized since Christmas Eve, according to a statement issued by his family. Deirdre, his wife of 25 years, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, with his son Zachary Don Cates returning from military service overseas. He died of complications from lung disease. Imus survived drug and alcohol woes, a raunchy appearance before President Clinton and several firings during his long career behind the microphone. But he was vilified and eventually fired after describing a women’s college basketball team as “nappy headed hos.” His April 2007 racist and misogynist crack about the mostly black Rutgers squad, an oft-replayed 10-second snippet, crossed a line that Imus had long straddled as his irascible rants catapulted him to prominence. The remark was heard coast to coast on 60 radio stations and on a simulcast aired each morning on MSNBC. At the time, his “Imus in the Morning” show was home to presidential hopefuls, political pundits and his favorite musicians, a must-listen in the media and political corridors of New York and Washington. Ten years earlier, Time magazine had named him one of the 25 most influential Americans. But the remark made him an immediate pariah and he was dropped by CBS Radio and MSNBC. Imus apologized repeatedly, calling his remark “completely inappropriate ... thoughtless and stupid,” and met with the team to hear how his comment hurt them. Although he returned to radio, and the Fox Business Network simulcast his show for a number of years, he never approached the same influence before retiring in 2018. The incident “did change my feelings about making fun of some people who didn’t deserve to be made fun of and didn’t have a mechanism to defend themselves,” Imus told CBS News upon his retirement. Imus’ unsparing on-air persona was tempered by his off-air philanthropy, raising more than $40 million for groups including the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He ran a New Mexico ranch for dying children, and often used his radio show to solicit guests for donations. A pediatric medical center bearing Imus’ name was opened at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Joe Scarborough, who replaced Imus in MSNBC’s morning lineup, tweeted that “Morning Joe” owed its format to Imus. “No one else could have gotten away with that much talk on cable news,” Scarborough wrote. “Thanks for everything, Don, and Godspeed.” Yet even in death, he was a polarizing figure. Several African Americans on Twitter were unforgiving, saying, in effect, “good riddance.” The Huffington Post headlined its obituary, “Don Imus, racist radio show host, dead at 79.” Even though Imus was unsparing in mocking politicians of all stripes — he called former Vice President Dick Cheney a “war criminal” — he was praised on Twitter Friday by conservative media personalities Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham said he was responsible for her radio career. “Love him or hate him — & he gave his audience cause to do both — he was a giant in radio,” tweeted CBS’ Anthony Mason, who interviewed Imus at the time of his retirement. Imus, born on a Riverside, California cattle ranch, was the oldest of two boys — his brother Fred later became an “Imus In the Morning” show regular. The family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where Imus joined the Marines before taking jobs as a freight train brakeman and uranium miner. Only at age 28 did he appear on the airwaves. His caustic persona, though it would later serve him well, was initially a problem: Imus was canned by a small station in Stockton, California, for uttering the word “hell.” The controversy only enhanced his career, a pattern that continued throughout the decades. Imus, moving to larger California stations, earned Billboard’s “Disc Jockey of the Year” award for medium-sized markets after a stunt where he ordered 1,200 hamburgers to go from a local McDonald’s. He moved to Cleveland and by 1971, was doing the morning drive-time show on WNBC-AM in New York, the nation’s largest and most competitive radio market. He brought along a destructive taste for vodka. He was a “shock jock” before the term was coined, and listeners flocked to hear what outrageous things he’d say, like phoning people to wake them up and ask, “Are ya naked?” He played characters like the radio evangelist Rev. Billy Sol Hargis. His demons also made it an open question many mornings whether he’d show up for his 6 a.m. shift. Imus was fired by WNBC but returned in triumph two years later adding a new vice: cocaine. While his career turned around, his first marriage, which produced daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth and Toni, fell apart. Imus struggled with addiction until a 1987 stint at a Florida alcohol rehabilitation center, coming out just as WNBC became the fledgling all-sports station WFAN, which retained Imus’ non-sports show as its morning anchor. His career again soared. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and MSNBC signed up his simulcast when the network started in 1996. He mixed comedy with A-list guests like Senators John Kerry and John McCain. Media personalities like NBC’s Tim Russert and Frank Rich of The New York Times were regulars. A book plug on Imus’ show guaranteed sales, and authors were soon queuing up for a slot on the show. Imus rarely missed a chance to get in trouble, even in the good times. He engaged in a long-running feud with shock jock Howard Stern, who usurped Imus’ position as the No. 1 morning host in New York City. But as he retired, Imus called Stern one of the top five radio personalities of all time. He gave himself the same rank, adding Arthur Godfrey, Wolfman Jack and Jack Benny. “He had a big problem with me,” Imus said about Stern. “I didn’t with him.” In 1996, Imus outraged guests at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner in 1996, cracking wise about President Clinton’s extramarital activities as the first lady sat stone-faced nearby. “We all know you’re a pot-smoking weasel,” Imus said at another point about Clinton. A White House spokesman called Imus’ bit “fairly tasteless.” One year later, he was sued by a Manhattan judge after ripping the jurist on air as a “creep” and “a senile old dirtbag.” Critics carped over the show’s content, with Imus deflecting most complaints by claiming he was an all-inclusive offender. However, one show regular was fired in 2005 after a particularly vile crack about cancer-stricken singer Kylie Minogue. A February 2006 profile in Vanity Fair contained the quote that might best serve as Imus’ epitaph. “I talk to millions of people every day,” he said while riding home in a limousine after one show. “I just like it when they can’t talk back.” Imus remarried in December 1994, to the former Deirdre Coleman. They had one son, Wyatt, and adopted Zachary after he attended one of his camps for cancer-stricken children. \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Controversial former radio host Don Imus dead at age 79 The former "shock jock" host was 79 years old. Controversial American radio host Don Imus died Friday, according to a statement from his family. He was 79 years old. Imus died at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, where he had been hospitalized since Christmas Eve, according to a family. "Deirdre, his wife of 25 years, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, and his son Lt Zachary Don Cates is returning from military service overseas," the family said in a statement. His show, "Imus in the Morning," was on the air from June 1, 1968, until March 29, 2018. Imus worked for WABC radio from 2007-2018. Imus got into trouble in 2007 after he directed derogatory remarks toward the Rutgers University women's basketball team, calling them "rough girls" when talking about the NCAA women's basketball championship. The "shock jock" was also known for his charity work, which included helping sick and dying children at his ranch. Radio personality Don Imus appears on his last "Imus in the Morning" program, on the Fox Business Network, in New York, May 29, 2015. Richard Drew/AP, FILE The Imus family said it would hold a small private service for "The I-Man" in the coming days. \|\|\|\|\| Andrea Mandell, Bill Keveney USA TODAY, NorthJersey.com Legendary radio personality Don Imus died Friday at the age of 79. Known for his outspoken comments and off-color humor, he hosted "Imus in the Morning" in New York for nearly 50 years. His caustic commentary helped him soar to great heights before leading to a career crash after an on-air racial slur in 2007, one of numerous remarks that resulted in unwanted headlines over his long career. Imus, who was also known for his charitable work, died at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, after being hospitalized since Christmas Eve, publicist Matthew Hiltzik confirmed to USA TODAY. Imus' wife of 25 years, Deirdre, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, according to a statement from his family. "Don loved and adored Deirdre, who unconditionally loved him back, loved spending his time watching Wyatt become a highly skilled, champion rodeo rider and calf roper and loved and supported Zachary (Cates), who first met the Imus family at age 10 when he participated in the Imus Ranch program for kids with cancer, having battled and overcome leukemia, eventually becoming a member of the Imus family and Don and Deirdre’s second son," read the family's statement. Cates is returning from military service overseas, according to the statement. Imus is also survived by his four daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth, and Toni. A California native, Imus hosted radio shows in California, New York and Cleveland, attracting fans with his sharp-edged style during a career punctuated by firings. He overcame alcohol and drug issues before rising to his biggest career fame when “Imus in the Morning” on New York’s WFAN became nationally syndicated in 1993 and started simulcasting on MSNBC in 1996. Crossing the line:Legendary shock jock Don Imus: 5 incendiary moments heard 'round the world Born John Donald Imus Jr., Imus was long known for attention-getting, shock-jock antics that spurred controversies and criticism, but his show became a political salon of sorts with Washington heavy hitters and other power brokers making appearances. His guests spanned the ranks of politicians, including Senators John McCain and John Kerry, pundits, such as Tim Russert, and entertainers, from Harry Connick Jr. to John Mellencamp. The radio host continued on both platforms until 2007, when he was fired by WFAN and dropped by MSNBC after making racist and misogynistic comments about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, calling them "rough girls" and “nappy-headed hos.” Despite repeated apologies, Imus — just 10 years earlier named one of Time Magazine's 25 most influential Americans — became a pariah for a remark that he acknowledged was "completely inappropriate ... thoughtless and stupid." In the ensuing furor, CBS canceled the "Imus in the Morning" show. Imus then sued CBS for wrongful termination and won a $40 million settlement. Meanwhile, a Rutgers basketball player, Kia Vaughn, brought a defamation suit against Imus (she later dropped it). After that debacle, Imus resumed hosting on another New York station, continuing to share candid opinions about elected officials and spur anger, as he did with a racially charged reference about NFL cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones in 2008. He ended the show in early 2018. Imus, who struggled with addiction until a 1987 stint at a Florida alcohol rehabilitation center and in 2009 revealed he had Stage II prostate cancer, was also known for his charitable work on behalf of children with cancer and wounded Iraq war veterans. He raised more than $40 million for groups including the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, ran a New Mexico ranch for dying children and often used his radio show to "solicit" guests for donations. Imus also did many radio-thons for the Tomorrow's Children Fund, now based at New Jersey's Hackensack University Medical Center, netting it over $30 million. There is now a Don Imus-WFAN Pediatric Center at the hospital. Fellow radio and TV hosts mourned Imus' passing and offered condolences. Fox News Channel star and fellow radio personality Sean Hannity said he is "heartbroken. I knew the REAL Don Imus. Imus adored his wife and son and his adopted son and had a heart of gold. The work he did for children with cancer will live on forever. Every email he ever sent me made me laugh." Another Fox News host, former syndicated radio talker Laura Ingraham, praised Imus' skill and acknowledged his contribution to her career. "In his heyday Imus was the best interviewer—an epic talent. Many great on-air memories in his Astoria studios, and (sorry, haters) responsible for my 17-year radio career," she wrote in a tweet. Joe Scarborough, whose "Morning Joe" political chat show has Imus' former MSNBC slot, paid tribute, too. "Morning Joe obviously owes its format to Don Imus. No one else could have gotten away with that much talk on cable news. Thanks for everything, Don, and Godspeed." The family will hold a small private service in the coming days and request that any donations be made to the Imus Ranch Foundation which which supports families of children suffering from cancer and other illnesses during their times of need. Contributing: The Associated Press, Jim Beckerman, NorthJersey.com	United States radio personality, television host, and philanthropist , known to fans as the I-Man, died on Friday at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in , Texas after being hospitalized since , his family reported. Associated Press reported his cause of death as complications from . He was 79. Don Imus publicity photo Imus' syndicated radio show '''' aired on various networks from 1968 until his retirement in 2018. The show was simulcast on MSNBC television from 1996 until a racial incident in 2007 and for several years up to 2015 on the Fox Business Network. He was once named one of ''Time'''s 25 most influential Americans, and was inducted into the . Known as a who made controversial comments, Imus was dropped in 2007 by MSNBC and after he referred to the Rutgers University as " ." He later apologized for the comment. Imus is survived by his second wife , their two sons Wyatt and Zachary, and four daughters, Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth, and Toni, from his previous marriage. The family's statement on the death read: "Don loved and adored Deirdre, who unconditionally loved him back, loved spending his time watching Wyatt become a highly skilled, champion rodeo rider and calf roper and loved and supported Zachary (Cates), who first met the Imus family at age 10 when he participated in the Imus Ranch program for kids with cancer, having battled and overcome leukemia, eventually becoming a member of the Imus family and Don and Deirdre's second son". Longtime ''Imus in the Morning'' writer and performer tweeted: "He was a rebel, an unapologetic decrier of bullshit, a harsh critic of human behavior & yet an unfailing champion of the underdog, especially sick children. A hermit and humanitarian. Brilliant and maddening & someone you loved to hate and hated to love but when you told him you did he’d say you were a phony. Every professional success I’ve enjoyed is a direct result of my association with the I-Man. I‘m beyond grateful to him for being my boss, my mentor, & my friend. My heart breaks for Deirdre, Wyatt & Zach. Rest easy Cowboy. You’ve earned it." The account for ''The Bernie and Sid Show'', which replaced ''Imus in the Morning'', hosted by and , who both worked for Imus, tweeted: "I-Man. We salute you. You paved the way for us and many more. A radio legend indeed. RIP #Imus". As of today, former coworker and long time rival shock jock , with whom Imus feuded, has not commented on the death on his Twitter account. However, earlier this year, Stern said in an interview with '''' he was open to having Imus as a guest on his show. The family said they planned to have a private funeral service for Imus and asked for donations to the Imus Ranch Foundation, which provides support for families with children suffering from serious diseases.
ANALYSIS We reported earlier this week that the Russians are sending the Lebanese army a gift of 10 MiG-29s. This will more than double the size of the Lebanese air force's fixed wing strike force, currently composed of four Hawker Hunters and four Fouga Magisters. Those existing eight planes are several decades old and the acquisition by the Lebanese air force of the MiG-29s will provide the Lebanese military with far more modern and sophisticated fighter jets than anything the Lebanese armed forces has ever had in its arsenal. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- A suicide bomb detonated Thursday inside a mosque in violence-wracked northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 12 people, including children and soldiers, and wounding 25, military officials said. A policeman stands in front of a damaged vehicle at a suicide blast site Thursday in Hub, Pakistan. more photos » The attack happened in Kohat, outside Peshawar in the North West Frontier province. Earlier attacks around Pakistan killed at least 35 people and wounded 47 Thursday -- adding to the recent surge in violence wracking Pakistan, authorities said. Violence has increased in northwestern Pakistan since a bloody siege at Islamabad's Red Mosque -- which ended last week -- that pitted radical Islamists against Pakistan's military government forces. See images of Pakistani violence » Earlier Thursday, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed car into the gates of a police training center in Hangu -- 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Kohat -- killing at least eight people and wounding 22, a police official said. Also Thursday, in southern Pakistan, police said a bomb explosion near a bus stop killed at least 27 people and wounded 25 in Hub, a town in gas-rich Baluchistan province near the port city of Karachi. Don't Miss Attack kills 16 in Pakistan military convoy Attack kills 16 in Pakistan military convoy Deadly bomb blast at Pakistan rally The attack targeted Chinese engineers who were passing through the area, authorities said. Since late last week, attacks targeting Pakistani security forces have killed more than 100 people, authorities said. On Wednesday, the Pakistani army said at least 16 soldiers were killed when militants attacked an army convoy in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. At least 10 others were wounded in the attack. Tensions across the predominantly Muslim country -- flanked by its nuclear rival India on one side and war-torn Afghanistan on the other -- have been simmering. The fresh wave of violence in Pakistan was triggered by the recent events at Islamabad's Red Mosque, where the military squared off with Islamic extremists holed up in the mosque. That event ended with a bloody military siege on the mosque, killing dozens of people in a weeklong standoff. Adding to the tension, a suicide bomber on Tuesday attacked the site in Islamabad of a scheduled rally supporting the country's suspended chief justice and killed at least 12 people, sources said. Hospital sources said that at least 35 others were wounded in the attack, which occurred where a rally was to be held for the Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf removed Chaudhry from his post on March 9, accusing him of misusing his powers. The dismissal sparked widespread, largely peaceful demonstrations by the country's attorneys and those who believe Musharraf abused his authority in suspending Pakistan's top judge. Militants linked to the Taliban in the area near the Afghan border have said the truce reached with the Pakistani government last September is off. That deal has been blamed for an increase in attacks on U.S. troops over the border in Afghanistan, as Taliban fighters were able to prepare, train and rebuild weapons supplies without interference from the Pakistani government. The Taliban is the former Afghan regime that sheltered al Qaeda until the U.S.-led war following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Now, U.S. intelligence officials say al Qaeda has established a "safe haven" in Waziristan, just over the border in Pakistan -- and that Osama bin Laden is believed to be in the area. The series of bombings in recent days in northwestern Pakistan, after the collapse of a truce between the government and tribal militants has been spreading fears in the region and the West. U.S. officials have expressed concern over Pakistan's stability and effectiveness in suppressing terrorism. Declassified portions of the National Intelligence Estimate released Tuesday reported that al Qaeda has "protected or regenerated key elements" of its capability to attack the United States while in this safe haven. On Wednesday, a co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group said that U.S. forces should go into Pakistan to rout al Qaeda from the mountainous tribal region on the border with Afghanistan. Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who also was vice chairman of the 9/11 commission, said, "I am very concerned that you have a safe haven in Pakistan today where they [al Qaeda] can regroup, rethink, and get ready for more attacks." Watch Hamilton advocate U.S. action in Pakistan » Under increased pressure to cap the spread of Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions, Musharraf has vowed to "fight against extremism and terrorism no matter what province." E-mail to a friend CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Kelli Arena and Pam Benson contributed to this report. All About Al Qaeda • The Taliban • Pakistan \|\|\|\|\| We spoke to four people about the impact losing a loved one has had on them, and about their search for answers in a country with the worst death toll per capita of any of the world’s large economies	Map showing location of North and South Waziristan in northern Pakistan and bordering on Afghanistan. At least 17 Pakistani troops were killed Thursday when their convoy was bombed and attacked by al-Qaeda militants on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in North Waziristan, and the U.S. says that they may attack targets inside Pakistan, if they see them as being "actionable." "We never take options off the table, and if we find actionable targets, we're going to hit them. Terrorist hideouts are something that's absolutely going to have to be addressed. There's no doubt that more aggressive steps need to be taken against the terrorists," said Tony Snow, the White House's Press Secretary, during a press conference today. The U.S. believes that terrorists, who are loyal to al-Qaeda's leader Osama bin laden are currently seeking shelter in the regions near the borders of the two countries. At least 35 civilians and 9 police officers were killed and nearly two dozen were injured in a separate bombing when a suicide car bomber blew up a Chinese military convoy in Pakistan's southwest industrial district. None of the Chinese military personnel were injured or killed. "The bomber driving a Mazda car blew himself up," said Tariq Khosa, the police chief of Baluchistan province who also added that the area was "very crowded."
LONDON, September 24, 2013 —A new World Bank and IFC report finds legal and regulatory barriers to women’s economic inclusion have decreased over the past 50 years globally, but many laws still hinder women’s participation in the economy. Laws restricting women’s economic activity are currently most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The third in a series, Women, Business and the Law 2014: Removing Restrictions to Enhance Gender Equality monitors regulations affecting women entrepreneurs and employees in 143 economies. This edition highlights reforms carried out over the past two years, examines the evolution of women’s property rights and legal decision making ability since 1960 and expands coverage to examine legal protections addressing violence against women. “The ideal of equality before the law and equality of economic opportunity isn’t just wise social policy: It’s smart economic policy,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “When women and men participate in economic life on an equal footing, they can contribute their energies to building a more cohesive society and a more resilient economy. The surest way to help enrich the lives of families, communities and economies is to allow every individual to live up to her or his fullest creative potential.” “Our latest edition of Women, Business and the Law shows that many societies have made progress, gradually moving to dismantle ingrained forms of discrimination against women,” said Kim. “Yet a great deal remains to be done.” This report finds 44 economies have made 48 legal changes, thus increasing women’s economic opportunities over the past two years. Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Philippines and the Slovak Republic had the most reforms. Among the reforms, husbands can no longer unilaterally stop their wives from working in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, the Philippines has lifted restrictions on night work for women, and the Slovak Republic increased the percentage of wages paid during maternity leave. The report finds economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have the most extensive lists of jobs women cannot do. For example, in the Russian Federation women cannot drive trucks in the agricultural sector, in Belarus they cannot be carpenters and in Kazakhstan they cannot be welders. These restrictions may have arisen from a desire to protect women, but can limit their employment options. The report shows economies with the most job restrictions on women have lower female participation in the formal labor force. "Progress on gender equality under the law is accelerating," said Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director, Global Indicators and Analysis, World Bank Group. “Our data shows that over the past 50 years countries everywhere have started removing long-standing restrictions on women's ability to participate more fully in the economy. Although the progress has been uneven across the world, there is widespread recognition that the economic empowerment of women is crucial for competitiveness and prosperity." Between 1960 and 2010, more than half the restrictions on women’s property rights and ability to conduct legal transactions were removed in the 100 economies examined. Restrictions in three regions – Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and East Asia and the Pacific – were cut in half. While some restrictions were removed in South Asia and in the Middle East and North Africa, these two regions reformed the least. Another major innovation in the report is new data on the existence and scope of laws on two areas of violence against women: sexual harassment and domestic violence. Covering 100 economies, the data show that prohibitions against sexual harassment in the workplace are widespread – 78 economies have legislation and over half of these criminalize the behavior. Legislation on domestic violence is also widespread –76 economies have laws prohibiting domestic violence. The region with the fewest laws on domestic violence is the Middle East and North Africa. The report shows lower gender legal parity is associated with fewer women participating in firm ownership, while policies encouraging women to join and remain in the labor force are associated with greater income equality. Even though the report offers signs of improvement for women’s economic opportunities globally, it shows economies can do more to ensure women’s participation in economic life. About the Women, Business and the Law Report series: Women, Business and the Law measures how laws, regulations and institutions differentiate between women and men in ways that may affect women’s incentives or capacity to work or to set up and run a business. It analyzes legal differences on the basis of gender in 143 economies, covering six areas: gaining access to institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit, and going to court. The project provides a clear picture of gender gaps based on legal differences in each economy, but it does not capture the full extent of the gender gap, nor does it indicate the relative importance of each aspect covered. This year’s report was published by Bloomsbury Publishing. About the World Bank Group The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and development expertise for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in pursuing the World Bank Group’s mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org. \|\|\|\|\| Finland makes broadband a 'legal right' Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen. From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection. Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015. In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law. The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed. Broadband commitment Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained the thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment. "Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said. It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online and that only about 4,000 homes still need connecting to comply with the law. In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%. The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally binding ruling. "The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that plan tough action on illegal file-sharing. Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet connections of people who persistently download music or films for free. The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach. "We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms Linden. A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that almost four in five people around the world believed that access to the internet is a fundamental right. \|\|\|\|\| Women make up fewer than 8 per cent of the world’s country leaders. But with Julia Gillard’s election to prime minister of Australia things seem to be improving. She brings the tally of simultaneous female premiers to a record 16. Four female leaders, including Gillard, have taken the highest office in countries around the world so far this year. In 2009, female leaders were elected in Iceland, Croatia and Lithuania. Elsewhere, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is Liberia's president, and the only elected a female leader on the African continent. Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, is a major player on the European political stage. While Iceland’s president, Johanna Sigurdardottir, is not only the country’s first female leader, but is also the world’s first openly gay head of state. Despite Britain's progressive approach to most things, this country seems to have been stilted by Margeret Thatcher’s somewhat dubious legacy. The UK's first and only female prime minister came to power over 30-years ago, and yet, just one female Labour MP, Dianne Abbot, is willing to stand for party leader in 2010. Even with 'Blair's babes' and an affirmative action approach for women in politics, there are still only 143 women in parliament out of a total 650 MPs. So, in an effort to highlight the rarity, as well as the achievements, of female heads of state, The Independent Online has compiled a brief guide to the 16 women taking over the world. Click here or on the image to launch our guide \|\|\|\|\| Finland picks new prime minister Mari Kiviniemi Continue reading the main story Related Stories Finland's parliament has appointed Centre Party leader Mari Kiviniemi as the country's new prime minister. The 41-year-old is set to replace Matti Vanhanen, also of the Centre Party, who resigned last week. Once her nomination is approved by the president, Ms Kiviniemi will become Finland's second female prime minister. Mr Vanhanen, who had been prime minister since 2003, announced in December that he would resign because of leg surgery. The Centre Party's popularity has been dented by a funding scandal in 2009 that left it trailing behind its coalition partners in the opinion polls. It is part of a four-party centre-right coalition that includes the National Coalition Party, the Greens and the Swedish People's Party. Ms Kiviniemi replaced Mr Vanhanen as Centre Party leader earlier this month. She has been in parliament for 15 years, serving recently as a minister for local government and public administration. Parliament approved her appointment by 115 votes to 56, with 24 people absent or abstaining.	Earlier this week the World Bank released the 2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development. The report noted relatively high numbers of women participating in Finnish politics, and credited the Council for Equality between Men and Women in Finland with progress. Pictured in 2003 during a state visit to Brazil, Tarja Halonen was Finland's first lady President. Finland bucks the global trend; the report notes globally "the number of women holding parliamentary seats is very low, and progress in the last 15 years has been slow." Female representation in national parliaments has risen from 10% in 1995 to 17% in 2009. By contrast, Finnish female parliamentarians accounted for 38.5% of new members in 1991, rising to 42.5% in 2011. Finland was one of just nine nations whose total female cabinet members stood at more than 40% in 2008. Globally, females accounted for 17% of ministers, representing a rise from just 8% in 1998. Although not specifically mentioned by the report, since the millennium the positions of and have both been held by women; Tarja Halonen became the nation's first female President in 2000 and in 2010 was selected to be the second female Prime Minister. Women gained suffrage in 1906 with little opposition, ahead of the US and UK. Students at a maths lecture at the The cross-party Council for Equality between Men and Women in Finland dates back to the 1970s; the World Bank dismisses its role at that time as "primarily symbolic" with little in the way of staff, funding, or influence. In the 1980s it was handed statutory power for gender equality issues and has gone on to press for reforms in areas including , job training, and quotas on political representation. The report calls the council a "success". Education, however, showed gender segregation by subject at the tertiary level; Finland was one of several countries singled out as examples of high gender segregation in economically developed countries, compared to lower levels of segregation in less well-developed nations. Finland is one of the four members of the with the highest segregation by subject alongside Croatia, Japan, and Lithuania. Finland has very high levels of education enrollment for both boys and girls, at almost 100% at level. Females are ahead of men in tertiary education enrollment, with 46% of men in the relevant age group enrolling in 1991 and 52% of women. By 2009 these numbers stood at 82% and 101% respectively. Boys and girls were neck and neck with high scores in their 2009 maths tests, both averaging around 540. Literacy also produced very high scores but with a gender gap; boys averaged around 510 while girls averaged around 560. Internet access in Finland is high with men slightly ahead; for men and women alike access stands at around 85%. Finns have a legal right to a 1Mbps broadband connection and authorities plan to have 100Mbps connections for every citizen by 2015. The proportion of women at least 25% of the time has risen from around 7% in 2000–1 to 9% in 2005; the male figure was at 9% in 2005 and is now 15–20%. Rapid teleworking growth is a global trend but the report notes the female figures generally grew faster. Marketplace activities also show gender disparity in Finland. Of activities performed by men and women, the female share stands at 41%, versus 63% for domestic activities such as housework. From 2006–9 services accounted for 87% of female and 56% of male employment. 10% of women and 37% of men were employed in industry and agriculture was only a minor employer, with 6% of male employment and 3% of female employment. Life expectancy for Finnish men has risen from 71 years in 1990 to 77 years in 2009; in the same period, women's life expectancy increased from 79 years to 83 years. The population stands at 5 million, representing a 0.4% annual growth rate from 2000 to 2010.
Countdown Report *Please reload this page for the latest on the launch. KIZUNA (WINDS) separation February 23, 2008 18:23 JST An updated status of the KIZUNA (WINDS) will be given on JAXA's website. This is the end of the Countdown Report. Thank you for visiting our website. X + 1'00" February 23, 2008 17:56 JST Liftoff! February 23, 2008 17:55 JST Automatic countdown sequence start February 23, 2008 17:50 JST X-30 (=T-30) minutes February 23, 2008 17:20 JST X-60 (=T-60) minutes terminal countdown February 23, 2008 16:50 JST JAXA live launch webcast will start at 16:20 JST. Third Go/NoGo decision - "Go" February 23, 2008 16:50 JST The launch time was rescheduled February 23, 2008 16:41 JST New launch time is 17:50 JST. The launch time has been changed February 23, 2008 15:30 JST Attitude control system flight slew test completed February 23, 2008 14:47 JST Radio frequency system checks completed February 23, 2008 11:35 JST First stage and second stage liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks fully loaded February 23, 2008 11:28 JST Attitude control system flight slew test completed February 23, 2008 9:25 JST Access restriction to be imposed inside a 3000 meters radius from the launch pad February 23, 2008 8:44 JST Pre-cooling operations started February 23, 2008 7:40 JST Terminal countdown operations started February 23, 2008 7:04 JST Access is restricted inside a 400 meters radius from the launch pad. Second Go/NoGo Decision - "Go" February 23, 2008 6:37 JST H-IIA F14 arrives at the launch pad February 23, 2008 4:00 JST Launch vehicle and pad facility connection operation starts. H-IIA F14 on the way to the launch pad February 23, 2008 3:30 JST The launch vehicle, mounted on a mobile launcher, will travel approximately 500 meters from the VAB to the launch pad. This takes approximately 30 minutes. First Go/NoGo Decision - "Go" February 23, 2008 0:30 JST The weather conditions were checked and the green light given, for transportation of H-IIA F14 from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to the launch pad. The scheduled launch window of today February 23 is from 16:20 to 17:55 JST. \|\|\|\|\| 9:23 GMT (4:23 am EST): Successful separation of KIZUNA. 9:22 GMT (4:22 am EST): Second stage engine shutdown. The rocket has done its work and KIZUNA will be separated in about one minute. 9:19 GMT (4:19 am EST): The second stage reignited and will burn for about 3 minutes. 9:07 GMT (4:07 am EST): Shut-down of the upper stage. The rocket now enters a cruise phase. The second stage engine will be fired for the second time in about 12 minutes. 9:01 GMT (4:01 am EST): Main engine cutoff and separation of the first stage. The second cryogenic stage ignited. The upper stage will now make its first burn for over 5 minutes. 8:59 GMT (3:59 am EST): The payload fairing is jettisoned. As the rocket reached over 160 kilometers altitude and left the dense atmosphere, this cover is no longer needed. 8:57 GMT (3:57 am EST): The last two SSBs are burnt out and all boosters have been jettisioned. The cryogenic core stage continues to push to rocket skywards. 8:56 GMT (3:56 am EST): The first two small solid rocket boosters have done their work and the second pair is ignited. 8:56 GMT (3:56 am EST): The SRBs are burnt out and jettisioned. 8:55 GMT (3:55 am EST): 10 seconds into the flight, the solid strap-on boosters (SSB) were ignited. 8:55 GMT (3:55 am EST): Liftoff of the H-IIA rocket carrying KIZUNA into GTO. 8:54 GMT (3:54 am EST): T-1. Switched to onboard power. Everything is ready for the launch of the H-IIA rocket. The main engine will be ignited 6 seconds before liftoff to ensure proper operation. 8:50 GMT (3:50 am EST): The countdown is resumed. 5 minutes until launch at 8:55 GMT. 8:47 GMT (3:47 am EST): Countdown is on hold for 5 minutes. That would target the launch at the end of the launch window at 8:55 GMT. 8:45 GMT (3:45 am EST): 5 minutes remaining until the launch. 8:35 GMT (3:35 am EST): 15 minutes remaining until the launch. 8:10 GMT (3:10 am EST): Additionally to the strong winds, there seems to have been a boat inside the security perimeter. 8:00 GMT (3:00 am EST): The launch has been delay due to too strong ground winds. The new launch time is set to 8:50 GMT (3:50 am EST) near the end of today’s launch window. 7:48 GMT (2:48 am EST): There seems to be another delay. 7:45 GMT (2:45 am EST): 10 minutes remaining until the launch. Everything is currently on go. Winds are quite strong today. 7:05 GMT (2:05 am EST): The launch time has been set now to 7:55 GMT (2:55 am EST). 50 minutes remaining until the launch. 6:20 GMT (1:20 am EST): T-1 hour: The guidance systems will now be updated with today‚Äôs launch parameters. Everything so far looks good for the launch in 60 minutes. 1:20 GMT (8:20 pm EST): T-6 hours. Fueling of the H-IIA has commenced. The core and upper stage are both powered by cryogenic propellants, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. February 23, 2008 February 22, 2008: The H-IIA rocket stands ready with the super high-speed Internet satellite “KIZUNA” (WINDS) on its Yoshinobu launch pad in Tanegashima. The “KIZUNA” is a communications satellite that enables super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps It has a mass of about 2,700 kilograms and will generate at least 5 kilowatts of power at the end of the designed life of 5 years. The H-IIA, vehicle number 14, will fly in its 2024 configuration: The core stage is surrounded by six solid rocket boosters, two of them big 154 tonnes heavy boosters burning for 2 minutes, and four of them smaller, 62 tonnes heavy, so called solid strap-on boosters (SSB) for additional thrust during one minute of the lift-off phase. The rocket stands 54 metres tall and weighs 348 tonnes. The payload fairing is 4 metres wide and 12 metres long. The launch window opens for 95 minutes at 7:20 GMT on February 23 (2:20 am EST). The injection orbit will be a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 250 kilometres and a apogee of 35,976 kilometres. Feel free to discuss this article in the forum… \|\|\|\|\| Japan's 'high-speed' satellite Japan's space agency has launched a communications satellite designed to enable super high-speed data transmission. A domestically developed H-2A rocket carrying the satellite, "Kizuna", lifted off from the southern island of Tanegashima, according to a live internet broadcast by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The initial lift-off was successful despite a one-and-a-half hour delay due to strong winds and an unexpected ship entry in restricted waters near the space centre. \|\|\|\|\| By Teruaki Ueno TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan launched an experimental communications satellite on Saturday as part of an ambitious space program that could help ensure super high-speed Internet access in remote parts of Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The H-2A rocket carrying the 2.7 tonne "KIZUNA" (WINDS) communications satellite took off into over the tiny island of Tanegashima, about 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tokyo, at 5.55 p.m. (0855 GMT). The launch had been briefly delayed after a ship strayed into restricted waters. The KIZUNA, equipped with three antennas targeting Japan, Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions, is referred to as the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite or WINDS. The geostationary satellite will be used to conduct experiments on large-volume, high-speed data communications on remote mountains and islands with little Internet access. Japan's scientists say the 52.2 billion yen ($490 million) launch of WINDS will help the country build one of the world's most advanced information and telecommunications networks. The launch comes 12 years after the project started, due mainly to technical glitches involving launch vehicles. "The WINDS will help develop a society with no digital divide where everyone can enjoy high-speed communications equally no matter where they live," said an official at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Continued... \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Japan launched a rocket Saturday carrying a satellite that will test new technology that promises to deliver "super high-speed Internet" service to homes and businesses around the world. A rocket carrying a super-fast Internet satellite lifts off from its launch pad on the Japanese island of Tanagashima. The rocket carrying the WINDS satellite -- a joint project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -- lifted off its pad at 5:55 p.m. (0855 GMT). If the technology proves successful, subscribers with small dishes will connect to the Internet at speeds many times faster than what is now available over residential cable or DSL services. The Associated Press said the satellite would offer speeds of up to 1.2 gigabytes per second. The service initially would focus on the Asia-Pacific region close to Japan, a JAXA news release said. "Among other uses, this will make possible great advances in telemedicine, which will bring high-quality medical treatment to remote areas, and in distance education, connecting students and teachers separated by great distances," JAXA said. The rocket was launched from Japan's Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center. 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.	right A Japanese H-IIA carrier rocket has successfully launched the Wideband InterNetworking test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS) experimental communication satellite. WINDS, also known as Kizuna, is a Japanese spacecraft intended to relay Internet access to homes and organisaa
WASHINGTON After four years pursuing one former Army scientist on a costly false trail, F.B.I. agents investigating the deadly anthrax letters of 2001 finally zeroed in last year on a different suspect: another Army scientist from the same biodefense research center at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. Over the last 18 months, even as the government battled a lawsuit filed by the first scientist, Steven J. Hatfill, investigators built a case against the second one, Bruce E. Ivins, a highly respected microbiologist who had worked for many years to design a better anthrax vaccine. Last weekend, after learning that federal prosecutors were preparing to indict him on murder charges, Dr. Ivins, a 62-year-old father of two, took an overdose of Tylenol with codeine. He died in a Frederick hospital on Tuesday, leaving behind a grieving family and uncertainty about whether the anthrax mystery had finally been solved. The apparent suicide of Dr. Ivins, a Red Cross volunteer and amateur juggler who had won the Defense Department’s highest civilian award in 2003, was a dramatic turn in one of the largest criminal investigations in the nation’s history. The attack, the only major act of bioterrorism on American soil, came in the jittery aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. It killed five people, sickened 17 others and set off a wave of panic. \|\|\|\|\| Apparent suicide in anthrax case Bruce E. Ivins, a scientist who helped the FBI investigate the 2001 mail attacks, was about to face charges. FOR THE RECORD: Anthrax investigation: An article in Friday's Section A about the 2001 anthrax mailings said that suspect Bruce E. Ivins had worked for the last 18 years at the government's elite biodefense research laboratories at Ft. Detrick, Md. It should have said the last 28 years. — Ivins, whose name had not been disclosed publicly as a suspect in the case, played a central role in research to improve anthrax vaccines by preparing anthrax formulations used in experiments on animals. Regarded as a skilled microbiologist, Ivins also helped the FBI analyze the powdery material recovered from one of the anthrax-tainted envelopes sent to a U.S. senator's office in Washington.Ivins died Tuesday at Frederick Memorial Hospital after ingesting a massive dose of prescription Tylenol mixed with codeine, said a friend and colleague, who declined to be identified out of concern that he would be harassed by the FBI.The death -- without any mention of suicide -- was announced to Ivins' colleagues at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, or USAMRIID, through a staffwide e-mail."People here are pretty shook up about it," said Caree Vander Linden, a spokeswoman for USAMRIID, who said she was not at liberty to discuss details surrounding the death.The anthrax mailings killed five people, crippled national mail service, shut down a Senate office building and spread fear of further terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks.The extraordinary turn of events followed the government's payment in June of a settlement valued at $5.82 million to a former government scientist, Steven J. Hatfill , who was long targeted as the FBI's chief suspect despite a lack of any evidence that he had ever possessed anthrax.The payout to Hatfill, a highly unusual development that all but exonerated him in the mailings, was an essential step to clear the way for prosecuting Ivins, according to lawyers familiar with the matter.Federal investigators moved away from Hatfill -- for years the only publicly identified "person of interest" -- and ultimately concluded that Ivins was the culprit after FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III changed leadership of the investigation in late 2006.The FBI's new top investigators -- Vincent B. Lisi and Edward W. Montooth -- instructed agents to reexamine leads or potential suspects that may have received insufficient attention. Moreover, significant progress was made in analyzing genetic properties of the anthrax powder recovered from letters addressed to two senators.The renewed efforts led the FBI back to USAMRIID, where agents first questioned scientists in December 2001, a few weeks after the fatal mailings.By spring of this year, FBI agents were still contacting Ivins' present and former colleagues. At USAMRIID and elsewhere, scientists acquainted with Ivins were asked to sign confidentiality agreements in order to prevent leaks of new investigative details.Ivins, employed as a civilian at Ft. Detrick, earlier had attracted the attention of Army officials because of anthrax contaminations that Ivins failed to report for five months. In sworn oral and written statements to an Army investigator, Ivins said that he had erred by keeping the episodes secret -- from December 2001 to late April 2002. He said he had swabbed and bleached more than 20 areas that he suspected were contaminated by a sloppy lab technician."In retrospect, although my concern for biosafety was honest and my desire to refrain from crying 'Wolf!' . . . was sincere, I should have notified my supervisor ahead of time of my worries about a possible breach in biocontainment," Ivins told the Army. "I thought that quietly and diligently cleaning the dirty desk area would both eliminate any possible [anthrax] contamination as well as prevent unintended anxiety at the institute."The Army chose not to discipline Ivins regarding his failure to report the contamination. Officials said that penalizing Ivins might discourage other employees from voluntarily reporting accidental spills of "hot" agents.But Ivins' recollections should have raised serious questions about his veracity and his intentions, according to some of those familiar with the investigation. For instance, although Ivins said that he swabbed areas near and within his personal office, and bleached surfaces to kill any spores, and that some of the swabs tested positive, he was vague about what should have been an essential next step: \|\|\|\|\| Scientist In Anthrax Case Dead Of Apparent Suicide Q&A;: Behind The Anthrax Investigations Who was Bruce Ivins, and why was he a target in the FBI's investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks? Here, a look at the questions surrounding the case. Timeline: Anthrax Attacks Read a chronology of who was infected in the anthrax attacks and the FBI's pursuit of the culprit. Peace Order Mental health counselor Jean C. Duley requested that the court in Frederick County, Md., issue a type of restraining order against Ivins. Ivins' address has been blacked out to protect his family's privacy. Read The Request Filed Against Ivins In July 2008 A senior government scientist who helped investigate the deadly anthrax attacks in 2001 died this week of an apparent suicide amid reports that the Justice Department probe had shifted to him. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, died Tuesday at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Maryland, according to an obituary in Ivins' hometown newspaper, The Frederick News-Post. The scientist died after taking a massive dose of prescription Tylenol mixed with codeine, according to an unidentified colleague of Ivins' quoted in the Los Angeles Times' Friday editions. Ivins, who had worked for 18 years at the government's biodefense labs at Fort Detrick, Md., apparently had been notified that he was to be prosecuted for the deaths connected to the anthrax attacks. Court documents filed in Frederick County, Md., indicated prosecutors may have planned to seek the death penalty. Ivins' attorney, Paul F. Kemp, said in a statement that his firm had represented the scientist for more than a year. Kemp maintained that Ivins was innocent and said the pressure of the government investigation led to his client's suicide. "We assert his innocence in these killings, and would have established that at trial. The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation. In Dr. Ivins' case, it led to his untimely death," Kemp said in a statement. But there were indications that Ivins was psychologically unstable. Mental health counselor Jean C. Duley requested that the court in Frederick County, Md., issue a "peace order" — a type of restraining order — against Ivins earlier this month. The Justice Department, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a statement saying sophisticated scientific tools have resulted in "significant developments" in the investigation of the anthrax attacks. However, the release said no details could be provided because of obligations to the victims and a court seal preventing disclosure of some information. Court documents submitted by Duley indicate Ivins had a long history of "homicidal actions, threats and plans." Notes attributed to Duley on a copy of the peace order obtained by NPR indicated she had been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 1 and that the FBI was going to charge Ivins with five capital murders. The anthrax was sent through the mail to media organizations and politicians shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, crippling mail service, shutting down a Senate office building and spreading fear of further terrorism. Five people were killed and 17 were sickened by anthrax that was mailed to lawmakers' Capitol Hill offices, television networks in New York and a newspaper office in Florida. Two postal workers in a Washington mail facility, a New York hospital worker, a Florida photo editor and an elderly Connecticut woman were killed. Kemp's statement said Ivins had cooperated with the probe for more than six years, using his expertise as a scientist to help the government. A renowned microbiologist, Ivins had published numerous scholarly works on anthrax. He helped the FBI analyze materials recovered from one of the anthrax-tainted envelopes sent to a U.S. senator's office in Washington, the newspaper said. Earlier, suspicion centered on another government scientist, Steven Hatfill, who worked in the same Fort Detrick laboratory as Ivins. In 2002, federal law enforcement officials, including Attorney General John Ashcroft, called Hatfill a "person of interest" in the investigation. A year later, Hatfill sued various Justice Department officials, including Ashcroft. Earlier this year, the Justice Department agreed to pay Hatfill a multimillion-dollar settlement. Federal investigators began to suspect Ivins in late 2006 after a change in leadership at the FBI prompted a re-examination of the evidence, according to the Times report. Ivins was facing forced retirement in September, a longtime colleague told the Times. The colleague said Ivins was emotionally fractured by the federal scrutiny. On July 24, Ivins was released from a facility operated by Sheppard Pratt Health System where he was reportedly being treated for depression. He is survived by his wife of 33 years and two children.	NBC anthrax letter sent to Tom Brokaw.A man about to be indicted by the United States Department of Justice died Tuesday. His lawyer has called the death a suicide. Bruce Edwards Ivins, 62, was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick, Maryland, where he died of an overdose of Tylenol and codeine, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported Friday. Ivins, who worked at the biodefense laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland for 18 years, was about to be charged by the Justice Department in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks, which killed five people and infected 17 others. Ivin's lawyer, Paul Kemp, insisted that his client had no role in the attacks, which targeted politicians in Washington DC, and members of the media in New York City and Florida. "For six years, Dr. Ivins fully cooperated with that investigation, assisting the government in every way that was asked of him," Mr. Kemp told the ''New York Times''. "The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation. In Dr. Ivins’ case, it led to his untimely death." Both the ''New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times'' report that Ivins assisted the FBI and other agencies in the investigation after the 2001 attacks. The ''Los Angeles Times'' reports that Ivins was reinvestigated beginning in 2006 after FBI Director Robert Mueller changed the case's leadership. Before then, the only labeled "person of interest" was Steven J. Hatfill. He has since been cleared and paid between $4.6 and $5.82 million by the U.S. Government as part of a settlement stemming for 2003 law suits filed against the Justice Department and government officials, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft. The ''New York Times'' also reported that a spokesman for Hatfill said that rushing to judgment in the case is a mistake. “Everybody is jumping to the conclusion that because this guy committed suicide, he must be the anthrax killer,” Mr. Clawson told the ''New York Times''. “That is a lousy premise. The pressure of these F.B.I. investigations on individuals is phenomenal, and it is quite likely that this guy cracked under that pressure but had nothing to do with the killings.” The ''New York Times'' reports that Ivins had been undergoing psychiatric treatment within the last month and had a restraining order placed on him by a woman he was allegedly stalking and threatening. According to National Public Radio (NPR), mental health professional Jean C. Duley requested that Frederick County court issue a "peace order", a type of restraining order, against Ivins in July. Duley submitted documents to the court which show a history of "homicidal actions, threats and plans." The ''New York Times'' also reports that Ivins was a religious man. Members of his congregation gathered early Friday to pray for him at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Frederick. The Associated Press cites one of Ivins' colleagues who said he had been removed from his work area as he was thought to be a potential threat to others. According to NPR, one colleague said he was "emotionally fractured by the federal scrutiny."
Wiggins had performed well in the time trials on the Tour Moreni, who was Italian champion in 2004, tested positive for testosterone following last Thursday's 11th stage. Wiggins, the reigning Olympic pursuit champion, was lying 138th - two hours 42 minutes and 20 seconds off the lead. "I don't want to continue in the Tour de France anyway, it is not supposed to be like this," he told the Guardian. "It is completely gutting to have to quit the Tour but everyone knows where I stand on doping. I have nothing to hide. "It's pure stupidity on the part of Moreni. I don't know how he can have slipped through the net. "It makes you think about your future as a professional cyclist. It makes me question the whole thing, but then you think why not continue because I get a lot of pleasure out of it." Cofidis team president Francois Migraine said: "It's the only thing to do in such circumstances." Wiggins finished fourth in the prologue, which was held in London, and fifth in last Saturday's 54km time-trial in Albi. The 27-year-old would have expected to do well in next Saturday's time-trial between Cognac and Angouleme. 606: COMMENT The best start ever to a Tour de France - that is what the organisers were saying in London 18 days ago; it seems like a long time ago now BBC Sport's Phil Sheehan Wiggins' trainer Shane Sutton told Five Live: "Bradley has always been clean from day one and he will be very disappointed. "One mindless individual has put everybody at risk and it is a shame." London's mayor Ken Livingstone, who watched Wiggins in the prologue, said: "This is deeply disappointing for Bradley Wiggins, who has had a fantastic Tour de France. "As a steadfastly clean rider, he is well-known for his vocal condemnation of drug use in his sport, and has been a tremendous ambassador for London and cycling." Cofidis are one of 11 teams not to win a stage yet. Their voluntary withdrawal leaves 19 teams in the race after Astana were asked to withdraw following Alexandre Vinokourov's positive test. Vinokourov, a pre-race favourite, tested positive for blood doping after winning last Saturday's time-trial stage. The Kazakh rider reportedly had two different kinds of red blood cells, indicating he has taken blood from someone of a compatible group. Just 24 hours later, Moreni became the second competitor to fail a drugs test. The Italian was questioned by police and Cofidis team manager Eric Boyer told Reuters: "He accepted his wrongdoing and did not ask for a B-sample." \|\|\|\|\| Rasmussen extended his lead to over three minutes The race leader was followed by rivals Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer for the whole day, but left them standing on the Col d'Aubisque. In a day marred by Alexandre Vinokourov's failed dope test, Rasmussen extended his lead to over three minutes ahead of Contador. Carlos Sastre led for much of the day, but found the last climb too much. After the overnight news had left the race reeling once again, riders from eight teams, who have formed the Movement for a Credible Cycling, began the day with a protest against doping, delaying the start by 13 minutes. Once the stage got underway, Stephane Auge, Vincente Garcia-Acosta, Gorka Verdugo and Christophe Rinero made an early break, and established a lead of nearly nine minutes by the time they reached the first climb of Port de Larrau. Looking to leapfrog Rasmussen at the top of the polka dot jersey competition, Juan Mauricio Soler broke off from the front of the peloton and was joined by sixth-place Sastre and Amets Txurruka. The trio caught the breakaway on the approach to the second major climb of the day, the Col de la Pierre St-Martin, and with Sastre leading the way, built a lead of almost five minutes by the summit. Sastre got himself to within two minutes of Rasmussen's overall lead when the Dane's Rabobank team-mates responded at the front of the peloton. They gradually reeled in the escapees, and by the time the race reached the final, hors category climb of the Col d'Aubisque, it had become a four-way battle between the top-placed riders overall - Rasmussen, Contador, Leipheimer and Cadel Evans. In an epic mountain duel on the previous stage's finish on the Col de Peyresourde, Contador had relentlessly attacked Rasmussen but here, despite help from team-mate Leipheimer, the Colombian could not wear the Dane down. And in the final kilometre of a gruelling climb, Rasmussen stood up on his pedals and powered away from his rivals to win the stage and all but seal his grip on the yellow jersey. Aferwards, Rasmussen admitted that he had used a different strategy to handle Contador's attacks: "On Monday I was finding it tough to follow him," he said. "So I decided to use a different strategy and go at my tempo," he added. "It worked perfectly because he blew up." Stage 16 result: Orthez to Gourette-Col d'Aubisque (218.5km) 1. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank, 6 hrs, 23 mins, 21 secs 2. Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel, @ 26 secs 3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel, @ 35 secs 4. Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto, @ 43 secs 5. Juan Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld, @ 1 min 25 secs 6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, @ 1 min 52 secs 7. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir, @ 1 min 54 secs 8. Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC, @ 2 mins 12 secs 9. Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, @ 2 mins 27 secs 10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, same time. Selected others: 25. Charlie Wegelius (GB) Liquigas, @ 7 mins 50 secs 135 Bradley Wiggins (GB) Cofidis @ 41 mins 49 secs 137 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld same time 138 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval same time Overall standings: 1. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank, 76 hrs, 15 mins, 15 secs 2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel, @ 3 mins 10 secs 3. Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto, @ 5 mins 3 secs 4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel, @ 5 mins 59 secs 5. Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC, @ 9 mins 12 secs 6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, @ 9 mins 39 secs 7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, @ 13 mins 28 secs 8. Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile, 14 mins 46 secs 9. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel, @ 16 mins 10. Juan Mauricio Soler(Col) Barloworld, @ 16 mins 41 secs. Selected Others: 48 Charlie Wegelius (GB) Liquigas @ 1 hrs 44 mins 15 secs 76 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval @ 2 hrs 34 mins 24 secs 131 Bradley Wiggins (GB) Cofidis @ 3 hrs 24 mins 29 secs 148 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld @ 3 hrs 42 mins 7 secs. \|\|\|\|\| Rasmussen... Again Michael Rasmussen has endured tough times during his days in the yellow jersey. He copped a grilling by journalists at a Rabobank press conference in Pau on the second rest day but responded by winning his second stage in the 2007 Tour de France while clad in the yellow jersey. The Dane was attacked by his rivals on the road between Orthez and the Col d’Aubisque with Carlos Sastre taking a gamble and attacking on the first of five mountain passes of what many believed was the toughest day of the 94th edition. By the finale on the ‘hors category’ mountain, Sastres advantage was whittled away to naught; he was caught passed and stood no chance of matching an elite trio of climbers who would go on to contest the battle for stage honors. It looked like being a Discovery Channel coup when Yaroslav Popovych disposed of all but three men with a powerful turn of pace at the base of the Aubisque ascent. Cadel Evans, Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador and Michael Rasmussen remained after the Ukrainian’s effort ended. The two Disco recruits bludgeoned the other pair with one-two punches in the final five kilometers; this served to drop Evans but Rasmussen remained. In the final kilometer he made one decisive move and was never seen again until after throwing his first victory salute in the ‘maillot jaune’. The 218.5km 16th stage of the 2007 Tour de France, from Orthez to Col d’Aubisque, began at 10.58am. There were 151 riders at the sign-on. The Astana team forfeited its place in the race at the request of the organizers following the positive doping control of Alexandre Vinokourov for a homogulous blood transfusion on the day of his time trial “win” in Albi. There were five climbs on the itinerary: the ‘hors categorie’ ascent of the Port de Larrau (at 79km), the cat-3 Alto Laza (at 93km), the cat-1 Col de la Pierre St-Martin (at 131km), the cat-1 Col de Marie-Blanque (at 180.5km) and the final ascent to the Col d’Aubisque. The two intermediate sprints were in Mauleon-Licharre (36km) and Laruns (200km). Four Escape After Brief Protest Riders from seven teams staged a small protest at the site of the ‘depart fictif’: the representatives from C.A, FDJ, COF, A2R, BTL and GST remained idle on the line while other squads rolled away at 10.40am. It was a gesture of solidarity from the riders who are part of MPCC (Mouvement pour un cyclisme crédible). At the 8km mark an escape group formed: Auge (COF) attacked and was joined by Verdugo (EUS), Rinero (SDV) and Garcia-Acosta (GCE) at 9km. By the 15km mark, the peloton was 2’00” behind and the advantage grew rapidly: 19km – 4’20”; 21km – 6’40”; and, 30km 8’50”. The average speed for the first hour was 40.4km/h. Barloworld came to the front of the peloton. Port de Larrau & Alto Laza Barloworld led the peloton to the base of the first climb. The deficit at the foot of the Port de Larrau was 8’55”. Cardenas led Soler for the first kilometer and then the rider wearing the polka-dot jersey accelerated ahead of the peloton. He was chased down by Sastre (CSC) and shortly afterwards by Mayo (SDV). With 4km to climb, Verdugo and Garcia-Acosta dropped Auge and Rinero. There were no attacks in the peloton and four Rabobank riders – including Rasmussen – led the main pack to the summit. At the top Sastre’s trio was 3’05” behind and Rasmussen’s group (of 28 riders) was at 4’35”. At the top of the second climb Garcia-Acosta again claimed 1st place by outsprinting Verdugo. Auge was at 2’00”, Rinero at 2’10”, Sastre’s group at 2’35” and the yellow jersey’s peloton at 5’40”. Col de la Pierre St-Martin Sastre, Soler, Mayo, Rinero and Auge - has caught Verdugo and Garcia-Acosta at the 110km mark. The peloton was 4’10” behind. With 14km to go to the third summit, Rinero swung over and let the six others go ahead without him. Auge also got dropped early. With 5km to climb the five led Auge by 2’45”, Rinero by 3’00” and the peloton by 4’10”. The two Frenchmen were caught by the peloton at the 150km mark (the peloton was 4’50” behind). Col de Marie-Blanque Dekker rode from the top of the 3rd climb to the base the Col de Marie-Blanque. The deficit for the peloton to the five escapees dropped to 3’15” when he pulled over to let Menchov and Boogerd take over the pace-setting duties. The first to drop from the lead group was Garcia-Acosta with 4km to climb. The peloton was 3’00” behind with 3km to climb. Sastre was at the front of the lead group for the majority of the climb while Soler marked him closely. With 1km to climb, Verdugo was dropped from the lead group and the peloton, reduced to Periero, Arroyo, Valverde, Schleck, Evans, Horner, Menchov, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Zubeldia, Halgand, Leipheimer, Contador, Popovych and Cobo… who were 2’40” behind. At the top Soler took first place points, Garcia-Acosta was at 1’25” and the peloton was led by Rasmussen 2’25” behind the rider in the virtual lead of the mountains classification. Approaching The Aubisque With 25km to go in the stage, the escape group’s advantage on the yellow jersey was 1’25”. Garcia-Acosta dropped out of the lead group and helped set the pace until the base of the final ascent when the advantage of the four escapees was just 45”. Verdugo was caught and passed by Rasmussen’s group at the foot of the Aubisque. Rasmussen Races Onward A Salute In Yellow… Soler and Sastre tried to maintain their advantage but a powerful turn of pace by Popovych in the first 5km of the final ascent would be the beginning of the end for the escapees. They were caught with 9.5km to go and dropped immediately by an elite selection that had been whittled down to just Rasmussen, Contador, Leipheimer and Evans. The Spaniard attacked three times but he was chased down each time. The decisive blow for Evans would come from the American. With 4.5km to go, the Australian was out of contention. In the last kilometer Rasmussen raced into the lead and onward to victory. He increased his advantage in the general classification but lost the lead of the mountains classification to Soler. Rasmussen will wear the yellow jersey in stage 17.	__noTOC__ Stage 16 profile Michael Rasmussen of Denmark has won stage 16 of the 2007 Tour de France in a time of 6h 23' 21". Rasmussen increased his overall lead by 35" over Alberto Contador of Spain, who finished third. After a rest day, the riders faced the third-longest, 218.5 km, and arguably the Tour’s hardest, stage. The first challenge was the brutal Port de Larrau (14.7 km climb at 8.1%), which is just 79km into the stage. The race dips into Spain for some 50 kilometres at the summit, the fourth country visited in this year’s Tour. From there, there was little reprieve for the riders, hitting the Alto Laza and the Col de la Pierre St Martin (14.2 km climb at 5.2%) before descending to the start of the difficult, and very steep, first-category Col de Marie-Blanque (9.3 km climb at 7.4%). The riders then climb the infamous Col d'Aubisque (16.7 km climb at 7%), which will reward out-and-out climbing ability and punish the legs of all the major contenders. The entire Astana Team withdrew from the Tour prior to this stage due to Alexander Vinokourov testing positive for blood doping. Some riders staged a protest against doping at the start. Another doping scandal hit the Tour today. Cristian Moreni of Italy tested positive for testosterone in a test conducted after Thursday's stage 11. Moreni was questioned by police. Cofidis team manager Eric Boyer told ''Reuters'': "He accepted his wrongdoing and did not ask for a B-sample." Like Astana did, Cofidis has withdrawn its entire team from the Tour. François Migraine, the team president and CEO of the sponsoring insurance company, Cofidis, said: "It's the only thing to do in such circumstances."
The death toll after three days of violence in Mumbai rose past 150 as shroud-wrapped bodies were ferried last night from the smouldering remains of a luxury hotel and an ultra-orthodox Jewish centre freed from the clutches of Islamist militants. More than 300 people were injured in the battles that began when gunmen took to the streets of India's financial capital late on Wednesday, spraying bullets and throwing grenades to spread terror across the city. They ended up invading several Mumbai landmarks: two luxury hotels and a Jewish house of prayer - a new phenomenon for India, but a familiar pattern from attacks inspired by militant Islamism. Yesterday the death toll of foreigners reached 16, including a father and daughter from the US in India for a yoga retreat. British officials said at least 100 Britons were caught up in the attacks, with more than 40 held hostage or forced to hide in their rooms to save their lives. Last night Indian forces fired grenades at the Taj Mahal hotel where at least one gunman continued to elude Indian commandos through the maze of corridors and rooms. The militant was believed to have been using human shields to taunt and evade Indian security forces, and a bag captured from the gunmen revealed a stockpile meant for a long siege: 400 rounds of ammunition, grenades, identity cards, rations, $1,000 (£650) in cash and international credit cards. A member of India's elite marine commando unit said the scene inside the hotel was grim. The commander, his face disguised by a black scarf and sunglasses, said he had seen 50 bodies, including 12 to 15 in one room. "Bodies were strewn all over the place, and there was blood everywhere," he said. Indian commandos had cleared the last of the gunmen from the Oberoi-Trident hotel early yesterday afternoon, freeing 200 exhausted guests. Special forces had less luck in the battle for the Jewish centre. Their raid on the premises began with a team abseiling from a helicopter on to the roof of the apartment complex but ended with five hostages dead. Television pictures last night showed dead bodies spread across beds in the building. Ehud Barak, Israel's defence minister, said last night the bodies of three women and three men were found, including some who had been bound. India pointed the finger of blame at Pakistan, with the foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, saying "initial evidence" showed "elements with links to Pakistan are involved". India has long blamed its neighbour for nurturing jihadi groups to fight in the disputed Kashmir region. In 2006 another coordinated bombing spree on Mumbai's railway killed more than 180 commuters. Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist group patronised by Pakistan in the past, was blamed at the time. But Indian ministers yesterday appeared to be saying that they were accusing Pakistan-based groups of staging the attack, and not the state itself. Pakistan has denied involvement and condemned the attacks. The country's president, Asif Ali Zardari, telephoned India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, to reassure him of his support in the battle against terrorism. Zardari condemned the attacks, saying "non-state actors" were responsible. In an unprecedented step, Pakistan agreed to let the head of the its military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency go to India to share information with investigators there. The British government, meanwhile, was investigating whether two of the attackers could be British citizens of Pakistani origin. Asked about the possibility of any British link to the Mumbai attacks, Gordon Brown said it was "too early" to reach any conclusions. Taj Mahal hotel By yesterday the five-star hotel was into its third day as the centre of a war zone with ambulances parked outside to ferry away the dead and the injured. One military chief said up to 15 bodies may be inside one room alone. Special forces were firing into the old part of the hotel building, and were having to take cover from gun and grenade attacks from terrorists still at large. All day, gun battles broke out between commandos trying to flush out the last terrorists in the building. The terrorists were so well equipped that, more than 48 hours after the siege began, they were able to return fire and lob grenades at the Indian forces trying to kill and capture them. The number of terrorists still holed up in the Taj was unclear. They were believed to be on the first floor of the old building and medics at the scene said that hostages were being held and used as human shields. Outside, troops took cover behind vehicles and trees as gun battles continued for hours and smoke billowed from the hotel. Ambulances parked outside the Taj were waiting for the casualties. Neville Bharucha, of the Parsi ambulance service, said bodies were inside the hotel but could not be recovered because terrorists were still at large. He had been briefed by security officials about the situation inside, he said: "There are dead bodies in the old Taj building. They are all lying there, they are the guests. We can't recover the bodies because of the terrorists. They are still holding human shields." The chief of an Indian commando unit at the hotel said the terrorists were "very determined and remorseless", and ready for a long siege. He said the Taj was filled with terrified civilians, making it very difficult for the commandos to fire on the gunmen. "To try to avoid civilian casualties we had to be so much more careful," he said, adding that the hotel was a grim sight. Sajjad Karim, 38, a Tory MEP staying at the hotel who hid from the gunmen in a barricaded basement room, landed back in Britain yesterday, describing the ordeal as "one you can never prepare yourself for". Speaking at Manchester airport, as he hugged his children aged eight and six, he said: "Seeing that you weren't alone in the situation and there were very many other people with you in the same desperate circumstances - you give one another strength." Oberoi Trident Indian special forces yesterday ended the siege at the Oberoi hotel and said 24 bodies had been found. Commandos killed two militants and freed 143 guests, including Britons and other foreign nationals. About 40 Britons were believed to have been caught up in the attack on the Oberoi, and consular officials quickly took them away from the scene as the siege ended. "I'm going home, I'm going to see my wife," said Mark Abell, with a huge smile on his face after emerging from the hotel. He had locked himself in his room during the siege. "These people here have been fantastic, the Indian authorities, the hotel staff," he said. JK Dutt, director general of India's elite national security guard, said: "The hotel is under our control." Well-dressed foreigners and Indians, some dragging their suitcases, were escorted into waiting buses and cars. One foreign member of the hotel staff left holding a baby in his arms, others wept as police showed them photographs of dead relatives for identification. As the evening wore on some relatives were allowed into the Oberoi to search for missing loved ones. A delegation from the United States consulate also entered the hotel to search for its nationals. Jewish centre Throughout the day crowds grew around Nariman House, Mumbai's Jewish centre, jostling for a view of the yellow five-storey building. Every hour or so police cleared the street, and just as quickly people filled back into the spaces along the alleys, lanes, rooftops and roads. They came to watch Indian commandos dropping from a helicopter about 20 metres on to the roof and the deadly denouement of an assault on the terrorists who lay within. A pattern had emerged early on with bursts of gunfire from pistols, machine-guns and sniper rifles lasting 15 minutes, cascading into the facade and windows of the building before an eerie silence was restored for half an hour. This continued until evening fell. Then the commandos finally entered the shell of the building. Snipers continued shooting before a succession of rockets were fired. At 5.30pm there was a huge explosion on the fourth floor, sending the crowds to the ground. Commandos then proceeded into the flat, emptying ammunition clips in quick succession. The siege of Nariman House was over. Outside the street filled with cheering people chanting "India is free" and "long live mother India". Six young Israelis from Zaka, the group responsible for mopping up blood and body parts from the scenes of suicide attacks in Israel, arrived. It was then confirmed that five hostages were dead. They included Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, the Brooklyn-based directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Mumbai. The remains of two gunmen were also found. \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 15 days or until you logout Forgot your password? \|\|\|\|\| Indian commandos prepare to attack from the rooftop of Nariman House in Mumbai Gunfire, blasts at Mumbai hotel as militants fight to death MUMBAI (AFP) — Indian commandos were locked in heavy fighting inside a Mumbai hotel Saturday as they battled to end two-day-old assault by Pakistan-linked militants which has left up to 155 dead, including foreigners. Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked the historic Taj Mahal hotel, where a tiny group of heavily armed gunmen were engaged in a fight to the death some 56 hours after the start of the killing spree across India's financial capital. Elite troops had already stormed a Mumbai Jewish centre and killed two gunmen -- but also found five dead Israeli hostages, including a US-based rabbi and his wife, who were murdered as the commandos closed in. The other luxury hotel that was attacked, the Oberoi/Trident, was declared clear of militants late Friday, with scores of trapped guests rescued and 24 bodies found. "They were the kind of people with no remorse -- anybody and whomsoever came in front of them they fired," an Indian commando leader said of the young gunmen who slipped into Mumbai on Wednesday evening. "We could have got those terrorists but for so many hotel guests," he said. Indian media reports said up to 155 people were dead and 327 others wounded. TV channels described the attacks as "India's 9/11." Around 18 foreigners were among those killed, including the Israelis, two Americans, two French nationals, a German, a Japanese, a Canadian, two Australians, a British Cypriot, an Italian and a Singaporean. Nine militants were confirmed dead and one captured. Indian intelligence sources said the detained gunman had confessed to coming from Pakistan. One group entered the city by boat, while others were believed to have been inside the city -- stockpiling arms and explosives -- well before the attacks were launched. A government minister said the overall toll could rise further as more corpses are recovered. "Once the bodies are collected, the number of deaths might go up to 200," India's Minister of State for Home Affairs Sri Prakash Jaiswal told the Press Trust of India. The crisis risked escalating into a major crisis between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee saying that "some elements in Pakistan are responsible " for the assault. A number of Indian officials suggested the militants were from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- notorious for a deadly assault on the Indian parliament in 2001 that almost pushed New Delhi and Islamabad to war. But Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani insisted his country had "nothing to do with the attacks" and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi appealed to India not to get drawn into a "blame game" that could spark a dangerous confrontation. The two countries have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Survivors have given terrifying accounts of the carnage in the hotels. Many said they hid in the dark for hours, barricaded in rooms or hiding under beds, inside wardrobes or bathrooms. "I cannot believe what I have seen in the last 36 hours. I have seen dead bodies, blood everywhere and only heard gunshots," said Muneer Al Mahaj after he was rescued. South African security guard Faisul Nagel was having dinner with colleagues at a restaurant in the Taj hotel when the assault began. They barricaded the restaurant and moved everyone into the kitchen. "We basically put the lights off in the restaurant just to create an element of surprise. And we armed ourselves with kitchen knives and meat cleavers," he told AFP. They ended up helping around 120 people escape -- including a 90-year-old woman who had to be carried in her chair down 25 flights of stairs. Witnesses also said the attackers had specifically rounded up people with US and British passports. Both the United States and Britain expressed condolences and offered to help investigate the assault on Mumbai, which has been hit by terror attacks before. Nearly 190 people were killed in train bombings in 2006. US President George W. Bush said he was "deeply saddened," and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was sending police to help with the probe. India's newspapers laid much of the blame at the door of the intelligence agencies, which they said had failed spectacularly in allowing a handful of gunmen to slip in by boat and wreak such havoc and devastation. The Indian Express singled out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he bore "special responsibility" because he had been "partly distracted" by modernising the country's foreign policy and its economy. On Saturday, the capital area of New Delhi was holding state elections, with the polls seen as a key political indicator ahead of national elections dues by May next year. The opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been citing the attacks as proof that Singh's governing Congress party is weak on terrorism. \|\|\|\|\| Italian chef Emanuele Lattanzi carrying his daughter walks out after being rescued from Oberoi Trident Hotel where suspected militants are holed up in Mumbai, India, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. Masked Indian commandos dropped from helicopters Friday onto the roof of a Jewish center in Mumbai where Muslim militants were holed up, possibly with hostages, as sharpshooters kept up a steady stream of fire at the five-story building. The attack came as commandoes scoured two luxury hotels room-by-room for survivors and holed-up militants, more than a day after a chain of attacks across India's financial center by suspected Muslim militants left people dead. (AP Photo) Mumbai survivor: 'There were bodies everywhere' MUMBAI, India (AP) — At first, waiter Joseph Joy Pulithara thought the blasts were rows of liquor bottles exploding for some reason behind the Mumbai hotel's sleek bar. Running to the scene, he found a woman screaming — and a young man spraying gunfire. The gunman was a member of a team that was well-armed, well-prepared and had just begun a two-day siege that would shut down India's financial and entertainment capital, leave more than 150 people dead and 370 injured, and turn the city's ritzy seaside district into a scene of horror. There was almost no time to escape. "Within two minutes, they were on us," Andreina Varagona of Nashville, Tenn., said from her hospital bed in the intensive care unit. Wounded in the right leg and right arm, her curly brown hair was still caked with a friend's blood two days later. An Indian commando said the attackers were indiscriminate. "Whoever came in front of them, they fired." There were 10 targets across the city, including two five-star hotels, a train station, a popular restaurant and an ultra-orthodox Jewish center. Inside the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi hotels, with their hundreds of rooms, the gunmen often seemed to have the advantage. "These people were very, very familiar with the hotel layouts and it appears they had carried out a survey before," said an unidentified member of India's Marine Commando unit, his face wrapped in a black mask. The gunmen moved skillfully through corridors slick with blood, thwarting efforts to pin them down, and switched off lights and plunged the rooms into darkness to further confuse the commandos. The militants were ready for a long siege. One backpack the commandos found had 400 rounds of ammunition inside. Some of the gunmen carried almonds. They also had dollars, rupees and credit cards from local and international banks. One gunman, who was still roaming the Taj Mahal nearly 48 hours after the assault began, was hiding in a ballroom, said army commander Lt. Gen. N. Thamburaj. "He is moving in two floors. There is a dance floor area where he has cut off all the lights. Sometimes he gets holed up in the rooms and makes that area dark," Thamburaj said. The commandos were hampered, too, because they could not use overwhelming force for fear of hitting the hundreds of civilians who were caught in the hotels. Many guests hid in their rooms until they were rescued. Others were not so lucky. The gunmen "appeared to be a determined lot, wanting to create and spread terror," a commando said. Pulithara found panicked diners and staff running through the hotel bar. In the chaos, it took him a moment to realize he had been shot. "My friend said there was a hole in my pants, and I was bleeding," said Pulithara, 22, who was hit in the leg. He saw another colleague shot in the head — "She died on the spot," he said — but he said he managed to pull a tourist to safety through a fire exit. Then he ran down a flight of stairs, and was free. For hundreds of others inside the hotels, however, the ordeal was just beginning. Varagona, 45, a meditation teacher, says on her Web site she had taken the name Rudrani Devi, Sanskrit for "one who takes the pain away from others," in 2002. She was having dinner with friends in the Oberoi's plush restaurant when the gunshots rang out. Survivors said the gunmen checked passports and looked for Americans and Britons, but Varagona said they just sprayed the room and didn't seem to care who they killed. "They might have been targeting Westerners, but they still shot the wait staff," she said. "They were of Indian, Asian descent. There wasn't a foreigner among them." Varagona said the gunmen kept firing, and bodies fell to the floor, at least a dozen. "There were bodies everywhere. I felt like I was in a movie," Varagona said. She dragged herself past the bodies and into the restaurant kitchen, where employees were huddled for safety. They picked her up, she said, and carried her out. "If it wasn't for the wait staff, I wouldn't have made it out," she said. Among those killed was a friend on the meditation retreat who had been dining at Varagona's table, Alan Scherr, 58, of Faber, Va., of the Synchronicity Foundation. Also slain was his 13-year-old daughter, Naomi. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| MUMBAI, India Indian commandos took control of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, the last nest of terrorist resistance, on Saturday morning, after a lengthy assault that left three terrorists dead and sections of the hotel in flames, the head of the commando unit said in a televised news conference. Soldiers were still combing the hotel, going room to room in search of remaining gunmen, but the siege appeared finally to have ended, J. K. Dutt, director general of the National Security Guard, an elite commando force, said in the news conference at 9 a.m. Firefighters were permitted to begin pouring water over the flames that had burned out of control in the hotel’s lower floors for as much as an hour while the commandos battled the terrorists. Image An Indian commando loaded his gun on Friday before an attack on militants holed up in a Jewish center in Mumbai. Commandos slid down ropes from a helicopter, and stormed the building. Credit... Michael Rubenstein for The New York Times It was the third day of a siege that has shaken India, raised tensions with neighboring Pakistan and prompted questions about the failure of the authorities to anticipate the tragedy or to react swiftly enough as it unfolded. All told, after attackers were cleared from a second hotel and a Jewish center on Friday, more than 150 people had died. Most of the dead were apparently Indian citizens, but at least 22 foreigners were killed. Among the dead reported were a rabbi from Brooklyn and his wife, who ran the Jewish center. The main success for the authorities on Friday came at the second hotel, the Oberoi. The authorities said that two gunmen had been killed and 93 foreigners some of them wearing Air France and Lufthansa uniforms had been rescued, though 30 bodies were found. Survivors offered harrowing accounts of their ordeal, trapped on the upper floors of the high-rise hotel while gunmen prowled below. The National Security Guard said it recovered two AK-47s, a 9-millimeter pistol and some grenades. Image A crowd in Mumbai gathered at a barricade down the street from Nariman House, the Jewish center. The dead included the centers rabbi, who held dual American and Israeli citizenship. Credit... Michael Rubenstein for The New York Times For the first time, after several veiled accusations that Pakistan was involved, Indian officials specifically linked the attacks to their neighbor and longtime nemesis. India’s foreign minister blamed “elements in Pakistan” for the attacks , spreading the repercussions of the attacks beyond India’s borders. American intelligence and counterterrorism officials said Friday that there was mounting evidence that a Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has long been involved in the conflict with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir was responsible. The Indian authorities were beginning to face sharp questions about why operations to flush out a handful of assailants at the Jewish center and at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower had not moved more rapidly. And many other basic questions remained for a crisis that unfolded so publicly, on televisions, Web sites and Twitter feeds across the world. Who were the attackers? The police tally was at least 11 killed and one captured alive, but could so few militants have caused such mayhem? Indian commandos said the attackers at the hotels were well trained, with one carrying a backpack packed with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and they seemed to know the buildings’ layout better than the security forces, indicating a high degree of preparation. Some were seen arriving by boat; others may have been guests at the hotels for days.	Police forces in India have ended the hostage sieges which followed the Mumbai attacks, which began on Wednesday in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. It ended when commandos finally caught up with a lone gunman, who had played a cat-and-mouse game in the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, nearly 56 hours after the attacks began. Sites of the attacks According to Indian television and radio, 155 people have been killed and 327 others wounded. Local media have described the attacks as "India's 9/11." CNN is reporting over 160 dead and 370 injured. Eleven gunmen killed are not counted in these totals. Police say that they are in control of both the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident hotels. Nearly 300 people have been freed. The siege of Nariman House, an outreach post of the orthodox-Jewish sect Chabad-Lubavitch, ended when at least eight Black Cats commandos entered the building by rope from a helicopter. No hostages or attackers survived the assault, though details are still unclear. "These people were very, very familiar with the hotel layouts and it appears they had carried out a survey before," said an unidentified commander of MARCOS, India's elite marine commandos. The commandos were hampered because they feared injuring hotel guests if they used overwhelming force. "Bodies were strewn all over the place, and there was blood everywhere," he said. The commander also noted that his unit found a backpack belonging to one of the gunmen. Inside they found dried fruit, 400 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, four grenades, Indian rupees and American dollars, and seven credit cards from some of the world’s leading banks and a national ID card for the island nation of Mauritius. "Once the bodies are collected, the number of deaths might go up to 200," said India's Minister of Home Affairs Sri Prakash Jaiswal. "We came up against highly motivated terrorists," said Vice-Admiral J.S. Bedi, whose commandos led the assault against the militants. India's foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said, "Preliminary evidence indicates that elements with links to Pakistan are involved," stirring a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan. Observers have said that the attacks bear the hallmarks of Lashkar-e-Toiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed, both of which are believed to be based in Pakistan and also responsible for previous attacks on India. However, Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gillani said that Pakistan had "nothing to do with the attacks." "It is unfair to blame Pakistan or Pakistanis for these acts of terrorism even before an investigation is undertaken," Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, said in a statement. "Instead of scoring political points at the expense of a neighboring country that is itself a victim of terrorism, it is time for India's leaders to work together with Pakistan's elected leaders in putting up a joint front against terrorism."
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- At least one person was killed and 32 injured during a twin bombing in Thailand's southern Muslim-majority Yala province Tuesday morning, police said. The first bomb went off in Yala, the provincial capital, near a motorcycle shop around 8 a.m. (0000 GMT). There were no casualties in the initial attack. As police, emergency services and journalists responded to the scene, a second, much larger blast occurred. The lone death involved a Thai police officer. Among the wounded were two journalists. Bombings occur on a regular basis in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where an Islamic insurgency that flared in January 2004 has resulted in the deaths of about 2,000 people. E-mail to a friend All About Yala Province • Thailand • Terrorism \|\|\|\|\| Bomb kills one, injures 20 in Yala Yala - A bomb ripped through at an intersection in the heart of Yala Tuesdsay morning, killing one police officer and wounding at least 20 people, including three journalists, who were at the scene to investigate a smaller blast about half an hour earlier, police said. The bomb appeared to have been targeting the police and forensic officers who were lured by an earlier bomb that was much smaller. Authorities were ill prepared as they carried out their investigation. There were no fire fighters or medical personnel in waiting. The blaze from the bomb set one officers from an ordinance unit on fire. His colleague desperately tried to put out the fire that had engulfed his entire body. The use of second bomb by insurgents has become a common occurrences in the restive region where more than 2,300 people have died since January 2004. The blast ripped through shop houses and convenient stores at a major intersection across the street from the train station. The bomb also rip up several motorbikes that were parked next to a public taxi stand for passengers travelling on the Yala-Bethong route. The first bomb was hidden inside a helmet and placed on the motorbike's basket at the time it went off. The second one, much more powerful, appeared to have been set off remotely after several officers arrived at the scene. Police Sgt. Subin Pruekmongkol, who was severely wounded, was later pronounced dead at the Yala Hospital. Two other police officers suffered serious injuries, while three local reporters were also hospitalised. Thirteen passers-by, apparently permitted to observe too close to the crime scene, suffered minor injuries. Insurgents often use one bomb to lure authorities to a scene where they then trigger a second blast, police said. Bombings and drive-by shootings have become virtually a daily occurrence in Thailand's far south since an Islamic insurgency flared there in January 2004. The conflict has left more than 2,300 people dead. The Nation \|\|\|\|\| Govt extends emergency law in the deep south The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to extend enforcement of emergency law in the restive south for another three months after the current round expires on July 20, a government deputy spokesman said. The extension of the enforcement enable security officials on the ground to contain violence erupted in the predominantly Muslim region since the beginning of 2004, said deputy spokesman Natthawat Sutthiyothin. The emergency law came into force since 2005 authorised the government to announce the renewable state of emergency for three months time in the unrest area and empower officials to have more certain level of liberty to deal with the situation. Under the law, officials could detain suspects without charge for maximum 30 days. About 350 suspects have been rounded up and detained under the law in the past few weeks. \|\|\|\|\| Bomb kills one, injures 20 in Yala Yala - A bomb ripped through at an intersection in the heart of Yala Tuesdsay morning, killing one police officer and wounding at least 20 people, including three journalists, who were at the scene to investigate a smaller blast about half an hour earlier, police said. The bomb appeared to have been targeting the police and forensic officers who were lured by an earlier bomb that was much smaller. Authorities were ill prepared as they carried out their investigation. There were no fire fighters or medical personnel in waiting. The blaze from the bomb set one officers from an ordinance unit on fire. His colleague desperately tried to put out the fire that had engulfed his entire body. The use of second bomb by insurgents has become a common occurrences in the restive region where more than 2,300 people have died since January 2004. The blast ripped through shop houses and convenient stores at a major intersection across the street from the train station. The bomb also rip up several motorbikes that were parked next to a public taxi stand for passengers travelling on the Yala-Bethong route. The first bomb was hidden inside a helmet and placed on the motorbike's basket at the time it went off. The second one, much more powerful, appeared to have been set off remotely after several officers arrived at the scene. Police Sgt. Subin Pruekmongkol, who was severely wounded, was later pronounced dead at the Yala Hospital. Two other police officers suffered serious injuries, while three local reporters were also hospitalised. Thirteen passers-by, apparently permitted to observe too close to the crime scene, suffered minor injuries. Insurgents often use one bomb to lure authorities to a scene where they then trigger a second blast, police said. Bombings and drive-by shootings have become virtually a daily occurrence in Thailand's far south since an Islamic insurgency flared there in January 2004. The conflict has left more than 2,300 people dead. The Nation \|\|\|\|\| Thailand's new premier: "It won't be fun but I like it" BANGKOK, Jan 28 (TNA) - People Power Party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej, responding to a salvo of questions from the media shortly after being elected Thailand's 25th prime minister by the lower house of Parliament on Monday, said he was fully aware that his new task at the helm of the kingdom's administrative branch would not be fun but "I like it." 28 January 2551 15:53:28 (GMT + 7) More Detail \|\|\|\|\| Bomb kills one, injures 18 in Thai south Related News Rebels block roads in Thai south Bangkok on high alert amid fears of attacks by rebels Rail service cut as Thai rebels sabotage tracks Thailand to extend emergency rule in Muslim south YALA, Thailand - One policeman was killed and 18 other people wounded in twin bomb attacks near a busy railway station Tuesday in Thailand's restive south, police said. The first bomb, hidden in the front basket of a motorcycle, went off during the morning rush hour in Yala, one of three insurgency-torn provinces bordering Malaysia, local police said. As police rushed to the scene, a more powerful bomb exploded, injuring 19 people including eight policemen and four local reporters. A 48-year-old police sergeant major later died from his injuries. The second explosive was hidden inside the same motorcycle, and insurgents detonated it using a remote control, police said. Also in Yala province, a 28-year-old Muslim man was shot dead by militants at a tea shop early Tuesday, and a 27-year-old Muslim man was killed in a drive-by shooting in the province late Monday. More than 2,400 people have been killed and thousands more injured in separatist violence that has rocked southern Thailand for three years. The region was an autonomous Malay sultanate until it was annexed a century ago by Buddhist Thailand. - AFP/ir	A police sergeant was killed and at least 18 people were injured in a pair of bomb blasts today in southern Thailand. Taking place in Yala, the capital of one of Thailand's three southernmost provinces, the first blast, at around 8 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), resulted in no injuries, but drew police and journalists to the scene. Then, about 30 minutes after the initial blast, a second, more powerful bomb went off. The explosion tore through shops and a motorcycle taxi stand at a major intersection across the street from the city's railway station. Police Sergeant Subin Pruekmongkol, 48, who lost his arms and legs in the blast, was taken to Yala Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At least eight other police officers were wounded, two of them seriously, while four local journalists were also taken to hospital. The injury tolls varied widely, with local news reports saying at least 18 people were injured, while CNN reported that up to 32 people had been hurt. Police said the first bomb was hidden inside a motorcycle helmet and placed in the front basket of a motorbike. The second blast was set off remotely after people had flocked to the blast site. This tactic of using a smaller bomb as a lure, followed by a second stronger bomb, has become more common in the south Thailand insurgency. Since attacks by separatists in Thailand's Malay Muslim-majority provinces flared up in January 2004, there are have about 2,000 people killed in bombings and almost-daily drive-by shootings. In a separate violence earlier today in Yala Province, a man was fatally shot in front of a tea shop in Yaha District. In Bangkok, the central government's Cabinet agreed to extend an emergency law in the southern provinces for another three months. The current round expires on Friday. The emergency powers, which are set for three-month periods, were first enacted in 2005. Among other powers, the decree allows officials the authority to detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge. About 350 suspects have been rounded up and detained under the law in the past few weeks, according to ''The Nation'' newspaper.
Tsvangirai to contest run-off 10/05/2008 10:36 - (SA) Pretoria, South Africa - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday he would contest a second-round run-off in his country's presidential elections. "The MDC has decided that we will contest the run-off election," Tsvangirai told a press conference here, flanked by the leadership of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. Tsvangirai said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he did not face Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in the run-off. Tsvangirai has said previously he won the first round outright and that official figures showing a second round is necessary are fraudulent. Opposition officials and independent human rights activist have accused Mugabe of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round on March 29. They also have questioned whether a second round could be free and fair. \|\|\|\|\| Tsvangirai to run in second round Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he will contest a presidential run-off, despite fears of widespread poll violence. Speaking in South Africa, he said people would feel "betrayed" if he did not run, and vowed to return shortly. Mr Tsvangirai called for an end to violence, as well as full access by international monitors and media. Official first-round results put him ahead of President Robert Mugabe, but not by enough votes to win outright. Mr Tsvangirai had earlier insisted he had secured more than 50% of the vote, and that there was therefore no need for a second round. On Saturday, he told reporters that his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had faced a "very difficult" decision but that after consulting supporters in Zimbabwe, it had decided to take part. "I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round," he said. The opposition leader went on to demand "unfettered access of all international observers" and journalists covering the vote. No choice for Tsvangirai Accounts of violence Militias 'to rig election' He also called for the deployment of southern African peacekeepers to curtail any violence. The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the announcement was not a big surprise, as boycotting the poll would have meant handing victory to President Mugabe by default. Our correspondent says Mr Tsvangirai has to get home soon - as long as he remains outside Zimbabwe, it will be hard to maintain the support he needs to win the run-off. The MDC leader said he expected to return to Zimbabwe in the next two days. Beatings The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet set a date for the run-off. Mr Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May - within three weeks of the first-round results being declared. Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for close to 30 years According to these official declarations, he won 47.9% of the vote, against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe. Although the first round was largely peaceful, the results were not announced until 2 May. The MDC says the delay gave the authorities time to rig the counting and carry out attacks on its supporters in anticipation of a run-off. A trade union official on Thursday said that 40,000 farm-workers and their relatives had fled their homes because of violent attacks The MDC says at least 25 of its supporters have been killed since the first round, and hundreds have been forced from their homes in rural areas. But police and officials from Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have accused the MDC of staging attacks, while accusing the MDC of exaggerating the scale of the violence. Mr Mugabe has been in office since independence in 1980. Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you support Mr Tsvangirai's decision? Send your comments 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 E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| By Phumza Macanda PRETORIA (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's opposition leader said on Saturday he would return home within two days to contest a run-off election against President Robert Mugabe and deal him a "final knock-out" after almost three decades in power. But chances of a speedy end to a tense political stalemate since a disputed March 29 election appeared remote, after the justice minister rejected Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai's preconditions for taking part in a run-off. Tsvangirai said he would only participate if international observers and media were given full access to ensure the vote is fair. He said the country's electoral commission was discredited and should be revamped, and called on the regional SADC grouping to send peacekeepers to instill public confidence in the vote. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa shrugged off the demands. "The run-off will be held within the framework of the constitution and the electoral laws. There will be no conditionalities that will be outside this framework," he told Reuters. After weeks of equivocation, Tsvangirai said he would contest a new round of voting although he believes he won outright in the first round. The MDC accuses the ruling ZANU-PF of intimidating and attacking voters. "The MDC ... will contest the run-off. I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round," Tsvangirai told a news conference in South Africa. Official results showed ZANU-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980, and that Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the presidential poll, but not by enough votes to avoid a run-off. Both the government and opposition have challenged some of the results. Continued...	Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has said today that he will be standing for the presidential run-off election against incumbent Robert Mugabe. "The MDC has decided that we will contest the run-off election," he told reporters at a conference in Pretoria, South Africa, where he has been staying for the last month. He said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he didn't stand and that the people are "ready for the final round". Despite the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's (ZEC) official declaration that Mr. Tsvangirai won 47.9% against Mr. Mugabe's 43.2% in the first round, the MDC claims that they won it outright, gaining over 50%. They are sure that Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have used the time since the first round to rig votes and intimidate the electorate. The MDC has also called for "unfettered access of all international observers," eventhough Mr. Mugabe has imposed bans on journalists from outside Zimbabwe reporting within the country. The ZEC has yet to announce when the run-off will take place, but Mr. Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May.
ABC News Utah Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Wife Utah Man Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder of Wife After She Discovered His Lies Mark Hacking is shown in this police photo released on Aug. 2, 2004. Hacking pleaded guilty Friday to killing his wife Lori last year, shooting her in the head as she slept after she discovered he had been lying about his career plans and their future together. (AP Photo/Salt Lake Police, HO) By PAUL FOY Associated Press Writer The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY Apr 15, 2005 A man accused of killing his wife after she found out he lied about getting into medical school pleaded guilty to murder Friday, making a simple declaration to the judge: "I intentionally shot Lori Hacking in the head with a .22 rifle." Prosecutors say Mark Hacking carried out the attack while his wife slept last July and then threw the body of the 27-year-old woman in a trash bin. Volunteers scouring a landfill found her decomposed remains about three months later. The victim's father, Eraldo Soares, said hearing Hacking admit guilt in court "was just like a knife going right through my heart. I could not imagine that he could do that to Lori." Prosecutors said the sentencing range will be from six years to life for Hacking, who appeared in court Friday with his hands cuffed behind his back and with a look of resignation. Prosecutors said they will push for the maximum sentence, and the possibility of Hacking getting the low end of the sentencing range was extremley remote. Sentencing was scheduled for June 6. "Under this charge, there is no possibility of probation. He will be going to prison," prosecutor Bob Stott said. "He pleaded guilty to murder, and that's what we were looking for. We were looking for the life sentence." Hacking, a 28-year-old hospital orderly, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He also was charged with obstructing justice by disposing of the body, the gun and a bloody mattress, but those charges were dropped as part of Friday's deal. Prosecutors were unable to determine if Lori Hacking was five weeks' pregnant, as she had told friends. That meant the husband could not be charged with a capital crime. Defense attorney Gil Athay repeated in a Friday interview with Salt Lake television station KUTV his earlier claim that Hacking may have suffered "brain trauma" after a fall from a rooftop. "He fell in a roofing accident some years ago and suffered some substantial brain trauma," Athay said, adding that he plans to present that evidence at sentencing. "I think it plays heavily in where this case is." \|\|\|\|\| Stories Video Background Timeline Lori Hacking's Disappearance Photo Essay The Search for Lori Hacking Video Hacking on Surveillance Tape Cops Announce Hacking Arrest Profile Lies Catch Up to Mark Hacking Stories Select One Aug. 7: Report Says Mark Hacking Asked Patients to Call Him 'Franz' Aug. 6: Hacking's Attorney to Challenge Confession Aug. 6: Hacking's Dad Says Mark 'Just Snapped' Aug. 5: Mark Hacking Told Jailers He Used Alias Aug. 4: Mark Told Psych Ward Patient He Killed Lori Aug. 3: Tape Shows Mark After Alleged Murder Aug. 2: Mark Hacking Arrested on Murder Charge July 31: Lab Evidence May Help Solve Hacking Case July 30: Police Say Lori May Have Never Gone Jogging July 29: Source Says 'Rage Killing' in Hacking Home July 27: Co-Workers Say Lori Got Upsetting Phone Call July 25: Bloodstains Found in Hacking Apartment July 24: Dad Confronted Mark Hacking at Hospital July 23: Jogger's Family Says She Was Deceived July 21: Pregnant Woman Disappears While Jogging Lori's mother, Thelma Soares, wept as she talked to reporters after the hearing. "I still have a lot of questions that are, have never been, addressed, and I need to get some answers from Mark," Soares said. "But that will have to be between Mark and me in the future at some point." Hacking reported his wife missing on July 19, 2004, telling friends and family she had gone out for a jog and hadn't returned. That same day, hours after making a televised plea for his wife's return, Hacking was spotted running around a local motel naked. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. As a massive search for Lori Hacking's body was under way, a string of lies Mark Hacking had told his wife and family came to light. Investigators discovered that not only had Hacking not been admitted to medical school, he had never even graduated from college. They also discovered Lori Hacking's car keys and wallet, discounting Mark Hacking's claim that she had driven out to a nearby park to jog. It was also found that Hacking had dumped the couple's mattress and had purchased a new one just before he phoned police to report his wife missing. Family members and friends were stunned at the revelations. A little more than a week after Lori Hacking disappeared, Mark Hacking confessed to his brothers that he killed her. Two-and-a-half months later, Lori Hacking's remains were found in a Salt Lake county landfill. There was speculation after Hacking was arrested that he would plead innocent by reason of insanity. But according to local newspapers, none of the possible key witnesses in the case were ever contacted by defense attorneys, signaling Hacking decided to avoid going to trial some time ago. Before the hearing, Lori Hacking's brother Paul Soares said he was not looking forward to seeing his brother-in-law. "For 12 years this was a person I got along with, a person I loved," Soares told FOX News. "Now, looking back at what he's done, it's going to be really hard." Erin Galbraith Huband, a close friend and former roommate of Lori Hacking, said earlier on Friday she was relieved at news of the plea deal. "It was good to hear that maybe he might step up and say, 'This is what I've done and I'm willing to take responsibility, finally,'" she told FOX News. FOX News' Jane Roh and Adam Housley and The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Today's Top News Stories • Body found near home of missing Fla. girl - • Anti-Japanese protests continue despite government warnings - • Church wraps up official mourning period for pope - • Eleven detainees escape; Sunnis take 70 Shiites hostage - • Economic chiefs pledge to aid global economic problems - • Add USATODAY.com RSS feeds E-Mail Newsletters Sign up to receive our free Daily Briefing e-newsletter and get the top news of the day in your inbox. E-mail: Select one: HTML Text Breaking News E-Mail Alerts Get breaking news in your inbox as it happens Hacking pleads guilty to murder of wife SALT LAKE CITY (AP) He lied to his wife and family about getting into medical school and his plans to become a doctor. But standing before a judge and facing a life sentence for murder, Mark Hacking finally told the truth. Sentencing for Mark Hacking was scheduled for June 6. AP file "I intentionally shot Lori Hacking in the head with a .22 rifle on July 19," he said Friday, pleading guilty to first-degree murder. (Related: Utah v. Hacking) Hacking, a hospital orderly, did not explain why he attacked his 27-year-old wife while she slept last July, then threw her body in the trash. Police scouring a landfill found her decomposed remains almost three months later. Lori Hacking's parents said they hope he sits down with them after he is sentenced. "I still have a lot of questions ... and I need to get some answers from Mark," said Lori's mother, Thelma Soares. "But that will have to be between Mark and me in the future at some point." Hacking, 28, appeared in court with his hands cuffed behind his back and with a look of resignation. Prosecutors said Hacking faces a sentence from six years to life. Authorities plan to seek the maximum sentence, and the possibility of Hacking getting the low end of the sentencing range was remote. Sentencing was scheduled for June 6. Hacking also was charged with obstructing justice for disposing of his wife's body, the gun and a bloody mattress, but those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement. Lori Hacking's colleagues at a Wells Fargo brokerage house have said she broke down sobbing after learning of her husband's deception. She became aware of the lies after making calls to school administrators in North Carolina, where Hacking claimed he was enrolled for medical school and where the couple planned to move. Police affidavits say the couple argued after she confronted him. Mark Hacking had also lied about graduating from the University of Utah. After the argument, Lori Hacking went to bed. He stayed up late playing video games for an hour. Then, sorting through his belongings, he found his deer rifle, went into the bedroom and shot his young wife, according to investigators. The victim's father, Eraldo Soares, said hearing Hacking plead guilty "was just like a knife going right through my heart. I could not imagine that he could do that to Lori." Prosecutors were unable to determine if Lori Hacking was five weeks' pregnant, as she had told friends. That meant her husband could not be charged with a capital crime. His defense lawyer, Gilbert Athay, repeated in an interview with Salt Lake television station KUTV his earlier claim that Hacking may have suffered "brain trauma" after a fall as a roofer. "He fell in a roofing accident some years ago and suffered some substantial brain trauma," said Athay, who plans to present that evidence at sentencing. "I think it plays heavily in where this case is." Hacking had reported his wife missing to police, saying she had not returned from a morning jog. The news prompted a weeklong search for the former stockbroker's assistant by thousands of volunteers — a search that echoed another sensational Salt Lake crime, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom. Hacking was in a psychiatric hospital after suffering a breakdown when he confessed to his brothers that he killed his wife. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.	Salt Lake City (Utah) resident and hospital orderly Mark Hacking pleaded guilty Friday to killing his wife Lori, and placing her body in a dumpster. Mrs. Hacking’s disappearance last summer touched off an intense, weeklong search in Salt Lake County which a wire service report said was similar to the other sensational Salt Lake crime, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart from her own bedroom. After Hacking admitted details of his crime to his family, earlier, he suffered a breakdown and was placed in a psychiatric hospital. He was seen in court Friday with his hands cuffed behind his back. He admitted to the judge that he killed his wife while she slept. His motives, according to prosecutors, were his anger and despondency when she discovered that he was not accepted into a North Carolina medical school as he had claimed, but would remain a hospital orderly. Mrs. Hacking is reported to have broken down sobbing at her workplace, a Wells Fargo brokerage, after discovering her husband’s deception. She had placed a call to the medical school’s administrators and been told he was not enrolled. He had lied to her about graduating from the University of Utah as well. Mrs. Hacking’s mother and father were in the courtroom to hear their son-in-law declare: “I intentionally shot Lori Hacking in the head with a .22 rifle.” They said it was like a “knife in the heart” to hear that, but were happy he owned up to the crime. The attack occurred last July. Volunteers scouring a landfill found her decomposed remains after three months of searching.
Dec. 5: Secretary of Defense nominee Robert Gates was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, after telling senators that the U.S. is not winning the war in Iraq. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reports. WASHINGTON - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm Robert Gates, 63, as defense secretary, with Democrats and Republicans portraying him as the man who will help overhaul President Bush's Iraq policies. The 95-2 vote was a victory for Bush, who named Gates to replace Donald H. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon on Nov. 8, a day after voters gave Democrats control of Congress for next year. Even so, much of Gates' support stemmed from his pledges to consider new options in Iraq. The vote coincided with the release of an independent study lambasting Bush's approach to the war, increasing pressure on the White House to change course. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Previously, Democrats said they would probably support Gates if for no other reason than his confirmation meant the ouster of Donald H. Rumsfeld, a polarizing figure in the administration and architect of the unpopular Iraq war. But Gates' public declaration that the nation was not winning the war -- contradicting President Bush's Oct. 25 statement that "Absolutely, we're winning" -- helped warm even Bush's sharpest critics. 'Nation has turned a corner' "That gives me hope that with this nomination and with the Iraq Study Group report, this nation has turned a corner," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. The Iraq Study Group, led by Republican James Baker III and Democrat Lee Hamilton, on Wednesday said U.S. troops should begin to take a back seat in combat in Iraq, pushing Iraqi troops to the front lines with the goal of pulling out by early 2008. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said he thought Gates "recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." GATES AT A GLANCE NAME: Robert M. Gates. AGE: 63 BIRTH DATE AND BIRTHPLACE: Sept. 25, 1943, Wichita, Kan. EXPERIENCE: CIA intelligence analyst, 1966-1974; National Security Council staff, 1974-1979; director of executive staff for CIA director, 1981-1982; deputy director for intelligence, 1982-1986; chairman of the National Intelligence Council, 1983-1986; deputy director of CIA, 1986-1989; acting director, 1986-1987; deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs, 1989; assistant to the president and deputy for national security affairs, 1989-1991; CIA director, 1991-1993; interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, 1999-2001; president of Texas A&M University, 2002-present EDUCATION: B.A. from College of William and Mary, 1965; M.A. Indiana University, 1966; Ph.D. Georgetown University, 1974. FAMILY: Gates and his wife, Becky, have two children. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he thought Gates agreed with Democrats that "only a political settlement by the Iraqis can end the violence in Iraq, and that the military force that we have there cannot do that for the Iraqis." Unanimous committee confirmation After five hours of nonconfrontational questions, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 24-0 on Tuesday to recommend Gates be confirmed. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., congratulated Gates on his "exemplary performance", and other lawmakers offered strong praise. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he voted for Gates because he is convinced he will help correct the problems in Iraq. "I am confident that Dr. Gates fully understands the need for victory in Iraq," Cornyn said after the committee's vote. "Failure in Iraq would lead to increased terrorist activity by al-Qaida and regional instability as Iran tries to extend its sphere of influence." Gates told the committee he is confident President Bush will listen to his ideas about forging a new war strategy. He also pledged to give "most serious consideration" to the view of senior military officers, a comment that appeared directed at those among Rumsfeld's critics who accused him of bullying the generals and denigrating or ignoring their advice. That is a charge that Rumsfeld strongly denies. At the outset of an afternoon session of questions about Iraq and other subjects, Gates began by telling the committee he wanted to expand upon his remark about not winning in Iraq. He did not withdraw the remark but said, "I want to make clear that that pertains to the situation in Iraq as a whole." Call for more federal participation He said he did not want U.S. troops to think he believes they are being unsuccessful in their assigned missions. "Our military wins the battles that we fight," Gates said. "Where we're having our challenges, frankly, are in the areas of stabilization and political developments and so on." He said other federal agencies should do more in Iraq. On other high-priority subjects, Gates said he worried about the prospect of growing Iranian influence in Iraq; he would be open to the idea of direct talks with Iran and Syria about stabilizing Iraq; he was uncertain whether the Army and Marine Corps needed to expand, as many in Congress advocate, and he was "sympathetic to the notion" of adding more U.S. or allied troops in Afghanistan. Iraq dominated the hearing, which began with Gates saying, "I am under no illusion why I am sitting before you today -- the war in Iraq." Without mentioning Rumsfeld by name, Gates made clear that he hopes to find a way forward that is more effective in Iraq than the current Pentagon approach. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| (Updates with details) By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly confirmed Robert Gates as the next defense secretary, replacing Donald Rumsfeld, an architect of the increasingly unpopular Iraq war. The Senate voted to approve President George W. Bush's nominee only 24 hours after Gates won the unanimous endorsement of the Armed Services Committee -- and just as a long-awaited bipartisan report arrived, urging more diplomacy and fewer U.S. troops in Iraq. Senators from both parties praised the ex-CIA chief's candor; Gates had bluntly told them the United States was not winning the war in Iraq. "Dr. Gates spoke with candor -- a candor that has been sorely missing from the Department of Defense under this administration," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat. "He recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." But senators also emphasized the daunting task before Gates in addressing Iraq, and their awareness that he must work with Bush. "Dr. Gates is poised to take an extraordinarily difficult job at one of the most dangerous times in American history," Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, said. "We see the possibilities of a new chapter ... but it is up to the commander in chief to structure a change in policy," added Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican. Gates must be sworn in before taking up his duties at the Pentagon, where he says Iraq will be his first priority; he plans to travel to Baghdad soon, where he hopes to talk to U.S. commanders. Bush nominated Gates, a former CIA director during the administration of the president's father, a day after voters swept Republicans out of power in an election driven in large part by frustration over the Iraq war. In the more than three years since the U.S.-led invasion, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 2,900 Americans and at least tens of thousands of Iraqis. Bush has said he will consider alternatives, including those offered on Wednesday by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Gates said he believed all options were on the table.	Robert Gates The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly today to confirm as the new , replacing outgoing Secretary of Defense . The vote came a day after the Armed Services Committee voted unanimously to recommend Gates's confirmation. Senators from both parties praised Gates for bluntly stating that the United States was not winning the war in Iraq, and that new strategies were needed. "Dr. Gates spoke with candor — a candor that has been sorely missing from the Department of Defense under this administration," said Senator (-MA). "He recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." Senator of Pennsylvania said that Senators saw "the possibilities of a new chapter ... but it is up to the commander in chief to structure a change in policy." Gates was approved by a vote of 95-2, with dissenting votes coming from Republican Senators of Pennsylvania and of Kentucky. named Gates, now aged 63, who had served as Director of the under his father, President , the day after Democrats won control of both houses of the incoming 110th Congress in an election marked by frustration over the continuing war in Iraq.
Two men, aged 19 and 32, have been injured in a car accident on the Isle of Man. Police said a Renault Laguna and Toyota Celica were in collision near Greeba Castle on Sunday at about 2150 GMT. Both drivers were taken to Nobles Hospital with injuries that officers said were not life-threatening. Emergency services closed the road for about five hours to deal with the incident. Any witnesses are urged to contact Peel police station. \|\|\|\|\| Two men were taken to hospital last night after a serious accident on the main road between Douglas and Peel. It happened around 9.50pm close to Greeba Castle and involved two cars, a Renault Laguna being driven by a 32-year-old from Douglas and a Toyota Celica being driven by a 19-year-old from Peel. Both suffered injures described as 'non-life threatening'. The Peel man had to be cut out of his car by the emergency services. The road was closed for almost five hours while police, fire crews and Department of Transport workers dealt with the incident. The force of the collision caused the engine of the Laguna to fly out of it and smash through the garage door of a house nearby. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Peel police on 842208.	British Isles with the Isle of Man highlighted in blue.Two people have been injured in a road traffic accident involving two vehicles on the Isle of Man. One of the two men was driving a Toyota Celica and the other a Renault Laguna. Police reported that the collision occurred at around 2150 GMT on Sunday near to the location of Greeba Castle. The two men, who were aged 32 and 19, were both injured, with the 19-year-old man having to be physically cut out of his Toyota by workers from the emergency services. Both gentlemen had to be transported to Nobles Hospital; however, police officers noted that neither of the two suffered from life-threatening injuries. The road which the collision occurred on had to be closed for roughly five hours.
Billy Grady and his family, tourists from Georgia, returned to the park this weekend solely to catch the show after it had been canceled Friday. The father of three said he was moved by the tribute, which included photos of Brancheau hugging and swimming with killer whales. "It brought tears to my eyes. She died doing what she loved," Grady, 33, said. Young children in the audience recognized Brancheau in the pictures, while some adults sniffled and fought back tears. Despite Brancheau's shocking death, Grady said, the show needs to continue to educate people about animal conservation. That's what he thinks Brancheau would want as an animal lover. "If it stopped, I don't think she'd be happy. She's looking down on us, and she's happy it went on," Grady said. "If she had a second chance and she was still alive, I don't think she would give up." Yoouhenky Hickman, an Orlando resident who comes to the show regularly, was teary as she exited the stadium. Hickman, who described herself simply as "a big fan" of the killer-whale show, said that watching the animals and trainers interact Saturday reinforced her belief that Brancheau's death was a tragic accident. "It's amazing all the things these animals do," she said. Change happens There was no Tilikum on Saturday morning, so the 6-ton orca didn't provide his crowd-pleasing, clothes-soaking splashes as part of the show. Officials have said that the male killer whale will return, but they are not sure in what capacity. Trainers also stayed out of the water, feeding the whales with buckets of fish on the ledges of the pool. In what has become a signature for the park, the trainer-orca interaction has provided Shamu fans with incredible images of beautiful lifts out of the middle of the pool, with the trainer emerging from the water standing on the nose of a jumping orca. But because of the continuing investigation into Brancheau's death, fans had to settle for the whales taking direction from above the surface. Other precautions were obvious, with more staff on hand throughout the stadium and the female trainers tying their hair up in buns. These adjustments will also take effect at the parks in San Diego and San Antonio. Some things never change Although trainers, who were greeted with a standing ovation, stood on the sidelines this weekend, Grady said the show wasn't disappointing. Using hand signals, trainers instructed the whales to leap, twirl and wave to the audience, while also providing plenty of big splashes for the audience. Tilikum has long been known as the whale with the biggest splash, prompting many to buy ponchos outside the stadium so that they could sit in the front row and take all that the orca had to offer. On Saturday, the dreary weather kept many from entering the splash zone, but Tilikum's back-ups still left plenty with wet clothes to air out as visitors walked around the park. "They still put on a great show. I don't feel let down," Grady said. His family planned to attend a second show Saturday. They don't 'Believe' The emotional return of 'Believe' did not change the minds of people who have long thought SeaWorld should not force animals to perform in shows. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sponsored a protest at the the park, with less than a dozen holding signs at the main gate. PETA has called for SeaWorld to free its captive whales and warned that more human deaths will occur if frustrated, unhappy animals are not let go. "In the wild, orcas and other dolphin species swim up to 100 miles a day," said Amanda Fortino, a PETA spokeswoman, lamenting that animals at SeaWorld are kept in tanks "that to them are just like the size of a bathtub." PETA claims that 42 killer whales are held captive in the U.S.. Marine mammal-rights activist Russ Rector said Saturday that killer whales such as Tilikum should not be kept in tanks or put in shows. "Captivity just dements these males, makes them monsters," said Rector, a former dolphin trainer. "They treat them like props. It's a shame, absolutely a shame." The main attraction But it would be a shame if the park lost its marquee performers, said the Christopherson family of Ridgeland, Wis. It was the family's first vacation in Orlando, and even though they planned their trip around the Walt Disney World theme parks, they said the orca show lured them to SeaWorld. "We were scared the show wasn't going to open," said mother Kelly Christopherson, 38. They wanted to teach their three daughters, ages 10, 8 and 4, about sea animals, which they don't get a chance to see back home in the Midwest. "Where else can you see killer whales [close up]?" said father Tim Christopherson, 41. Although she wants to see trainers and whales back together in the water in future shows, tourist Deborah Osuch said SeaWorld officials are right to take their time in reviewing their procedures, with trainer safety being the most important. "Until the dust settles, they need to do what's right," said Osuch, of Fairhaven, Mass. Following in Dawn's footsteps Brancheau, according to her mother, found her love for orcas on a family vacation to SeaWorld when she was about 10 years old. On Saturday morning, a young Kissimmee girl was chosen from the crowd to be the guest trainer, spending about a minute on a plank near the tank. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, the dark-haired girl simply replied: "A Shamu trainer." \|\|\|\|\| A female trainer was killed today at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla., by a 12,000-pound killer whale that had twice before been involved in the deaths of humans, according to police and local media. There is still confusion about how a killer whale killed a SeaWorld trainer. Dawn Brancheau, 40, an experienced trainer at the tourist attraction, was pulled into the tank by the killer whale, Chuck Tompkins, head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks, said this evening. Tompkins told ABC News Orlando affiliate WFTV that Brancheau was rubbing down the whale after an afternoon show, when the incident occurred. "She was pulled in and she drowned," he said. Earlier, police had said Brancheau slipped or fell into a tank holding the killer whale, Tillikum, and witnesses described the animal coming to the surface to attack the woman. "Brancheau was pronounced dead at the park after being recovered from the pool. Orange County Sheriff's Office homicide investigators continue to investigate the death of the trainer who was reported to have 16 years of experience working with killer whales," the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in an e-mailed release. Tillikum, a male or bull whale, has lived at the park since 1992, and is one of eight killer whales there. "Currently, deputies with the full cooperation of SeaWorld have secured the scene and homicide detectives have been requested to respond and conduct a death investigation follow-up, along with our forensics unit," said Capt. Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in a statement. One witness, park visitor Victoria Biniak, told WKMG-TV that she watched the whale grab Brancheau. "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent," Biniak said. The whale "took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off," she said. Visitors were evacuated and the park closed following the attack. \|\|\|\|\| SeaWorld in San Diego has canceled its Shamu whale show at least for Wednesday after an Orlando SeaWorld employee was killed in an encounter with a whale at that theme park. "We're terribly saddened by the loss of the member of our SeaWorld family, it doesn't matter what park," said SeaWorld San Diego spokesman David Koontz. "We have canceled our afternoon Shamu show here today." Koontz said park officials had yet to make a decision about to whether to cancel Thursday's show. Orlando SeaWorld officials are not revealing the identity of the victim, although a local TV station is reporting that a female employee was killed after she was grabbed by one of the theme park's whales at the start of a public show. Park guest Victoria Biniak told the station that the trainer was a veteran of SeaWorld and had just finished explaining to the audience the show they were about to see.At that point, Biniak said, the whale came up from the water and grabbed the woman. "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent," Biniak said. Read more on the story from the Orlando Sentinel. -- Amina Khan Photo: Dolphins at SeaWorld San Diego. Credit: EPA	A trainer and a whale similar to the whale involved in the incident during a SeaWorld show on February 17, 2010. Dawn Brancheau, a whale trainer, died in an accident at the SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, at around 14:00 local time. The incident involved an 18-year-old killer whale, Tillikum, also called Tilly. The Orange County Sheriff's Office report that trainer Brancheau has 16 years of experience. Brancheau was reported dead after being recovered from the pool. Witness to the incident Victoria Biniak told WKMG-TV, "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent. The whale ...took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off." In response to this accident, SeaWorld San Diego canceled its Shamu show, a show involving the whales at the San Diego location. "We're terribly saddened by the loss of the member of our SeaWorld family, it doesn't matter what park," David Koontz, a spokesperson for SeaWorld San Diego said.
New Episode. A game changing decision gets all the teams guessing. Tactics are in play, room reveal is just around the corner, and a hunky new builder is just the distraction one team needs. S5 Ep5 20:30 The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days Of Future Past. The beloved characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past, X-Men: First Class, in order to change a major historical event and fight an epic battle that could save our future. Starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence. (2014) \|\|\|\|\| Tue 27 Mar 2007 Drugs giant faces court after girls' Ribena test THE global drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline faces a court case today for misleading advertising after two 14-year-olds from New Zealand found the blackcurrant drink Ribena contained almost no vitamin C. In a high school science experiment, Anna Devathasan and Jenny Suo tested the drink against advertising claims that "the blackcurrants in Ribena have four times the vitamin C of oranges" in 2004. They found that the syrup-based drink contained almost no vitamin C and that one commercial orange juice brand contained almost four times more vitamin C than Ribena. They also found that blackcurrants, the essential ingredient of Ribena, made up 5 per cent of the drink. Now the drink's makers, UK-based GlaxoSmithKline, is being taken to court in New Zealand after admitting misleading consumers for more than 50 years. Today, GlaxoSmithKline's New Zealand division faces 15 charges brought by the New Zealand Commerce Commission, the country's corporate watchdog, of making misleading representations about Ribena. If found guilty, the firm faces fines of up to NZ$3 million (£1.091 million). GlaxoSmithKline admitted to authorities in Australia and New Zealand that it misled consumers by implying the drink contained four times as much vitamin C as comparable orange juice drinks. GlaxoSmithKline Australia has admitted that it may have misled consumers about Ribena's vitamin C content, and has reported the discrepancies of the claims to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The firm also admitted that advertising and packaging which implied Ribena fruit drinks contained four times the vitamin C of comparable orange juice products were incorrect. It said the nutritional information panel of Ribena ready-to-drink fruit drinks claimed the products contained a higher amount of vitamin C than they actually did. Television advertising and claims on drink bottles and packets have since been changed to drop the false claims. The result is a sweet victory for the two Auckland schoolgirls, then aged 14, who the company initially ignored. "We did the study for a bit of fun," said Anna, who embarked on a series of experiments on vitamin C in fruit juices in 2004 for a science competition. Jenny added: "When we got no response [to a letter and e-mail], we telephoned them, but they didn't take us seriously because we were just 14." The girls eventually reported the firm to the Commerce Commission, which brought the prosecution. It forced the company's Australian headquarters to approach the Australian corporate watchdog to volunteer that its marketing was misleading and give an undertaking to explain the true nutritional make-up of Ribena on its packaging, website and future advertising. Graeme Samuel, chairman of the ACCC, said: "It is extremely important that companies use appropriate calculation methods when making claims about the contents of food or beverage products, especially when claims relate to nutrition." At the Consumer Commission's request, GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to make only claims which can be verified by valid testing methods, to stop false representations about Ribena's vitamin C content and to place notices in shops advising of any misleading information. HOW IT BECAME A WARTIME FAVOURITE RIBENA was originally made by the Bristol food and drink company Carters as a blackcurrant cordial. The drink was launched in the 1930s and called Ribena, from the botanical name for the blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum. Blackcurrants are a rich source of Vitamin C. It came into its own during the Second World War, when other fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, were hard to obtain because of enemy attacks on shipping and the priority being given to the import of war goods. As a result, blackcurrant cultivation was encouraged by the Ministry of Food and the yield of the UK crop increased significantly. From 1942, almost the entire British crop was turned into blackcurrant syrup (or cordial), almost all of it manufactured by Carters, and it was distributed to the nation's children for free.	The makers of blackcurrant-flavoured drink Ribena, GlaxoSmithKline, are in a New Zealand court today after it was discovered that the company's 55-year advertising campaign is misleading to consumers. Ribena had promoted the drink as being rich in vitamin C, with four times as much as oranges, and claimed the "Ready to Drink" Ribena had 7mg of vitamin C per 100ml. Tests have shown that "Ready to Drink" Ribena does not have any detectable vitamin C content. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), an international leading healthcare company second only to Pfizer, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges laid against them by New Zealand's Commerce Commission in Auckland's District Court. GSK did, however, fight the expected fine of up to $350,000 and corrective advertisements, proposing instead a $60,000 fine with no corrective advertisements. In the end, they were fined $217,000 for their breaches of New Zealand's fair trading act, and will have to publish correcting advertisements. It was first revealed that Ribena did not contain any traces of vitamin C when two 14-year-old Pakuranga College students did tests. At first Anna Devathasan and Jenny Suo thought they had conducted their tests incorrectly, so they tried again, but the same result came up. They contacted the firm three times, and approached the Commerce Commission after receiving no response. Ms Devathasan said, "We did the study for a bit of fun." A study in January 2007 also revealed that the drink contains only 5% actual blackcurrant juice.
News :: Bill Sweetenham cleared of bullying allegations 5th January 2005 Australian coach Bill Sweetenham has been cleared by an independent inquiry of bullying allegations made last year by former British table tennis player Matthew Syed. Syed had accused Sweetenham of damaging British swimming and causeing the retirement of 13 senior British swimmers. Sweetenham has been the performance director for British swimming since November 2000, when he took over from Deryk Snelling. His contract, which was recently renewed, runs up till the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Syed's claims had been denied by Sweetenham, British Swimming and many of the swimmers involved. Despite this and the result of the inquiry some of the swimmers maintain that the inquiry was not thorough enough. The inquiry will be published later in the month when Sweetenham returns from Australia. Sources BBC News - "Sweetenham is cleared of bullying" - 4th January 2005 Swimnews - "Sweetenham to be Cleared of Allegations" - 4th January 2005 \|\|\|\|\| The Times claimed the 55-year-old Australian had contributed to the retirement of 13 Olympic athletes. But swimming chiefs have given their backing to Sweetenham, appointed in 2000, following a three-month inquiry. "Broadly speaking, the report suggests allegations of bullying are not proven," said the official statement. Sweetenham still faces some tough questioning when he returns to this country after spending the festive period in his homeland. David Sparkes, chief executive of British Swimming, told BBC Five Live he planned to meet the Queenslander to discuss the repercussions of the investigation. "We will sit down with Bill at the end of the month to see if any lessons can be learned," said Sparkes. SWEETENHAM FACTFILE Took over from Deryk Snelling as British performance director on 1 November, 2000 Recently signed a new contract that will take him up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing Four times Australia's Olympic head coach; eight years as Australia's national coach; four years as Hong Kong's national head coach Sparkes also defended the independent inquiry carried out by former police officer Bill Roberts. One of Sweetenham's main accusers, former British 100m and 200m breaststroke record-holder Jaime King, said she thought it was not as thorough as it should have been. "If you are going to do an inquiry, things need to be done properly," said King, who claimed she was humiliated by Sweetenham at the 2003 World Championships. King said Roberts had failed to interview her in person and said she ended up making her comments in an e-mail. "In my mind I had him coming down to see me and doing it formally rather than doing it haphazardly over the internet," she said. But Sparkes rejected King's claims, praising Roberts for the professional, detailed and open way he handled his investigation. "He received representation by e-mail, by phone and by letter from a number of people who contributed to his investigation," said Sparkes. I just think some of his ways are wrong and the way he treats people sometimes is wrong Jaime King "I can only assume in the case of Jaime King that he looked at what she had put in her e-mail and felt he got enough from that. "I know that he sent her a copy of the submission he was going to put in the report and invited her to add to it or subtract from it." King said she would accept the outcome of the inquiry but felt she had achieved her objective of opening up Sweetenham to scrutiny. She also conceded that Sweetenham had "done a lot of good" for British swimming but reaffirmed her belief that he did not always handle his swimmers the right way. "I just think some of his ways are wrong and the way he treats people sometimes is wrong," she said. Sweetenham vigorously defended himself at the time the inquiry was launched but later said he had come close to resigning. "I've been coaching for 30 years - males, females, all levels - and I've never had a problem," he said. "All of a sudden now, because I set high standards and try to move British swimming on, I'm a bully. I've never been a bully." \|\|\|\|\| Sweetenham to be Cleared of Allegations Jan 4, 2006 An independent inquiry has cleared Bill Sweetenham, Britain's performance director, of bullying accusations levelled at him by swimmers and a former table tennis player last year. The inquiry, to be published later this month, has concluded that several retired Olympians cited in the article by Matthew Syed, a former table tennis player for Britain who now writes a sports column for the paper, do not consider themselves to have been bullied. According to the British media today, Sweetenham "has no case to answer". Syed alleged that Sweetenham was a bully, had damaged British swimming and caused the retirements of 13 senior Britain team members. The claim was denied by Sweetenham, many of the swimmers involved and the national federation. A source close to Sweetenham said: "It was always going nowhere. It was bullshit from the beginning. There are issues in British swimming but bullying is not one of them. Bill has been a great asset to Britain and taken the sport on in leaps and bounds. Athens was disappointing but then it took more than 25 years for Australia to get from a dark place to where it is today. Bill's been in Britain just five years. Give it time. You had a situation here where one day the paper ran a whole page accusing Bill. The next day, Craig Lord the swim reporter for the London Times, told us all that David Davies, Graeme Smith and lots of others on the current team backed Bill. Guess who we trust? I think the table tennis player should go back to the sport he knows something about. He clearly knows nothing about swimming." The inquiry recommendations will be published after Sweetenham returns from his native Australia later in January and attends a meeting with his bosses at British Swimming.	Australian coach Bill Sweetenham has been cleared by an independent inquiry of bullying allegations made last year by former British table tennis player Matthew Syed. Syed had accused Sweetenham of damaging British swimming and causing the retirement of 13 senior British swimmers. Sweetenham has been the performance director for British swimming since November 2000, when he took over from Deryk Snelling. His contract, which was recently renewed, runs up till the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Syed's claims had been denied by Sweetenham, British Swimming and many of the swimmers involved. Despite this and the result of the inquiry some of the swimmers maintain that the inquiry was not thorough enough. The inquiry will be published later in the month when Sweetenham returns from Australia.
Pakistani intelligence officials say at least four people have been killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in the militant stronghold of North Waziristan. Officials say missiles hit a house and a vehicle near Miranshah, Friday. The region is near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The attack comes a day after President Asif Ali Zardari warned that U.S. drone strikes were undermining Pakistan's "national consensus" in his country's war against militants. However, visiting U.S. lawmakers told Pakistani officials the U.S. could not afford to abandon the controversial missile strikes. Meanwhile, Pakistani officials say at least eight suspected militants have been killed in an explosion at their safehouse in the commercial center of Karachi. Investigators say the suspected militants accidentally detonated the explosives Friday, destroying the safehouse. Bomb squads helped search through the rubble. Police say some of the victims are militants and at least two suspects have been arrested. Officials also recovered guns, grenades, suicide vests and other explosives from the scene. Interior Minister Rehman Malik says some of the men in the house were from the country's Swat Valley. Pakistan's military launched a massive offensive there last April to drive out the Taliban, causing millions of people to flee their homes. Elsewhere, Pakistani officials say at least five people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the northwestern Khyber district. Investigators say the bomber targeted members of a rival Islamist extremist group. Officials say the bomber blew himself up after a security guard stopped him outside a building belonging to Ansarul-Islam. Ansarul-Islam has long clashed with another militant group in the region, called Lashkar-e-Islam. Some information for this report was provided by AP. \|\|\|\|\| Pakistani officials reported Friday the death of five people after US drone attacked the northwestern area of North Waziristan. The attack targeted the village of Tappi in the strife-torn area, AFP reported. "The US drone fired two missiles on a house. The house was completely destroyed," a senior security official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity. Local officials, commenting on the incidents, usually request anonymity, citing the 'sensitive' nature of the raids carried out on the Pakistani tribal belt which borders Afghanistan. In 2009, the attacks, launched by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in cooperation with the Pentagon, reportedly killed more than 700 civilians in the country. They have also fueled anti-American sentiments in the Muslim Pakistan. In an allusion to the issue, the visiting US Senator John McCain said in Islamabad, "friends don't always agree on every issue." "We will continue to try to find common ground with the Pakistani government as we have to do everything we can... to protect Americans from the attacks of terrorists who may be based here and operate out of Pakistan." HN/SAR/MD	Pakistani intelligence officials said today that at least four people have been killed in a suspected US drone strike in the North Waziristan province. Officials say missiles hit a house and a vehicle near the town Miranshah. The region is near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. "The US drone fired two missiles on a house. The house was completely destroyed," said an unnamed security official. The attack comes a day after Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari warned that US drone strikes were undermining Pakistan's "national consensus" in his country's war against rebel groups in the area. However, visiting US lawmakers told Pakistani officials the US could not afford to abandon the controversial missile strikes.
Two Democrats in Congress are pressing for investigations into how a Washington reporter who used a pseudonym managed to gain access to the White House and had access to classified documents that named Valerie Plame as a C.I.A. operative. The Democrats, Representatives John Conyers Jr. of Michigan and Louise M. Slaughter from Rochester, wrote yesterday to Patrick Fitzgerald, the independent prosecutor appointed in the Plame case, seeking an investigation into how the reporter, James D. Guckert, who used the name Jeff Gannon, had access to classified documents that revealed the identity of Ms. Plame. Until Wednesday when he resigned, Mr. Guckert worked for TalonNews.com, a Web site operated by Robert Eberle, a Texas Republican. Mr. Guckert said in a March 2004 interview with his own news service, in which he was referred to as Mr. Gannon, that the classified document had been "easily accessible." The two Democrats questioned how a person with "dubious qualifications" had access to such a document. The Democrats also wrote to the Secret Service seeking an explanation of how someone using a pseudonym was cleared to enter the White House daily press briefings as well as a presidential news conference last month. They said in their letter that allowing such a person in "appears to deviate significantly from heightened security measures you have employed recently." Mr. Guckert resigned from Talon saying he had been harassed by liberals on the Internet. Bloggers grew suspicious of him after President Bush called on him at the news conference and the reporter suggested that Democrats had "divorced themselves from reality." Spearheaded by a Web site called Media Matters For America, the bloggers discredited him. \|\|\|\|\| White House reporter's credentials questioned Man worked for Web site owned by Republican activist WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A New York congresswoman asked the White House to explain Wednesday why a man who worked for a news Web site owned by a GOP activist was able to obtain White House press credentials under an assumed name. James Guckert, who reported from the White House for the Talon News Service under the name "Jeff Gannon," announced he was quitting the business "in consideration of the welfare of me and my family." "Because of the attention being paid to me, I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News," he said in a statement posted Wednesday on his Web site. In a letter to President Bush, Rep. Louise Slaughter, a Democrat, questioned why Guckert routinely received credentials for White House news briefings. Slaughter linked Guckert's case to recent revelations that two conservative columnists who supported Bush administration policies had received government money. "It appears that 'Mr. Gannon's' presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your administration," Slaughter wrote. The White House had no comment. The House and Senate press galleries declined Guckert's request for credentials in 2003. Julie Davis, chairwoman of the Senate press gallery's executive committee, said Guckert could not demonstrate any separation between Talon News and GOPUSA, a Republican consulting group. Both organizations are run by Bobby Eberle, a Texas GOP activist. Many Talon News articles also appeared as news releases on the GOPUSA Web site, said Davis, a reporter for The Sun newspaper of Baltimore, Maryland. In a statement on the Talon Web site, Eberle referred to "Gannon's" resignation and said, "I understand and support Jeff's decision." Slaughter said she was writing at the request of senior editors of the Niagara Falls Reporter in her Buffalo-area district. The newspaper ran an open letter questioning "how a partisan political organization and an individual with no credentials as a reporter -- and apparently operating under an assumed name -- landed a coveted spot in the White House press corps." During White House press secretary Scott McClellan's regular briefings, Guckert routinely offered administration-friendly questions. He became the focus of liberal and media Web sites after Bush called on him during his news conference January 26. Guckert asked Bush how he could deal with Democratic congressional leaders "who seem to have divorced themselves from reality." Guckert told The Washington Post in an article published Tuesday that his political leanings were "admittedly" conservative "and that point of view is not represented in the briefing room at all." "Call me partisan, fine, but don't let my colleagues off the hook," he said. "They're partisan too, but they don't admit it." Slaughter said ideology had nothing to do with the dispute. "It doesn't matter whether he's a conservative reporter. The question is, is he a reporter?" she said. She told CNN that she believed the White House gave Guckert credentials to get a friendly questioner into the room during White House briefings. "I don't want to be fed propaganda from this White House," she said. "I don't want people to be paid to give it to me. We deserve the facts, or this democracy will suffer." Last month, conservative commentator Armstrong Williams apologized for not disclosing that his company had received $240,000 from a public relations agency hired by the Department of Education to promote Bush's No Child Left Behind education overhaul. Syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher also apologized to her readers for not disclosing a $21,500 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to help create materials used to promote Bush's $300 million initiative encouraging marriage to strengthen families. At the January 26 news conference, Bush said he disapproved of such practices and wanted them to stop. "There needs to be independence," he said. "All our Cabinet secretaries must realize that we will not be paying ... commentators to advance our agenda. Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet," Bush said. (Full story) HHS later disclosed that a third conservative columnist, Mike McManus, had received $10,000 to promote Bush's marriage initiative, according to an Associated Press report. His weekly column appears in about 50 newspapers. Several congressional Democrats have introduced a bill to stop what they termed taxpayer-funded "covert propaganda campaigns" that violate a provision included in annual appropriation acts since 1951. Under the new bill, dubbed the Federal Propaganda Prohibition Act of 2005, the prohibition on propaganda would become a permanent part of federal law. Federal agencies would also have to notify Congress about public relations, advertising and polling contracts, and the funding sources of all federally funded public relations materials would have to be disclosed. \|\|\|\|\| Posted: 12 February 2005 By: Jemima Kiss Email: jemima@journalism.co.uk Bloggers are claiming success for their part in exposing 'fake' White House correspondent Jeff Gannon, an unqualified reporter who had White House access and apparently posted Republican propaganda as news stories.Web-based campaign group Media Matters for America became suspicious at a 'soft question' Mr Gannon put forward at a White House press briefing. Investigations by the group revealed that Mr Gannon had lifted chunks of writing from Republican party and White House press releases.Two Democrat representatives are calling for an official investigation into claims that Mr Gannon also had access to a confidential CIA document involved in the Valerie Plame scandal - an undercover agent whose name was leaked.Mr Gannon worked for the Talon News agency, run by Bobby Eberle. Mr Eberle is also president of Texas-based Conservative campaign organisation GOPUSA Media Matters revealed that Jeff Gannon was a pseudonym used by James Guckert, and the story was picked up by a network of bloggers, including DailyKos and Eschaton They discovered that James Guckert was the registered owner of JeffGannon.com - along with Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com and Militaryescortsm4m.com.Blogger, political consultant and former journalist John Aravosis has used his blog to 'synthesize the mounds of data' unearthed by bloggers in the GannonGuckert episode.The mainstream press are still missing the big story, said Mr Aravosis, because the more salacious parts of the story are 'too personal' to report."An anti-gay conservative GOP writer has had clients dealing with gay escort services and gets immediate access to the family-values president of the United States and internal CIA documents concerning one of the biggest scandals of this administration. No story there!"Mr Aravosis told dotJournalism that bloggers were better placed to investigate Mr Gannon's background than mainstream journalists."Mainstream journalists can't afford to tick off the White House, but those of us in the blogger world couldn't care less about what George Bush thinks of us," he said."We know we won't be getting passes to the White House any time soon."In an interview with Editor & Publisher , Mr Gannon would not say whether he saw the confidential CIA files. He said that the sexually oriented sites were registered by him five years ago for a private client, and denied that anyone in the White House press office had planted or suggested questions to him.Mr Gannon resigned from Talon News on 8 February. A message on his site states that he has decided to return to private life out of consideration for his family.More news from dotJournalism: Disgraced NY Times reporter beaten to his own domainMore coverage:Blog coverage: \|\|\|\|\| Friday, February 11, 2005 WASHINGTON A conservative writer who attracted attention by asking President Bush (search) a loaded question at a news conference last month has resigned amid questions about his identity and background. James D. Guckert (search), who wrote under the name Jeff Gannon (search), said on his Web site that he was leaving "because of the attention being paid to me." He had been Washington bureau chief for Talon News (search), a conservative online news outlet associated with another Web site, GOPUSA. Guckert frequently attended White House press briefings over the last two years and asked pointedly conservative questions. Called on by Bush at a Jan. 26 news conference, Guckert said Senate Democratic leaders were painting a bleak picture of the economy and he asked Bush how the president would work "with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality." The question prompted scrutiny, particularly from liberal bloggers. Guckert was linked with online domain addresses suggestive of gay pornography. Guckert, a former resident of Wilmington, Del., told The (Wilmington) News Journal newspaper that he had registered the domain names for a client while he was working to set up a Web-hosting business. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Guckert did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name. ADVERTISEMENTS "He, like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly and so he was cleared two years ago to receive daily passes just like many others are," McClellan said. "In this day and age, when you have a changing media, it's not an easy issue to decide, to try to pick and choose who is a journalist. It gets into the issue of advocacy journalism. Where do you draw the line? There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room." He said he had been unaware of Guckert's affiliation with any sexually suggestive domain addresses. \|\|\|\|\| Mostly outrage is being expressed here about John Edwards' admission of having an affair. A sampling from the previous thread: georgia10: Fuck John Edwards. I have zero respect for his self-serving ass. I don’t really care what he does in his private life. If he wants to screw around, fine. I don’t agree with it, obviously, but it’s ultimately between him and Elizabeth. But he chose to be a presidential candidate, cheating on a wife with cancer, and then running for the Democratic nomination with that fact tucked away waiting to break out as an October surprise. Not only is that an incredibly selfish act, but he could have single-handedly given us another 8 years of Republican rule if he won the primaries. His hubris makes my blood boil. To think that he ran with this thinking he wouldn't endanger not just the presidency but this country too is just repulsive. hekebolos: I'm not going to listen to anyone who says "oh, this is just between him and Elizabeth" because that's not how we treat Newt Gingrich. And second: what if he had become the nominee and this came out? He would have basically handed the presidency to the Republican nominee. Self-serving egomaniac with a distinct lack of moral fiber. pat 208: He had an affair, THEN asked us to nominate him. He's not getting any more invitations to my Christmas parties, that's for sure. I am SO glad he's not our nominee. But he put us all at risk by asking running. And some objections to the expressed outrage: RNinNC WELL over 50% of married people have affairs. Especially men. McCain as well, but there's no massive MSM shock over that one. We can judge and throw rocks all we want, but dismissing someone for an affair is way overblown. I'm stunned to see this place explode like this. MrHinkyDink: Jesus, you'd think JE was the first politician to have an affair, when they've been doing it for thousands of years. Is it wrong? Yes. Does it erase all the good things about JE? No. He's not evil. He just made a huge mistake. It's one he should have to pay consequences for, but it's certainly not an unforgivable sin. And, of course, the top recommended diary right now by David Mizner: This is none of our business. This is an American sickness, this need to know--the belief that we're entitled to know--about the sexual lives of politicians. But but but, you don't have a problem with the sex, you say, you have a problem with his lying about it. Yeah, that's what Ken Starr said too. And a counter-argument to the recommended diary, this comeback by Meteor Blades:	Photo of the White House.Credit: dcJohn A lack of thorough and consistent measures to pick the White House press corps members has led many to question the reason a little-known conservative reporter had access to sensitive documents and the President of the United States. Jeff Gannon, whose real name is James Guckert, has been operating under an assumed name while attending White House press briefings. Gannon/Guckert was a reporter for the news service Talon News, a website believed by some to be a branch of the GOPUSA, up until his recent resignation due to the incidents surrounding him. The spotlight was originally cast on Guckert when called upon in a January 26 news conference. He asked President George W. Bush how he could work with Democratic congressional leaders "who seem to have divorced themselves from reality." Bloggers, seeing this as a "softball" question almost immediately began to question Guckert’s credentials and motives. Guckert supposedly had access to classified documents that named Valerie Plame as a CIA operative as well, which adds more fuel to the fire of the Justice Department’s investigation of the release of her name. Bloggers revealed James Guckert's real name, and that he was the registered owner of JeffGannon.com, Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com, and Militaryescortsm4m.com. The accusations that Guckert has no degree in journalism, reports through a small organiztion funded by a larger conservative news outlet, operated under an assumed name, and is directly linked with pornographic domain names, have many questioning how exactly he received a press pass in the first place. White House press secretary Scott McClellan, when questioned about this event, stated that Guckert did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name. McClellan defended Guckert’s clearance saying that, "He, like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly and so he was cleared two years ago to receive daily passes just like many others are."
Afghanistan's opium trade going strong Cultivators can be seen gathering resin from the crop near the main road through Kandahar. The Associated Press Afghan farmers near Kandahar harvest an opium crop yesterday. Afghan farmers near Kandahar harvest an opium crop yesterday. MAYWAND, Afghanistan - Afghan farmers have begun harvesting this year's opium crop, exposing the limits of a U.S.-sponsored crackdown on the world's largest narcotics industry despite claims by President Hamid Karzai that drug cultivation was down sharply. The sobering harvest news came a day after the arrest in the United States of an Afghan accused of being one of the world's biggest heroin traffickers and of close ties to the ousted Taliban regime. Yesterday morning, farmers could be seen gathering resin from opium poppies near the main road through the southern province of Kandahar, a key growing region belatedly targeted by American-trained eradication teams. "Now even if we do our best, we cannot eradicate it all" in Kandahar, Gen. Mohammed Daoud, deputy interior minister for counternarcotics, said. "It is a bad example for the other provinces and will make our job much harder." Production of opium, the raw material for heroin, has boomed since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Last year, cultivation reached a record 323,700 acres, yielding nearly 80 percent of world supply and buoying the economy. U.N. drug experts have cautioned that cultivation is shifting to more remote areas and rebounding opium prices could encourage a revival in planting next year. advertisement Countries, including the United States and Britain, are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the anti-drug campaign. The cash is being used to train police units to destroy laboratories, arrest smugglers and destroy crops, as well as to fund irrigation systems and other agricultural projects to help farmers grow legal crops. Mohammed Nahim, 40, works in the fields dotted with red and white flowers near the town of Maywand. He said he cultivated about 2 1/2 acres of land with poppy because no assistance had materialized. "A lot of money is coming for our farmers. But we didn't get a penny, not one sack of wheat," Nahim said. He clutched a black plastic bag filled with thick opium paste from his poppy crop. He said opium returns were 10 times higher than those from wheat and were the only way to cover costs of hired tractors and diesel fuel to pump water into fields. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON - Facing opposition from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the United States has set aside plans to use spray planes to fumigate opium crops in Afghanistan (news - web sites), the world's largest drug producing country. Karzai's opposition to spraying has frustrated some U.S. officials who doubt that the vast amount of opium produced in Afghanistan can be significantly reduced without spraying. Opium is the raw material for heroin. The United Nations (news - web sites) says Afghanistan's drug trade has funded terrorists. Some U.S. officials fear it could ultimately lead to the kind of lawlessness that allowed al-Qaida to use Afghanistan as a haven before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Karzai, a close ally of the United States, has called for a "holy war" against Afghanistan's drug business, but believes aerial spraying could harm innocent villagers. U.S. officials say drug spraying is safe. The State Department's top anti-drug official, Robert Charles, said Karzai has indicated that he might allow aerial spraying if other eradication and interdiction strategies fail. "What he essentially signaled was that while that may become necessary, he wants to begin with another sequence," Charles said in an interview. Afghan officials say eradication efforts are already showing results, and forecast a nationwide drop of 30 percent to 70 percent in this year's crop. The State Department had anticipated an aerial spraying campaign when it notified Congress in December of how it planned to spend $312.5 million of $774 million budgeted counternarcotics operations in Afghanistan this year. Charles said about $152 million of the $312.5 million could have been used for aerial spray operations. The department will soon present Congress with a revised spending plan that doesn't include aerial eradication, Charles said. Instead, it will emphasize manual eradication, alternative crop programs, law enforcement targeting laboratories and warehouses, and public information. The chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Rep. Henry Hyde (news, bio, voting record), R-Ill., sent a letter last week to Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) urging no reduction in the $312.5 million figure. In a statement Tuesday, Hyde said until Karzai's government "signals its support for aerial spraying of illicit crops, we need a very robust and effective interdiction strategy to go after the heroin labs and the Afghan narco-terrorist kingpins." Charles said spending "will generally be in the same neighborhood. I don't think anyone has a sense of reduced commitment." In her Senate confirmation hearing (news - web sites) last week, Rice indicated U.S. officials are still interested in aerial eradication. "At this point, manual is all that we can do, but we'll see whether aerial is needed and what we can do in that regard," she said. The United Nations estimated that 323,700 acres in Afghanistan were dedicated to opium last year. That marks a 64 percent increase over the figure for 2003. The U.S. government's estimate was even higher: 5.1 million acres, a 239 percent increase over its 2003 figure. The United Nations says Afghanistan produced nearly 90 percent of the world's opium and the drug accounted for more than 60 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Relatively little Afghan opium, though, reaches the United States, where Colombia has been the largest source of heroin and cocaine. U.S. officials credit an aerial eradication program in Colombia, funded by the United States, with reducing cultivation of opium and coca, the raw material for cocaine. That spraying program has the support of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. \|\|\|\|\| The government is taking measures to tackle the problem Production rose by six percent on last year, to around 3,600 metric tonnes, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime found. Agency director Antonio Maria Costa said the country was at a crossroads and risked falling into the hands of "drug cartels or narco-terrorists". Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of illicit opium. Terrorists take a cut as well. The longer this happens, the greater the threat to security within the country and on its borders Antonio Maria Costa It found that though new measures by Hamid Karzai's administration had helped cut production in some traditional poppy growing areas, cultivation was rapidly spreading in new areas. Afghan opium farmers and traffickers brought home about $2.3bn in 2003, said the report. "Out of this drug chest, some provincial administrators and military commanders take a considerable share," said Mr Costa. "The more they get used to this, the less likely it becomes that they will respect the law, be loyal to Kabul and support the legal economy. "Terrorists take a cut as well. The longer this happens, the greater the threat to security within the country and on its borders." Tajikistan Guards on the Afghan-Tajikistan border say they seized a tonne of narcotics in October, which is an eight-fold increase on the year before. Tajikistan has become a critical export corridor from the Afghan poppy fields to the markets of Europe and the United States, says the BBC's Monica Whitlock who travelled to the region. Afghan opium trade Afghanistan provides around 75% of the world's opium output Two-thirds of all opiate takers use drugs of Afghan origins The 2003 harvest is the second highest recorded in Afghanistan since surveying began in 1994 Men and women works as carriers relaying tiny amounts for the middle men - some of those caught die in prisons forced to swallow the bags they smuggled - and local drug addiction is growing. Mr Costa said he would like to see international military forces in Afghanistan do more to intercept traffickers and dismantle drug laboratories. "Some countries believe that the military should not be involved in the destruction of trafficking," he said. "Other countries think otherwise. "I believe that the war against terrorism, leaving aside addiction, will not be won unless we control the opium economy of Afghanistan". \|\|\|\|\| Bush Will Not Stop Afghan Opium Trade Charles R. Smith Thursday, March 28, 2002 The Bush administration has decided not to destroy the opium crop in Afghanistan. President Bush, who previously linked the Afghan drug trade directly to terrorism, has now decided not to destroy the Afghan opium crop. "The war in Afghanistan will be decided within the next six weeks based on whether or not the poppy crops go to market," stated a U.S. intelligence official who recently returned from Afghanistan. The source, who requested that he not be identified, noted that the opium poppy fields are blooming and ready for harvest. U.S. forces could destroy the crops using aerial spraying techniques, but no such actions are planned. "If the estimated 3,000 tons of opium reaches market, it will lead to a new upsurge in international terrorism and a great loss in international credibility for the Bush administration and the United States' ability to conduct war in the 21st century. America's enemies throughout the world from China to North Korea to Iran will be emboldened by this lack of strategic vision and political will," said the source. U.N. Ban on Opium Trade The U.S. and all its allies signed onto a worldwide ban on opium sales. In January 2002, the U.N. issued a report on the Afghan opium production, noting that allied forces needed to act quickly to destroy the 2002 opium poppy crops before the end of spring. "The global importance of the ban on opium poppy cultivation and trafficking in Afghanistan is enormous," states the January 2002 U.N. report on drug trafficking. "Afghanistan has been the main source of illicit opium: 70 percent of global illicit opium production in 2000 and up to 90 percent of heroin in European drug markets originated from Afghanistan," states the U.N. report. "There are reliable indications that opium poppy cultivation has resumed since October 2001 in some areas (such as the southern provinces Uruzgan, Helmand, Nangarhar and Kandahar), following the effective implementation of the Taliban ban on cultivation in 2001, not only because of the breakdown in law and order, but also because the farmers are desperate to find a means of survival following the prolonged drought," states the U.N. report. This Is Your CIA Several sources inside Capitol Hill noted that the CIA opposes the destruction of the Afghan opium supply because to do so might destabilize the Pakistani government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf. According to these sources, Pakistani intelligence had threatened to overthrow President Musharraf if the crops were destroyed. The threat to overthrow Musharraf is motivated in part by Islamic radical groups linked to the Pakistani intelligence service, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The radical groups reportedly obtain their primary funding through opium production and trade. "Pakistan's intelligence service is corrupt, unreliable, and we don't owe them a damn thing. The CIA has a very checkered past as far as who they choose to get in the sack with. Maybe it's time to stop being clever and do the right thing," stated another source close to the Bush administration. "If they [the CIA] are in fact opposing the destruction of the Afghan opium trade, it'll only serve to perpetuate the belief that the CIA is an agency devoid of morals; off on their own program rather than that of our constitutionally elected government," stated the source. "If we don't take this opportunity to destroy the opium production in Afghanistan, we are no better than the Taliban, who did nothing to stop it despite claims to the contrary," he concluded. This Is Your CIA on Drugs The CIA decision not to stop the Afghan opium production has been greeted silently by U.S. allies. According to intelligence sources, both the U.K. and French governments have quietly given their approval of the American policy by not acting in accordance with the U.N. global ban on opium traffic. However, one foreign intelligence official was quick to point out that the CIA has a history of supporting international drug trafficking. "The CIA did almost the identical thing during the Vietnam War, which had catastrophic consequences – the increase in the heroin trade in the USA beginning in the 1970s is directly attributable to the CIA. The CIA has been complicit in the global drug trade for years, so I guess they just want to carry on their favorite business," noted an allied intelligence official who works closely with U.S. law enforcement. "The sole reason why organized crime groups and terrorists have the power that they do is all because of drug trafficking. Like the old saying, 'those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it,'" stated the official. TV War on Terror According to intelligence sources, a simple grant of $200 a year, no more than $20 million in total, sent to each poorly paid Afghan farmer could stop all opium production. The U.S. war in Afghanistan has already consumed an estimated $40 billion. After spending millions of dollars on a U.S. advertising campaign that linked illegal drug sales to terrorism, the Bush administration has opted not to destroy Afghanistan's opium production over fears that such an act may destabilize Pakistan. Clearly, ending opium production inside Afghanistan could be more effective than spending millions on TV advertising. The lack of action in Afghanistan against the drug trade shows that the Bush administration has adopted a hypocritical and flawed policy in its war on terror. The current U.S. law enforcement tactics aimed at slick TV ads and seizing terrorist money will not stop the flow of illegal drug money flowing into the hands of Osama bin Laden. If the Bush administration is truly interested in ending terrorism, then it must start in the poppy fields of Afghanistan. Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Bush Administration War on Terrorism A product that might interest you: Free E-mail Alerts From NewsMax.com	Opium poppy. Photo by Catherine Giayvia Most heroin sold in Europe comes from Afghanistan's poppies. This past week, the 2005 opium harvest was in full view and going full speed in Afghanistan. The cultivators gathering resin from the crop are operating even near the main road through Kandahar and the farmers are out gathering resin from opium poppies in full view. Last year 80% of the world's opium came from Afghanistan and production is up over 239% since 2003, according to U.S. government estimates. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of illegal drugs. In 2002 ads, the White House sent out the message that "drugs fund terrorists". Doug Wankel, a former U.S. (DEA) official, says the opium industry is "financing terrorism. It's financing subversive activities. It's financing warlordism... And if it's a threat to the government of Afghanistan, it's a direct threat to the national security interests of the United States." "The Bush administration has decided not to destroy the opium crop in Afghanistan," stated a U.S. intelligence official returning from Afghanistan in relation to the 60% smaller 2002 crop. The source, who requested that he not be identified, noted "U.S. forces could destroy the crops using aerial spraying techniques, but no such actions are planned." U.S. plans to spray the crops were canceled at the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has called for or "holy war", but is concerned that aerial spraying could be harmful to the health of Afghan villagers. The U.S. claims that the spraying would be safe, but is granting Karzai's request. Karzai has indicated that he may change his mind if other U.S. strategies fail to halt the opium. Congress budgeted $774 million for anti-drug operations in Afghanistan just this year. Black tar (raw) opium seized in Afghanistan, spring 2005. Photo by Bentlogic. ==== Estimating the value of the crop ==== The CIA reports in ''From Flowers to Heroin that'' it takes 10 kg of opium to make 1 kg of 90% pure heroin. The CIA states that impurities are introduced into the processed heroin before it hits the street, making the purity of the end consumer product about 40%. That implies that 10 kg of opium makes about 2.25 kg of 40% pure heroin. The Guardian reports that the 2002 opium harvest was 3400 metric tons. Using the conversion supplied by the CIA, 2002's 3400 opium harvest could be converted into 765 metric tons of heroin. According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the 2003 opium harvest was 3600 metric tons. Using the estimated 239% increase of the present harvast over 2003, it means that the 2005 harvest is about 8600 metric tons. The 2002 street price of heroin in the UK was about 60 £ per GRAM, or (assuming the present 1.89 USD to 1 £ exchange) 113.40 USD per GRAM. As the supply goes up the price will come down some, so for this calculation only the 2002 figures will be used. If all the opium harvest is converted into heroin and all of it is sold at the UK street price, the total street value of the harvest is 86.7 billion USD. (765 metric tons x 1000 kg/metric ton x 1000 grams/kg x 113.4 USD/gram = about 86.7 billion USD.) To the extent the 2002 numbers are valid today, the street value of the 2005 harvest should be roughly twice the street value of the 2002 harvest, about 173 billion USD. To put these numbers in perspective, the total market capitalization of Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler combined is about 76 billion USD. The total market capitalization of Toyota and Honda combined is about 167 billion USD. ==== No Statement by the Financial Action Task Force ==== The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was formed to promote harmonization of international antimoney laundering (AML) laws. Despite the fact that tens of billions of USDs are generated from the Afgan opium harvest alone, the FATF has not added Afghanistan to its blacklist of uncooperative nations. One has to wonder, therefore, what the poppy farmers are doing with their share of the money that escapes the notice of the banking system and the FATF.
STOCKHOLM, July 28 (Reuters) - The Swedish government said on Tuesday it had asked Venezuela for information on how Swedish-made weapons exported to the South American country had found their way to rebels in neighbouring Colombia.Colombia authorities said on Monday they had seized anti-tank weapons purchased in Europe by Venezuela in the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. [ID:nN27540288]"It is correct that they have found these weapons to be Swedish-made," said Jens Eriksson, a top political adviser at the Foreign Ministry to Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling."We are working together with Colombian authorities to investigate the matter further and we have contacted Venezuelan authorities to clear up how these arms ended up in Colombia."Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami denied on Monday the weapons found in the hands of FARC, which has been fighting for a socialist revolution since the 1960s and is labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States, had come from Venezuela.Eriksson said "a smaller quantity" of arms, mainly ammunition, had also been found in rebel hands.A Swedish Foreign Ministry official said the anti-tank weapons had been exported to Venezuela in the 1980s but that some shipments of ammunition for the weapons systems had occurred at a later date.No licenses have been issued for arms exports to Colombia while no shipments of weapons to Venezuela under a 2006 licence has been carried out in recent years, Eriksson said. (editing by Robert Woodward) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons purchased by Venezuela have ended up in the hands of guerrillas, Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos said. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro talks on the phone with President Hugo Chavez in Caracas Monday. In an interview with Caracol Radio Monday, Santos addressed local reports of anti-tank weapons manufactured in Sweden being seized from members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and traced to Venezuela. "This is not the first time that this happens," Santos said. "In several operations in which we have recovered weapons from the FARC, we have found powerful munitions and powerful equipment, including anti-tank weapons, from a European country that sold them to Venezuela and that turned up in the hands of the FARC." The weapons have been identified as AT4 shoulder-fired rockets manufactured by Saab Bofors Dynamics in Sweden, according to Jane's Defence Weekly. They were seized in 2008 from a guerrilla base, the Colombian magazine Semana reported. Jan-Erik Lovgren, the Swedish official who oversees weapon exports, told Radio Sweden on Monday that his country stopped selling weapons to Venezuela in 2006. Venezuela on Monday denied allegations that they gave the weapons to the guerrilla group. "To me it seems that this is a new attack against our government based on lies," Venezuelan Minister of the Interior and Justice Tareck El Aissami said at a news conference Monday. "We absolutely deny that our government or our institutions are providing assistance to criminal and terrorist organizations," El Aissami told reporters. "It's laughable, it sounds like a cheap film made by the American government." Previous instances of Venezuela's government being accused of aiding the FARC include one last year, when the U.S. Treasury Department accused two senior Venezuelan intelligence officials and one former official of assisting the guerrillas with drug trafficking. The department froze any assets the three men may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibited Americans from conducting business with them. \|\|\|\|\| Colombian troops are pressing their offensive against the rebels Sweden has asked Venezuela to explain how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Colombia's Farc rebels. Swedish officials said the anti-tank rocket launchers had been sold to Venezuela in the 1980s. Colombian troops recovered the weapons in a raid on a Farc camp. Colombia has long claimed that Venezuela has backed the left-wing rebels. The Caracas government denies this, and dismissed the latest reports as an attempt to harm Venezuela. Jens Eriksson, a senior official at the Swedish Trade Ministry, said his government was working with Colombia "to find out how this happened". "We have asked the officials of the government of Venezuela to give us information on how they believe this material was found in Colombia," he said. Jan-Erik Lovgren, of the Swedish Inspectorate for Strategic Products, told Radio Sweden that the weapons had been sold to Venezuela in the 1980s. He said the incident was a clear violation of end-user licenses and could affect future decisions on whether to allow weapons sales to Venezuela. Mr Lovgren said that no Swedish company had ever been granted a permit to sell weapons to Colombia. 'Media show' On Monday, Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos said the anti-tank rocket launchers seized from the Farc had been purchased by Venezuela in Europe. "In several operations in which we have recovered weapons we have found powerful ammunition (and) powerful equipment, including anti-tank weapons which a European country sold to Venezuela and which turned up in the hands of the Farc," he told Colombia's Caracol radio. Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro said Colombia wanted to justify US bases In response, Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami said the allegations were a "media show". "It's part of a campaign against our people, our government and our institutions," he added. Venezuela's Foreign Minister, Nicolas Maduro, said it was a campaign "to justify the presence of US bases" in Colombia. Correspondents say he was referring to reports that Washington and Bogota are close to an agreement that would increase US military operations in Colombia. Colombia has fallen out with its neighbours in the past over suspected links to the Farc movement. Colombia and Ecuador broke off diplomatic ties last year after Colombian troops raided a Farc base just over the Ecuadorean border. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	* Newsroom * Style Guide - how to write * Content Guide - what to write The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, announced on Tuesday that "We will freeze relations with Colombia." He attributed the decision to "new aggression by the government of Colombia." Further, he said, "I've ordered to withdraw our ambassador from Bogota, to withdraw our diplomatic personnel." This diplomatic move follows claims by Colombia that amongst weapons its military has captured from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are AT4 anti-tank rockets manufactured by Saab Bofors Dynamics of Sweden. Colombia further alleges that the weapons were first sold to Venezuela before being given to the FARC. AT4 being fired by U.S. Marine during a training mission. "This is not the first time that this happens," Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos said. "In several operations in which we have recovered weapons from the FARC, we have found powerful munitions and powerful equipment, including anti-tank weapons, from a European country that sold them to Venezuela and that turned up in the hands of the FARC." "It is correct that they have found these weapons to be Swedish-made," said Jens Eriksson, adviser at the Swedish foreign ministry. "We are working together with Colombian authorities to investigate the matter further and we have contacted Venezuelan authorities to clear up how these arms ended up in Colombia." Venezuela denies the allegations. "To me it seems that this is a new attack against our government based on lies," Venezuelan interior minister Tarek El Aissami said on Monday. "We absolutely deny that our government or our institutions are providing assistance to criminal and terrorist organizations. It's laughable, it sounds like a cheap film made by the American government." Foreign minister Nicolás Maduro said that the whole thing is a campaign "to justify the presence of US bases" in Colombia.
Photo A man who admitted changing the Hollywood sign to “Hollyweed” has turned himself in to the authorities. Zachary Cole Fernandez, a 30-year-old artist, surrendered on Monday with his lawyer at his side, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was booked on a misdemeanor trespassing charge and released on bail. The sign was changed about 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, when two O’s were partly obscured by sheets and turned into E’s. It remained that way throughout the morning before the sign was restored. In a phone interview, Mr. Fernandez said he considered the results more of an art installation than a prank. “Yeah, I broke the rules, but I broke it with good spirit and good intentions,” he said on Tuesday. “It was just to bring light and positivity and happiness.” Get the Morning Briefing by Email What you need to know to start your day, delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday. 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 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. But David Ryu, a Los Angeles councilman, remained unamused. “Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel, in both responding to the prank and in responding to the increased crowds and copycat attempts that these incidents generate,” he said in a statement on Monday. “My office has urged the city attorney and L.A.P.D. to investigate and prosecute this case, as well as all attempts to trespass near, alter, or vandalize the sign.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Fernandez is expected to appear in court on Feb. 15. He said he had been inspired by a similar alteration in 1976, and that he had used clamps and sheets so as not to damage the sign. “I don’t want to destroy anything,” he said. “I’m about peace and love and respect and integrity and a lot of things that in some ways are missing these days. I wanted to show there’s a light in the world.” A father of four children ranging in age from 3 to 9, Mr. Fernandez said he had been told he could face up to six months in jail. He said he saw that as excessive for a “harmless” art project, but would accept any consequences. “I’m a person of integrity,” he said. “If I do something wrong, I will own up to it.” \|\|\|\|\| The man behind the New Year’s Day prank that saw the iconic Hollywood sign changed to read ‘Hollyweed’ has been arrested in Los Angeles. Zachary Cole Fernandez was arrested Monday on suspicion of trespassing, a week after he tampered with the Hollywood sign, making headlines around the world. The artist handed himself into the Los Angeles Police Department and was accompanied by his attorney. He was booked for a misdemeanor trespassing and released on $1,000 bail soon after. He will face court on February 15. Fernandez had already admitted to Vice that he was behind the prank, explaining that he and creative partner and former wife Sarah Fern did it after being inspired by the original Hollyweed sign, which was created by Danny Finegood in 1976 – after California had relaxed its marijuana laws. To honor the late Finegood, Fernandez signed his own Hollyweed efforts with “a tribute to Mr. Finegood.” The job took two hours to do and involved Fernandez using ropes to get around the high letters to clip sheets of fabric, altering the sign’s appearance in the process. “The Hollywood sign has seen many alteration attempts over the years for people seeking notoriety or commercial gain,” Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu said in a statement. “Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel, in both responding to the prank and in responding to the increased crowds and copycat attempts that these incidents generate.”	On Monday, the person responsible for changing the in California to read "Hollyweed" as a new year's prank turned himself in to local authorities. 30-year-old artist Zachary Cole Fernandez surrendered himself, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said. The Hollywood sign as it normally appears. According to LAPD, Fernandez went to the police station accompanied by his lawyer, where he confessed to have changed the sign and was bailed out shortly thereafter for US$1000. LAPD charged Fernandez with trespassing; earlier reports indicated vandalism charges were ruled out as he used black and white tarps to alter the letter "O" to read lowercase "e". The sign was not physically damaged. A court hearing is scheduled for February 15. Fernandez said this act was an art project, and claimed he faces up to six months in prison if convicted. It took Fernandez two hours to alter the sign. Regarding conviction, he said, "I'm a person of integrity. If I do something wrong, I will own up to it." Exactly 41 years ago, on the same date in 1976, then-university student Daniel Finegood modified the sign to read "Hollyweed" for an art class assignment. Finegood returned to change the sign again in 1990, spelling out "Oil War" to protest against the First Persian Gulf War. Fernandez, on Tuesday, said his act was to "bring light and positivity and happiness". He said he was inspired by Finegood's modification to the sign. City Councilman David Ryu said in a statement. "Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel". The term "weed" is an English slang term for cannabis, a banned drug in many countries. On November 9, a ballot for legalising recreational use of cannabis in California for the age group of 21 and above was passed. The law legalising recreational cannabis is due to come into effect in 2018.
Committee to Protect Journalists Calls for Release of Gambian Journalists Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists is calling for the release of seven Gambian journalists arrested for reacting to President Yahya Jammeh's dismissal of an investigation involving the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called for the release of seven journalists detained by Gambia's National Intelligence Agency. The seven include three members of the Gambian Press Union, two reporters from The Point newspaper and two journalists from Foroyaa newspaper. They were detained on Monday after reprinting a press release that criticized President Jammeh for dismissing an investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. Tom Rhodes is the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He expressed concern that the journalists have still not been released. "Neither publication editor should be detained for republishing a press release made by the Gambian Press Union," he said. "The whole point of an independent press is to show all viewpoints and that is a certainly viable one. We call on the NIA [National Intelligence Agency] officials to release them immediately." Veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, co-founder of The Point newspaper, was gunned down in 2004. There has been no investigation into the killing but human rights organizations have voiced suspicions that the government was involved. On June 8, President Jammeh said in a television interview that he had "no stake" in Hydara's death. He hinted that the journalist had a complicated love life that might have resulted in his murder. Rhodes said there are still many unanswered questions on the case. "From what we can determine and gather from the Gambian Press Union, there's been absolutely no government investigation into the matter. The one positive thing we can vest from this rather dire situation is that at least the government is reacting to public pressure to respond to these allegations," said Rhodes. Gambia has long been criticized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom. In 2006 veteran journalist Ebrima Manneh went missing. Despite repeated pressure from international rights groups, the Gambian government has never released any information about his whereabouts. Rhodes says the latest arrests could trigger a downward spiral. "Without journalists on the ground such as those at Foroyaa it's really going to affect what people know of what's going on in the Gambia in the wider picture of human rights," said Rhodes. The Foroyaa newspaper is petitioning President Jammeh for the release of the detained journalists, including its managing editor Sam Sarr. The Committee to Protect Journalists is calling for the release of seven Gambian journalists arrested for reacting to President Yahya Jammeh's dismissal of an investigation involving the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara.The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called for the release of seven journalists detained by Gambia's National Intelligence Agency.The seven include three members of the Gambian Press Union, two reporters from The Point newspaper and two journalists fromnewspaper. They were detained on Monday after reprinting a press release that criticized President Jammeh for dismissing an investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Deyda Hydara.Tom Rhodes is the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He expressed concern that the journalists have still not been released."Neither publication editor should be detained for republishing a press release made by the Gambian Press Union," he said. "The whole point of an independent press is to show all viewpoints and that is a certainly viable one. We call on the NIA [National Intelligence Agency] officials to release them immediately."Veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, co-founder ofnewspaper, was gunned down in 2004. There has been no investigation into the killing but human rights organizations have voiced suspicions that the government was involved.On June 8, President Jammeh said in a television interview that he had "no stake" in Hydara's death. He hinted that the journalist had a complicated love life that might have resulted in his murder.Rhodes said there are still many unanswered questions on the case."From what we can determine and gather from the Gambian Press Union, there's been absolutely no government investigation into the matter. The one positive thing we can vest from this rather dire situation is that at least the government is reacting to public pressure to respond to these allegations," said Rhodes.Gambia has long been criticized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom. In 2006 veteran journalist Ebrima Manneh went missing. Despite repeated pressure from international rights groups, the Gambian government has never released any information about his whereabouts.Rhodes says the latest arrests could trigger a downward spiral."Without journalists on the ground such as those at Foroyaa it's really going to affect what people know of what's going on in the Gambia in the wider picture of human rights," said Rhodes.Thenewspaper is petitioning President Jammeh for the release of the detained journalists, including its managing editor Sam Sarr. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| New York, June 18, 2009--A magistrate in the Gambian capital, Banjul, today charged seven journalists with sedition for criticizing President Yahya Jammeh's televised comments about the unsolved 2004 murder of editor Deyda Hydara, their defense lawyer said. Gambian security forces arrested an eighth journalist this morning, although no charges were immediately brought, according to the Gambian Press Union President Ndey Tapha Sosseh . Jammeh, appearing June 8 on state-run Gambia Radio and Television Service, said the government investigation into Hydara's slaying had stalled, according to media reports. Jammeh noted that a news Web site has carried a headline saying, "Who Killed Deyda Hydara?" and then retorted: "Let them go and ask Deyda Hydara who killed him." The Gambian Press Union issued a statement criticizing Jammeh for being insensitive and calling for a renewed investigation into the unsolved killing. Four of those arrested thus far are press union leaders. All eight are staffers for either The Point or Foroyaa newspapers, both of which reprinted the press union statement. Hydara was editor of The Point. All eight journalists are being held at Mile Two Prison, defense lawyer Lamin Camara told CPJ. Only one was granted bail. Journalist Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, mother of a six-month-old, was granted bail of 200,000 dalasi (US$7,547) but there was insufficient time for colleagues and family members to raise the amount, the press union reported. One of those charged, Point Managing Editor Pap Saine, suffers from a heart condition and was planning to go to Dakar , Senegal , for medical treatment prior to the arrest, according to a CPJ source. "We're deeply anguished by the arrests of these journalists, several of whom I met in my visit to the Gambia ," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon . "President Jammeh is acting in a petty and vindictive manner and should be held personally accountable for his egregious abuse of power." The seven journalists charged with sedition were arrested by security agents on Monday, local journalists told CPJ. The charges were lodged today just moments before the government would have been constitutionally obligated to release the journalists. According to the Gambia 's 1997 constitution, a suspect may be held for no more than 72 hours without charge. Security forces arrested Abba Gibba, an editor with The Point, this morning, according to the press union. The National Intelligence Agency has denied the journalists access to their lawyer, family members, and colleagues, Camara told CPJ. They are due in court again on Monday, when the lawyer said a bail application would be filed. According to local journalists and the press union, security forces arrested Gibba today after questioning staff at The Point over why the paper was still publishing despite the detentions of senior employees. Security forces are holding Foroyaa's managing editor Sam Saar, assistant editor, Emil Touray, and reporter Abubakr Saidy Kahn, along with The Point's managing editor Saine, news editor Ebrima Sawaneh, and reporters Jabbi-Dibba and Pa Modou Faal. Hydara, one of the nation's leading editors, was killed by unidentified gunmen in his car on the outskirts of Banjul in December 2004. In the June 8 state television interview, Jammeh denied government involvement in Hydara's roadside slaying.	The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is calling for the release of seven Gambian journalists arrested for reacting to President Yahya Jammeh's dismissal of an investigation involving the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. The seven detainees include three members of the Gambian Press Union, two reporters from The Point newspaper and two journalists from Foroyaa newspaper. They were detained on Monday after reprinting a press release that criticized President Jammeh for dismissing an investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. Tom Rhodes is the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He expressed concern that the journalists have still not been released. Yahya Jammeh (Photo courtesy IISD/Earth Negotiations Bulletin) "Neither publication editor should be detained for republishing a press release made by the Gambian Press Union," he said. "The whole point of an independent press is to show all viewpoints and that is a certainly viable one. We call on the NIA National Intelligence Agency officials to release them immediately." Veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, co-founder of The Point newspaper, was gunned down in 2004. There has been no investigation into the killing but human rights organizations have voiced suspicions that the government was involved. On June 8, President Jammeh said in a television interview that he had "no stake" in Hydara's death. He hinted that the journalist had a complicated love life that might have resulted in his murder. Rhodes said there are still many unanswered questions on the case. "From what we can determine and gather from the Gambian Press Union, there's been absolutely no government investigation into the matter. The one positive thing we can vest from this rather dire situation is that at least the government is reacting to public pressure to respond to these allegations," said Rhodes. Gambia has long been criticized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom. In 2006 veteran journalist Ebrima Manneh went missing. Despite repeated pressure from international rights groups, the Gambian government has never released any information about his whereabouts. Rhodes says the latest arrests could trigger a downward spiral. "Without journalists on the ground such as those at Foroyaa it's really going to affect what people know of what's going on in the Gambia in the wider picture of human rights," said Rhodes. The Foroyaa newspaper is petitioning President Jammeh for the release of the detained journalists, including its managing editor Sam Sarr.
Photo: PA The great thing about Doctor Who, as a colleague pointed out, is that you don't have to watch the show to feel part of it. Even when you've exhausted, or been exhausted by "Who will be the next Doctor?" and moved into "I'm sorry, who will be the next Doctor?", there's still a full cycle of gossip to come: you can speculate about the identity of the Doctor's companion, and then the guest stars, and then the year's big villain, and then – as a pick-me-up at the end – whether this season will be the Doctor's last. At this rate, by the time Matt Smith actually steps into the Tardis, in 2010, we'll probably be vigorously debating the merits of his successor. The BBC certainly knows the value of the publicity to what is, according to audience satisfaction figures, its most-loved show. Whereas the Queen only gets 10 minutes over Christmas, the show's producers were offered a full half-hour on Saturday evening for their message to the nation. Even with all the careful priming, even with the drip-drip of comments that this was the youngest Doctor, that he was only 26, the moment when the boy himself popped up on screen was still a shock. Still, the BBC seems to have got away with it – according to the instant polling provided by a trawl through Facebook, groups such as "We hate Matt Smith as Doctor Who!!!!" are more than balanced by those willing to give him a try. Other internet commentators are taking the middle ground: they'll watch him in the role, as long as he gets rid of the Spandau Ballet hairstyle. For some of us, there is something more personal at stake. Like the actor who must finally accept that he is too old to play the Dane, we have suddenly become Older Than The Doctor, forced to accept that even if we could go gallivanting around the universe with the time-travelling Gallifreyan, we'd be too busy worrying about our pensions to enjoy it. The big winner, of course, is the man lucky enough to have played both the Dane and the Doctor. Only marginally better-known than Smith when he took the latter role, David Tennant is now a certified national treasure, able to pick and choose any role that takes his fancy. Whether Smith will become as beloved is a moot point: although obviously a talented actor, and from all accounts a bright and enthusiastic guy, he lacked, at least in that initial, unscripted interview, the articulacy and wit that defined Tennant's performance. Whatever his merits, he and new head writer Steven Moffat could find themselves in the collective shadow of Tennant and outgoing writer-producer Russell T Davies: the equivalent of the men who take over Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson retires and Cristiano Ronaldo is transferred. Yet I am optimistic about the show's future – precisely because of how unusual a choice Smith is. Despite all the speculation about a black Doctor or a female Doctor, all the show's bosses had to do to keep the gravy train rolling was find a well-known name, a Bill Nighy or David Morrissey, who was prepared to spend a couple of years chained to the production treadmill down in Cardiff. That they went for a 26-year-old suggests either that they were blown away by his energy, or that they have a clear and interesting vision for the show, or both. One word of warning, however: speculation is already cranking up over the identity of Smith's companion. As we reported yesterday, the suspicion is that producers want a "big name" to counterbalance their unknown Doctor, preferably from outside the world of acting. True, that thinking gave us Billie Piper as the Doctor's assistant – but it also gave us Bonnie Langford. Rather than risk that sort of thing again, the producers should ignore the focus groups, and follow their instincts. After all, the last time Doctor Who caused this much fuss was when its bosses plucked Tom Baker off a building site, and that certainly worked out. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: BBC Almost every actor who appeared in the BBC2 series set in the corridors of Westminster has gone on to greater things. Although ratings were modest, the young cast won great acclaim and the show was likened to This Life, an ensemble drama which reached cult status. Smith, 26, who played a young political researcher in the show, will become the biggest star of all after winning the role of the 11th Doctor. However, his co-stars Andrea Riseborough, Shelley Conn and Andrew Buchan have also been marked out as major talents. Riseborough went on to play a young Lady Thatcher in The Long Walk To Finchley, and appeared in the Mike Leigh film Happy-Go-Lucky. Conn became a star of the BBC drama Mistresses, which returns this spring for a second series. Eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted Buchan in ITV1's The Fixer and as Jem Hearne in Cranford. Buchan said of Party Animals: "For our part, we all clicked and shared a massive enthusiasm for making the show the best it could be. We were a quality group of friends working on excellent scripts, and that meant we all looked forward to work every day. Hopefully that enthusiasm came over in our performances." Speaking to The Guardian, Buchan said his old co-star would make an excellent Doctor Who. "It's a sublime bit of casting. He's got that huge hair, a twinkle in his eye - Matt's the king of geek chic. He is possibly going to be one of the best Doctors we've ever had." \|\|\|\|\| New Doctor Who star 'conned' into acting 2:35pm Wednesday 7th January 2009 Comments (0) Have your say » A DRAMA teacher from Taunton ‘conned’ the new Doctor in cult television series Doctor Who into taking to the stage as a teenager, the County Gazette can reveal. Twenty-six-year-old Matt Smith – the eleventh incarnation and youngest Doctor Who ever – wanted to be a top footballer rather than a television star and played in the youth teams of Leicester City and Nottingham Forest until a back injury forced him to quit. But Jerry Hardingham, Matt’s drama teacher at Northampton School for Boys, always believed he was destined for the stage. And when the 14-year-old failed to audition for a part in a school production of 12 Angry Men, his biggest supporter cast him in the play without him knowing. Speaking to the County Gazette, Jerry, now a drama teacher at West Somerset Community College in Minehead, said: “We had a new theatre opening, and the production of 12 Angry Men was a big opportunity for Matt, but he didn’t turn up for the auditions. “I rang his mum who told me he was on holiday, so I told her he was doing this part in the play – no discussion. “He was so self-effacing and was thinking of doing history at Sheffield University but me, his mum, dad and another drama teacher were telling him not to go. “I persuaded him to go into the National Youth Theatre because I saw raw talent and he got the lead role in The Cathedral. The play was acted out at Westminster Cathedral before an audience of Royals and dignitaries. “We’re still in touch and he still asks for my opinion when I see him, which is just ridiculous!” And speaking of Matt’s Doctor Who coup, 45-year-old Jerry, who lives in Taunton, added: “I was in Taunton Asda when I found out. All of a sudden my phone went a bit mad. I spoke to his folks as well and they are thrilled to bits. “I know he will be fantastic as Doctor Who because Matt is so versatile. The producers know what they want and he will give it to them. I am chuffed to bits for him.” \|\|\|\|\| New appointment delights Dr Who fans Published Date: 07 January 2009 ONE of Scarborough's biggest Doctor Who fans has given his reaction to the appointment of a brand new Time Lord. Relatively unknown actor Matt Smith was named as the next face of TV’s most famous time traveller. Scarborough man John Harper, who has never missed an episode, says the choice of 26-year-old Smith is “wonderful”. He said: “I think he’ll be just as good as David Tennant and the show will be wonderful as always. “With the last few doctors a new character has emerged and the special effects in recent years have been fantastic.” Mr Harper founded the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society 33 years ago and is fascinated by the show’s take on space and time. He said: “I think people enjoy the fact that the programme is very thought-provoking from an astronomical point of view. “When we look at the skies we are looking into the past – for example, the light we see from the sun set off about eight minutes ago.” David Tennant has announced he will be stepping down as the Doctor at the end of this year. Smith, 26, who will be the 11th Doctor, is the youngest actor ever to take on the role. He was cast during the Christmas period and will begin filming the fifth series of Doctor Who – which is due to be shown next year – during the summer. Smith’s biggest television role so far has been in BBC Two’s political drama Party Animals in 2007, in which he played parliamentary researcher Danny Foster. Outgoing doctor David Tennant will film four special editions throughout 2009. Mr Harper, whose favourite doctor was Patrick Troughton, says he is glad to see a new, young actor take on the role. He said: “I’m in my 60s now, so I would love to regenerate and go back to that age – I think a lot of us would!” Youngsters at Friarage School have also been giving their opinions on the new Doctor. Teacher Sarah Wright found out what her class of 10 and 11 year olds thought about the changes. She said: “They’ve all been talking about it and most of them are not happy with the change. They really like David Tennant because he’s funny and they’re used to him now. “The children say they love Doctor Who because it’s adventurous and he can travel through time. They also like the sci-fi language he uses and the costumes.” Scarborough’s MP Robert Goodwill is also a big Doctor Who fan. He said: “People are saying he’s too young, but he’s 800 years old as I understand it! “David Tennant will be a very hard act to follow, but I’m optimistic that the new Doctor will be just as good. There was talk of Jack Dee taking on the role and I think he would have been fantastic. “I also hope they keep up the phenomenal special effects of the recent era – the Christmas edition was brilliant.” Mr Goodwill added that his favourite Doctor was Jon Pertwee. The full article contains 525 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper. Page 1 of 1 \|\|\|\|\| When Matt Smith stepped into Doctor Who 's title role as the 11th Doctor this weekend, he went from British character actor to potential entertainment legend. The 10 actors who preceded Smith during the sci-fi show's 45-year run are forever linked to the part of The Doctor; some even parlayed the BBC role into a lasting place in pop culture history. Each brought something unique to the role of a benevolent alien traveling through the universe in a stolen time machine, fighting for justice against myriad alien foes. Smith, 26, will take over from current Doctor, David Tennant, who leaves the show at the end of 2009. Smith, pictured, will first play the Time Lord in the 2010 season. Hop in the Tardis and take a trip through time with this gallery of Doctors. \|\|\|\|\| Tennant said it had been "impossible to carry on without surgery" Actor David Tennant has returned to the lead role of Hamlet on the London stage after undergoing back surgery. Tennant, who is quitting Doctor Who, received an ovation along with his fellow actors, the Royal Shakespeare Company said. But they added his return would be assessed on a "day by day" basis and theatre-goers are advised to check the website for updates. The 37-year-old's run at the Novello Theatre is due to finish on 10 January. Tennant's understudy Edward Bennett, who played Hamlet during his absence, has resumed his role as Laertes. Bennett received standing ovations when he initially assumed the lead, but mixed reviews from critics. Tennant paid tribute at the time, saying it was a "fantastic achievement" getting to grips with the part of Hamlet at short notice. Sell-out Tennant had an operation for a slipped disc in December, and said his enforced absence from the play was "hugely disappointing". "My back problem has progressed to the point where it is currently impossible for me to carry on without surgery," he said last month. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. He played Hamlet 60 times in Stratford-upon-Avon in the summer ahead of the production's London transfer. Tickets for the London shows sold out within three hours when they went on sale in September. Tennant is due to begin filming scenes for a Doctor Who special later this month. Matt Smith has been unveiled as the next actor to take on the role, and will be seen on screens from 2010. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	TARDIS Actor Matt Smith will be the next to portray the Doctor on the BBC television program ''Doctor Who''. Smith will be the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor, taking over from actor David Tennant who will end his time with the series after filming four editions of the program through 2009. The Doctor comes from a race of Timelords, and has the ability to "regenerate" and change appearance when his health is failing. William Hartnell was the first actor to play the Doctor, from 1963–1966. Smith will become the new occupant of the Doctor's time machine and spacecraft the "TARDIS" in 2010. John Harper, founder of the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society and a fan of the series, called the decision to cast 26-year-old Smith in the role "wonderful". MP for Scarborough Robert Goodwill, also a fan of the program, told the ''Scarborough Evening News'': "David Tennant will be a very hard act to follow, but I’m optimistic that the new Doctor will be just as good." Matt Smith, 26, portrayed researcher Danny Foster on the political drama ''Party Animals'', which aired on BBC Two in 2007. Fellow actor Andrew Buchan from ''Party Animals'' told ''The Guardian'': "It's a sublime bit of casting. He's got that huge hair, a twinkle in his eye — Matt's the king of geek chic. He is possibly going to be one of the best Doctors we've ever had." After a back injury got in the way of Smith's goal of becoming a footballer, his drama teacher Jerry Hardingham at Northampton School for Boys encouraged him to pursue acting. Though Smith did not audition, Hardingham cast him in a school production of the play ''Twelve Angry Men''. Hardingham later convinced Smith to join the National Youth Theatre, and he landed the lead role in the play ''Murder in the Cathedral'', performing before members of the British Royal Family and other VIPs at the Westminster Cathedral. David Tennant David Tennant, 37, has portrayed the Doctor on ''Doctor Who'' since taking over for Christopher Eccleston in 2005. A major feature of his character's stories involved a romantic interest in his companion in the TARDIS, Rose, played by actress Billie Piper. Tennant announced his exit from the program on October 29, 2008, at the National Television Awards in the United Kingdom, during his speech accepting the outstanding drama performance award at the program. ''Doctor Who'' was recognized with the award for most popular drama program. "I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair," said Tennant in his address to the audience in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall. He was previously recognized at the National Television Awards for his role in ''Doctor Who'' with the award for most popular actor, in 2006 and 2007. Tennant is currently performing the lead role in ''Hamlet'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and his engagement at the Novello Theatre in Westminster, London is set to end on January 10. He portrayed Hamlet 60 times with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon prior to the production's move to London.
The officials from Microsoft, after several complaints from users, confessed that the company's product, entitled Live OneCare security suite, accidentally has been erasing all messages of those that use whether Outlook or Outlook Express. The company's forum concerning OneCare included postings that state the cause of the message deletion. Users found out that their e-mails were deleted by an antivirus program. It supposed to delete messages that contained malware attachments but besides doing its main job the antivirus whether quarantined or sometimes even erased all .pst or dbx files. One user left a comment on Microsoft's OneCare forum saying that in case there is no way to recover the erased messages it would mean that Microsoft developed a program that caused damage more than any other virus in 30 years of user's activity in the field of computing. However, the postings on the forum show that there is a way to recover some .pst or dbx files but only if those are available in the program's quarantine facility. This means that the erased files cannot be recovered; only those that were sent to quarantine might still be available. Microsoft's forum administrator, Stephen Boots, left a comment on the forum saying that he was quite unhappy with the issue. He said that this problem was reported over a year ago and though the issue was fixed in the 1.0 release and it never appeared in the beta version but it did in the new 1.5 release. In a Computerworld statement, the spokesperson of the software giant outlined that the company is fixing the problem of the antivirus that mistakenly deleted the .pst files of Outlook and the .dbx files of Outlook Express when it spotted an infected attachment in an e-mail. The spokesperson also mentioned that the updated version of OneCare will be released on March 13. \|\|\|\|\| Microsoft's antivirus deletes users' e-mails By David Meyer, ZDNet UK 12 March 2007 06:28 AM Microsoft has admitted that its Live OneCare security suite has been accidentally deleting some users' Outlook and Outlook Express e-mails. According to postings on Microsoft's OneCare forum, erasures have been caused when the antivirus program finds a virus in an e-mail attachment. Instead of then quarantining that single e-mail, users have reported that entire .pst or .dbx files -- the personal folder where non-Exchange Server users' messages and other details are kept -- have been quarantined or, in some cases, even deleted. One user commented on the forum: "Is there a chance to recover it? If not, OneCare will have done more damage than any virus in my 30 years of active computing." Forum postings indicate, however, that recovery is possible in some cases, where the .pst or .dbx file is still available in OneCare's quarantine facility. Stephen Boots, a forum administrator, commented that he was "very unhappy about this problem as it was reported over a year ago and fixed in the 1.0 release", adding: "It never appeared throughout the beta, but suddenly appeared when 1.5 was released". In a statement reported on Computerworld, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company was "working to address an issue where the antimalware engine for OneCare is erroneously quarantining Outlook .pst files or Outlook Express .dbx files, when the .pst file or .dbx file contains an infected attachment". The spokesperson added that a fix would be included in the next OneCare update, which is due on 13 March. OneCare has been hit this year by ongoing criticism, having only days ago failed to achieve certification in an independent test of security products. Shortly before that, it emerged that the product did not sufficiently protect users of Microsoft's Vista operating system against malware. Are you a OneCare Live customer? Have you been affected by this problem? Please let us know by using the talkback below or e-mail us at edit@zdnet.com.au. David Meyer reported for ZDNet UK from London \|\|\|\|\| 12.03.2007 Microsoft Erases Users' E-mails The software giant Microsoft admitted the fact that its Live OneCare security suite has caused serious problems. It deleted by accident users' Outlook and Outlook Express e-mails. The main cause of deletion, as posted on OneCare forum, was the antivirus program the goal of which is to find viruses in e-mail attachments. The program deleted all .pst or .dbx files instead of quarantining or deleting only the hazardous e-mail. Users said that the whole personal folder where the messages of non-Exchange Server users were whether quarantined or sometimes even deleted. Microsoft’s forum received a message from a user that asked if there was any chance of recovering the e-mail. The user said that in case the recovery of all messages was impossible than OneCare might have caused a lot more damage than any virus for the last 30 years of user’s computing experience. The forum, however, states that in some cases the recovery is possible. This means that .pst or .dbx files might be available when they are quarantined, these files can be found in OneCare’s quarantine facility. The administrator of the forum, Stephen Boots, posted a message saying that he was very unhappy with the occurred problem, mainly because it was reported over a year ago and later he though the problem was fixed with the 1.0 release. He mentioned that there was no problem in the beta version but when the company launched 1.5 it suddenly appeared. The spokesperson of the software giant said in a statement that Microsoft is currently working on the issue. The fix, according to the spokesperson, is to appear on Mach 13 in a new update of OneCare. This year Microsoft’s OneCare was highly criticized since it failed to achieve certification while passing through an independent security product test. Even before that happened the program did not sufficiently protect against malware those users that used Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system.	Screenshot of Live OneCare running on Windows Vista. Microsoft’s officials admitted that the company’s Windows Live OneCare security suite has been accidentally deleting e-mails of those users that worked with Outlook and Outlook Express. Microsoft’s OneCare forum included postings that stated the cause of message deletion. Thus the issue occurred thanks to an antivirus application that finds e-mails containing viruses. The problem with the software was that the antivirus, instead of deleting or quarantining the hazardous e-mail, deleted all messages from the personal folder. The forum, however, gave hope in a post saying that some messages might be recovered but only in case they were quarantined. Thus users are able to find those e-mails in OneCare’s quarantine facility. The administrator of the forum, Stephen Boots, outlined that he was very unhappy with the issue which, he said, appeared over a year ago and the company thought it fixed the problem with the release of 1.5 version. Boots said that the beta version of the program worked fine but when the final version was launched the problem occurred once again. According to the statement, reported by the spokesperson of the software giant, Microsoft is now working to fix the problem and release an updated version of OneCare on March 13. OneCare was criticized after it failed to pass an independent test of security products that provided a certain certification. In addition to this the program did not provide enough protection for Windows Vista users.
Dundee University launches degree in comic books Continue reading the main story Related Stories A Scottish university is to offer the UK's first degree in comics. Dundee University said the one-year Masters in Comic Studies would be launched by its English department in September 2011. The degree built on "strong local traditions" in the comic book industry, the university said. Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan and the Broons, the inventions of Dundee-based publishers DC Thomson and Co, were all born in the city. Graduates on the course will study the impact of comics on the worlds of art, literature and popular culture. The degree programme will be led by Dr Chris Murray, one of the UK's leading authorities on comics, and editor of the Studies in Comics journal. Practical workshops Dr Murray said: "This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics. "This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail." One of the modules will look at autobiographical comics and another examines the relationship between international comics cultures. The university said students with an interest in the creative side of comics - as a writer or artist - would be able to enhance their practical skills, with workshops on script writing and artwork. And a PhD in comic studies will also be available to those who have completed the MLitt course. Dr Murray added: "Employability is an important consideration for any postgraduate programme, and it lies at the heart of what we aim to do with this course. "There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students." \|\|\|\|\| © STV The home of the Beano, Dandy and Oor Wullie has launched the UK’s first degree programme in comic studies. Dundee University is building on strong local traditions and expertise to launch the programme. The city is where publishing company DC Thomson is based, which is behind such titles as the Broons, Commando, Starblazer and Bunty. The English department at Dundee is offering the new postgraduate masters in comic studies degree that is being led by Dr Chris Murray, one of the UK’s foremost authorities on the subject. He has researched comics and graphic novels extensively, and is editor of the journal Studies in Comics. Dr Murray said students will be required to think critically about comics, and develop an understanding of comics in the context of theory, politics and history. He added: "This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics. "This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail. "I hope that this course will help forge the next generation of comics scholars, and may even help some students with creative ambitions to find their way into the highly competitive comics industry." Course organisers believe that comics are not just the preserve of children as they are becoming increasingly sophisticated texts that comment on culture, politics and values. The MLitt in comic studies programme, delivered on a one-year full time or two-year part time basis, is expected to appeal to local, national and international graduates with an interest in pursuing academic careers, or working in the media, the creative industries or publishing. From September, graduates will have the opportunity to take the course. Dr Murray continued: "As well as studying different genres, styles and uses of comics, there will be a focus on writing for comics, with classes and workshops on scriptwriting skills as well as on artwork and the creative process. "Employability is an important consideration for any postgraduate programme, and it lies at the heart of what we aim to do with this course. There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students. "Comics and graphic novels are becoming an increasingly important form of literature, art and field of study, and it is our intention that our graduates are at the forefront either as researchers, writers, artists or filling other roles within the industry." More information about the programme is available on the Dundee University website or emailing Dr Murray at c.murray@dundee.ac.uk.	In the of Scotland, the is to become the first university in the United Kingdom to provide degrees in comic studies. The university has said that courses for its comic studies subject within the English section will commence in September 2011. The city of is known to be the headquarters for , a publishing company whose works include various comic books, such as , , and . Dr. Chris Murray, a leading British authority on comic books, will be leading the comic studies programme. "This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics," he explained. "This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail." Those organising courses for the degree believe that comic books now appeal to adults as well as children due to their impact in the areas of politics, art and literature, as well as aspects of popular culture. Amongst the program will be the examinations of comics of an autobiographical nature and similarities with the culture of comic books on an international scale. Students who complete the learning program — running either full-time for a year and two-years if done part-time — will be eligible for a in comic studies. Dr. Murray has also noted: "Employability is an important consideration for any postgraduate programme, and it lies at the heart of what we aim to do with this course. There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students. Comics and graphic novels are becoming an increasingly important form of literature, art and field of study, and it is our intention that our graduates are at the forefront either as researchers, writers, artists or filling other roles within the industry."
Mexican police commander, bodyguard slain in restaurant MEXICO CITY (AFP) — Unknown assailants shot to death a Federal Police commander and his bodyguard in a Mexico City restaurant at mid-day on Thursday, Mexican officials said. Igor Labastida, head of the Traffic and Contraband office of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP), was shot dead along with one of his bodyguards, spokesperson Minerva Amado with the attorney general's office (PGR) said. "Two subjects got out of a black vehicle, entered a restaurant where the commander was eating and opened fire on him and his escorts," said Amado. Two other Labastida bodyguards were wounded and hospitalized, Amado said. Police are searching for the attackers. Gunmen on May 8 assassinated the acting federal police chief Edgar Millan. A day later assailants killed Esteban Robles, commander of Mexico City's anti-kidnapping police. And top federal organized crime investigator Roberto Velasco was gunned down at his home in the capital May 6. He died in hospital shortly thereafter. Since December 2006, President Felipe Calderon's federal government has deployed 36,000 military troops and thousands of police around the country in an operation aimed at clamping down on organized crime. The highest death toll of the drug war is in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez, where some 500 people have been killed this year. Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| Gunmen kill top Mexican police official, bodyguard Top Mexican police official, bodyguard slain MEXICO CITY — Assassins gunned down a top federal police commander in Mexico City Thursday, the latest in a string of attacks on senior law enforcement officers in the capital. The gunmen killed Igor Labastida, a senior investigator, and a bodyguard as they ate in a restaurant not far from Mexico's presidential compound. Three other bodyguards and several civilians were wounded in the spray of bullets. Labastida reportedly was director of the division of the Federal Preventative Police dealing with drug trafficking and other contraband. Police offered no explanation of who might have killed Labastida or why. Latest News Videos Now Playing: Now Playing Trump: Other Countries 'Rob Us Blind' Associated Press Shot fired at store owner in attempted robbery, police say WGAL Trump Rolls Out $1.5T Infrastructure Plan Associated Press Videocast: Warmer temperatures headed our way KCCI 5 last-minute Valentine's Day gifts WPTZ Man accused of killing wife in front of kids says he ‘snapped’ Harris County Office of Court Management Woman sentenced in opioid death of her finacee KCCI Man sentenced in sexual assault weeks after brother found incompetent KCCI Tomball nursing home fire METRO Video Video: Dry start to the workweek (2-12-18) WPTZ Until last spring, drug-related violence was rare in the capital. But in the past three months, at least three senior police officers have been killed in the city. The violence has flared as President Felipe Calderon stepped up a campaign to deploy army troops and paramilitary police to areas controlled by the powerful drug cartels that smuggle cocaine and other narcotics into the United States. Labastida's death came less than two months after the slaying of Edgar Millan, the acting chief of the federal police, in the capital. Millan was killed as he arrived at one of his Mexico City homes in the late evening. Authorities have accused another police official of involvement in Millan's assassination. And they pointed to the Beltran Leyva family, one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organizations, as being behind the killing. The Beltran Leyvas' war with another Sinaloa drug gang, headed by trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, was blamed for the escalating wave of violence that has rocked Mexico this year. The Mexico City newspaper Reforma reported in its online edition Thursday that the attorney general's office had investigated Labastida in 2004 for his alleged ties to Guzman. By various government and media tallies, nearly 5,000 people — including some 500 local, state and federal police officers — have been killed in the 18 months since Calderon launched the campaign against the drug gangs. Even as the authorities have cracked down on the smugglers, rival gangs have gone after one another with escalating violence. While many police have been killed in the line of duty, others have been targeted by one gang because they served as protection for another, authorities acknowledge. "A structural degeneration of authority has been going on for decades, tied to abuse, corruption and haughtiness," Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico's federal public security director and Labastida's boss, said in a speech last week. "This has generated, up till now, a social aversion to police operations, which opened space for the flourishing of impunity," he said. Labastida also was implicated in a 2005 scandal that involved the killing of Enrique Salinas de Gotari, a brother of former president Carlos Salinas, whose suffocated body was found in a car in a Mexico City suburb. Prosecutors in Mexico state, where the suburb is located, accused federal police of extorting Enrique Salinas in return for not arresting him on a corruption-related arrest warrant issued by French authorities. Labastida, who at the time was the head of investigations in the federal police's equivalent of the FBI, was not charged with a crime. But he apparently was demoted in the aftermath of the scandal to his current position. Swiss authorities last week agreed to return $74 million to the Mexican government from the bank account Raul Salinas de Gortari, another brother of the former president. Raul Salinas was released from prison two years ago, where he had been held on corruption charges since 1994. dudley.althaus@chron.com \|\|\|\|\| 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.	Gunmen today opened fire in a Mexico City restaurant, killing a top police official in charge of monitoring the country's illegal drug trade, as well as one of his bodyguards, Mexican officials said. The attack is the latest waged against authorities attempting to fight Mexico's powerful drug cartels. Security officials in Mexico City say the attack occurred as Igor Labastida Calderón, commander of the federal police's Traffic and Contraband division, was eating lunch with one of his bodyguards, Jose Maria Ochoa. According to Minerva Amado, spokesperson for the attorney general's office, two unknown subjects got out of a black vehicle, entered the restaurant, and opened fire on Labastida Calderón. Reports differ on who else was injured in the attack. Amado said two other bodyguards were injured and hospitalized, while Mexico City newspaper ''El Universal'' reports that three civilians were injured. The motive for the attack remains unclear. No arrests have been made so far, as police continue to search for the assailants. Federal police have refused to comment. President Felipe Calderón has sent over 20,000 troops throughout Mexico in an attempt to take back areas controlled by the country's drug cartels. Since Calderón took office in December 2006, more than 4,000 people have been killed by these drug cartels, allegedly including federal police chief Édgar Millán Gómez, whose May death was attributed to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The trio were launched in the storied Soyuz TMA that consists of Orbital Module, a Descent Module and an Instrumentation/Propulsion Module, lofted into orbit by a three stage Soyuz-FG (11A511U-FG no. Sh15000-024). Volkov and Kononenko are due to spend six months on the orbital outpost, which will include the arrival of space shuttle Discovery and her giant payload of the Japanese Pressurized Module. Yi, a commerical passenger - following an agreement between the Russian Federal Space Agency and South Korea - will only be spending 10 days aboard the ISS, conducting experiments and press interviews with South Korean media on the ground. Such is the level of attention in South Korea, president Lee Myung-bak phoned Vladimir Putin to personally thank the Russians for their cooperation on the flight of Yi. 'I express my sincere gratitude toward the Russian government and hope that this event will serve as an opportunity to open and strengthen various channels between Seoul and Moscow,' said the president in a conversation that was carried by state TV. Yi now becomes the first South Korean ever to fly in space, and the second Asian woman to orbit the planet, Yi will return back to Earth with the departing duo of ISS commander Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. End to Expedition 16: Marking the end of Expedition 16, controllers at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) earned praise from NASA management for their performance during a 'hat trick' of three shuttle flights to the ISS. 'Many thanks to Holly Ridings and the Expedition 16 ops team. This has been an incredibly busy and productive increment with a record three shuttle flights (the Shuttle 'Hat Trick' as coined by Holly),' noted NASA HQ's 8th Floor News. 'Additionally, with only 23 days between 1E undock and 1JA dock, the team has once again demonstrated the tenacity, mental toughness, and can do attitude that continues to represent MOD (Mission Operations Directive) well.' Progress departs: Meanwhile, back on the ISS, the Russian re-supply ship Progress M-63/28P was sent on its way to a destructive re-entry on Monday morning. The automated vehicle was undocked to vacate the docking port for the Soyuz TMA-12. 'All separation burns went off nominally, and the deorbit burn followed at 7:50am for destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean,' noted the ISS Status Report. Ride home through the fire, sparks and plasma of re-entry with Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour. FIVE Stunning high quality 2hr, 355-400mb Camcorder and HUD videos - from payload bay closure - through re-entry with an astronaut held camcorder video - to post landing - several more videos showing landing from 90,000 ft also available and HUD videos from STA landings. Includes HALO II Re-entry video, and re-entry videos from Gemini and Apollo (converted from 8mm) 'For the undocking, ISS attitude control was handed over to Russian MCS (Motion Control System) at ~2:55am and returned to US momentum management at 5:45am, still in earth-fixed LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal). 'During the undocking, the station was in free drift for around 9 min. Structural response data were taken by MAMS (Microgravity Acceleration Measuring System) and the external truss-mounted SDMS (Structural Dynamic Measurement System). 'The undocking was preceded at 4:15am by a temporary shutdown of the amateur radio equipment in the FGB (Ericsson) & SM (Kenwood) to prevent radiofrequency interference with the departing Progress vehicle.] 'After the separation, FE-1 Malenchenko took the usual NIKON D2X w/80-400mm lens photographs of the receding cargo ship?s docking assembly (from 8-40 m distance) to verify that no rubber seals are missing on the DC1 docking interface and to assess seal integrity.' The next Progress (29P) is due to launch on May 14, with three more cargo ships, and one more Soyuz TMA, to follow before the year is out, as the ISS continues to build up towards a six crew compliment. \|\|\|\|\| NASA Television provides real-time coverage of Agency activities and missions as well as resource video to the news media, and educational programming to teachers, students and the general public. NASA Television is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. NASA Television is also available over the World Wide Web from several sources. Programming + Copyright Guidelines for Use of NASA Materials	Launch of an earlier Soyuz mission. At 11:16 GMT (17:16 local time) this morning, a Russian Soyuz-FG carrier rocket launched from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft, on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard were three cosmonauts; Russians Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and South Korean Yi So-yeon. Volkov and Kononenko make up the ISS Expedition 17 crew, whilst Yi is flying as a Spaceflight Participant through the Korean Astronaut Programme. All three are making their first trip into space. Two major firsts are being achieved on this mission. Yi is the first South Korean to fly in space, and Volkov is the first second-generation space traveller, his father Alexander Volkov having flown three space missions, Soyuz T-14, TM-7 and TM-13, spending over a year aboard the Mir space station across the three missions. Soyuz TMA-12 successfully separated from the carrier rocket about nine minutes after lift off. Docking with the Pirs module of International Space Station is planned for Thursday at 13:00 GMT. In preparation for docking, the Progress M-63 cargo spacecraft undocked at 08:30 GMT yesterday morning, and was de-orbited to burn-up in the Earth's atmosphere at 11:50. The TMA-12 spacecraft will remain docked to the ISS as an emergency escape capsule until October, when it will be used to return the Expedition 17 crew to Earth, along with space tourist Richard Garriott. Yi So-yeon will return to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-11, which is scheduled to land in just under a fortnight's time. This is the 99th manned flight of the Soyuz programme, the first of which was launched in late April 1967, and the 107th manned flight of the Soviet/Russian space programme. It is the fifteenth orbital, and third manned launch of 2008.
US lifts lid on top secret plan for internet security By Maggie Shiels Technology reporter, BBC News, San Francisco Mr Schmidt called for new partnerships on cybersecurity The White House has declassified parts of a top secret plan outlining how government will protect the nation's computer networks from cyber warfare. The announcement by cybersecurity tsar Howard Schmidt was made at the world's biggest security event. The move is aimed at encouraging greater co-operation between academia, government and the private sector. "We have to fully recognise the importance cybersecurity has in our lives," Mr Schmidt said. "We must continue to seek out innovative new partnerships - not only within government, but also among industry, government and the American public," he told delegates at the event, hosted by the security company RSA in San Francisco. It was his first major speech to industry peers since being appointed to the job in December 2009. The Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) was introduced in 2008 by then-President George W Bush. Going public There are 12 parts to the CNCI, including cyber counterintelligence and deterrence strategies. For the first time the government has published a general description of what they are on its website. The aim of the programme is threefold: to establish a front line of defence against today's immediate threats to defend against the full spectrum of threats to strengthen the future cybersecurity environment The CNCI funds a number of sensitive projects including the government's Einstein technology, which focuses on securing the vast computer network that operates under the dot.gov domain, as well as detecting attempts to access those systems. The president has likened threats to the internet to that of a nuclear attack The document acknowledges that traditional security approaches have fallen short, but says the federal government is moving forward in outlining "grand challenges" for the research community to help solve. Mr Schmidt said the declassification would show that the government has a workable strategy for protecting the nation's computer systems in the event of a cyber attack. Parts of the initiative that deal with the nation's offensive plans for cyberwarfare have not been made public. 'Common sense' Reaction to the announcement ranged from caution to praise. One supporter is Michael Markulec, chief operating officer for Lumeta, a company that provides large organisations and government agencies with secure network solutions. "This move brings more people to the table - organisations like mine that play in the cybersecurity space, experts here at the RSA who are currently not involved in discussions because they have been at a classified level inside the government. "So this allows more people to play and given that 85% of the critical infrastructure is not in government hands, it certainly makes sense to include the rest of the expertise," Mr Markulec told BBC News. Hilton Collins of Government Technology Magazine agrees. "The private sector has so much knowledge, power and money that for them to help the government innovate more technology security solutions is the right way to go." The Electronic Privacy Information Centre (Epic), which had demanded the full text of the CNCI, said it was pleased about the declassification. However the group said it still wanted to see the full document and what privacy safeguards are in place when assessing cyber threats. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The Obama administration on Tuesday plans to declassify portions of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, created during the Bush administration as a secret effort to harness the nation’s defensive and offensive strategies for protecting commercial and government networks. The announcement is to be made by Howard A. Schmidt, the industry cybersecurity veteran who was appointed in December as the White House Internet security adviser, at an industry convention in San Francisco. The declassification effort, which will not include the entire directive, will be focused on showing that the government has a clear and workable strategy for protecting the nation’s computer systems, Mr. Schmidt said in a telephone interview Monday evening. The cybersecurity initiative emerged from a classified National Security Presidential Directive signed by President George W. Bush in January 2008. The initiative was intended to unify the efforts of various government agencies as well as to develop security programs to protect the nation’s computer networks. Although the budget for the program has been secret, independent estimates have suggested that it may cost as much as $40 billion over the next five years. The plan comprises 12 initiatives, Mr. Schmidt said, and general descriptions of the 12 will be published Tuesday afternoon on the whitehouse.gov Web site. A portion of the initiative deals with the nation’s offensive plans for cyberwarfare, and Mr. Schmidt said that part would not be made public. “The C.N.C.I. was shrouded in a lot of classification,” he said. “The president has said very specifically that we need to make sure the administration is transparent with not only the American public but with an international audience as well.” In his first public speaking engagement at the RSA Conference, which is scheduled to open Tuesday, Mr. Schmidt said he would focus on two themes: partnerships and transparency. “In order to be successful against today’s cybersecurity threats,” he said, “we must continue to seek out innovative new partnerships — not only within government, but also among industry, government and the American public.” Mr. Schmidt also said his office planned to appoint an official to oversee privacy and civil liberties issues. “I don’t think there will be any surprises,” he said. “Much of what has been going on has been what people would expect us to be doing.” He said that the speech would represent the moving away from strategy and toward implementation on the part of the administration in specific areas like identity management and research and development of new technologies. “I will talk about our incident response plan and the Department of Homeland Security secretary will also speak on the issue and go into more detail,” Mr. Schmidt said. He said that he would not speak specifically about Google and the company’s recent revelations about intrusions that it said it believed had come from China. He pointed to two specific initiatives as examples of the areas where the administration would try to improve cybersecurity: No. 7, which is an effort to develop a framework for international partnerships building a common cybersecurity policy, and No. 10, which is the effort to create an identity management strategy that would be able to balance the competing issues of security and privacy. Critics have been skeptical about efforts to end anonymity on the Internet, arguing that they will place limits on privacy and freedom of speech. In his new office just a little more than a month, Mr. Schmidt said he remained optimistic about improving the nation’s cybersecurity preparedness and he believed he had the right people in place to do that. “It’s a matter of getting the sense of urgency in it,” he said. \|\|\|\|\| The Obama administration declassified part of the government’s cybersecurity plan Tuesday, publishing parts of it that discuss intrusion detection systems for federal computer networks and the government’s role in securing critical infrastructure. The declassification announcement was made by Howard A. Schmidt, a former Microsoft security executive who in December was appointed cybersecurity coordinator by President Barack Obama. Schmidt was speaking at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco, an annual industry conference for computer security professionals. The government’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative was launched in 2008 by President George W. Bush under a shroud of secrecy. The plan has 12 directives that cover the government’s strategy to protect U.S. networks — including military, civilian, government networks and critical infrastructure systems — as well as the government’s offensive strategy to combat cyberwarfare. Civil libertarians criticized the Bush administration for failing to disclose the contents of the plan or allowing independent oversight of its implementation. Schmidt said that Obama recognized the need for some transparency. “There are a lot of legal issues about what we’re doing,” he told the 2,000-member audience, adding that the government was currently working on a list of about 40 legal questions related to the cybersecurity initiative. Obama said last May that he planned to appoint a separate official to ensure that the implementation of the cybersecurity plan doesn’t violate privacy and civil liberties and insisted that the government’s plan would not include spying on the public. “Our pursuit of cybersecurity will not include — I repeat, will not include — monitoring private sector networks or internet traffic,”he said. “We will preserve and protect the personal privacy and civil liberties that we cherish as Americans.” A White House spokesman said Tuesday that the administration had appointed Tim Edgar to oversee the privacy aspects of the cybersecurity initiative. Edgar, a former attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, has been working as the deputy for civil liberties for the Civil Liberties and Privacy Office of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The declassified portion of the plan published Tuesday includes information on only part of the initiative and does not discuss cyberwarfare. The plan instead discusses the deployment of Einstein 2 and Einstein 3, intrusion detection systems on federal networks designed to inspect internet traffic entering government networks to detect potential threats. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) is deploying, as part of its EINSTEIN 2 activities, signature-based sensors capable of inspecting Internet traffic entering Federal systems for unauthorized accesses and malicious content. The EINSTEIN 2 capability enables analysis of network flow information to identify potential malicious activity while conducting automatic full packet inspection of traffic entering or exiting U.S. Government networks for malicious activity using signature-based intrusion detection technology…. EINSTEIN 2 is capable of alerting US-CERT in real time to the presence of malicious or potentially harmful activity in federal network traffic and provides correlation and visualization of the derived data…. The EINSTEIN 3 system will also support enhanced information sharing by US-CERT with Federal Departments and Agencies by giving DHS the ability to automate alerting of detected network intrusion attempts and, when deemed necessary by DHS, to send alerts that do not contain the content of communications to the National Security Agency (NSA) so that DHS efforts may be supported by NSA exercising its lawfully authorized missions. The Einstein programs have raised concerns among privacy and civil liberties groups, such as the Center for Democracy and Technology, because they involve scanning the content of communications to intercept malicious code before it reaches government networks. In 2008, the Department of Homeland Security’s Privacy Office published a Privacy Impact Assessment on early versions of Einstein 2 (.pdf) but has not published one on Einstein 3. The assessment left many questions unanswered, such as how much of a role the National Security Agency will play in the programs and whether information obtained in scans be shared with law enforcement or intelligence agencies. What may be the most controversial part of the declassified plan is a discussion of a need for the government to define its role in protecting private critical infrastructure networks. Critical infrastructure includes the electrical grid, telecommunication networks, internet service providers, the banking and financial industry, and others. The document indicates that DHS and private-sector businesses have already “developed a plan of shared action with an aggressive series of milestones and activities” but doesn’t discuss the nature of those shared actions other than to say that the two sectors are focused on developing a “public-private sharing of information regarding cyberthreats and incidents.” The U.S. Government depends on a variety of privately owned and operated critical infrastructures to carry out the public’s business. In turn, these critical infrastructures rely on the efficient operation of information systems and networks that are vulnerable to malicious cyberthreats. This Initiative builds on the existing and ongoing partnership between the Federal Government and the public and private sector owners and operators of Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR)…. It addresses security and information assurance efforts across the cyberinfrastructure to increase resiliency and operational capabilities throughout the CIKR sectors. Additionally, the plan calls for a strategy to increase the security of classified networks and to develop and implement a government-wide cybercounterintelligence (CI) plan, but provides little detail about what that would involve. “A government-wide cybercounterintelligence plan is necessary to coordinate activities across all Federal Agencies to detect, deter, and mitigate the foreign-sponsored cyberintelligence threat to U.S. and private sector information systems,” the plan says. “To accomplish these goals, the plan establishes and expands cyber CI education and awareness programs and workforce development to integrate CI into all cyber operations and analysis, increase employee awareness of the cyber CI threat, and increase counterintelligence collaboration across the government.” Photo: huertk/Flickr See also:	United States Department of Homeland Security as the lead agency protecting Information technology. The United States announced the declassification of a portion of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, a major part of the US's efforts to thwart cyber warfare, on Tuesday. The announcement came at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco, and was given by Howard Schmidt, who is the current US cyber-security coordinator, having been assigned the position in December. While only a portion of the document was revealed at the announcement, and much remains classified material, including all material related to plans by the government for offensive cyber-warfare, the program has twelve parts, and has three main strategies: To create a defensive mechanism against immediate threats, as well as those possible in the near future; To create a defensive mechanism against a wide variety of threats, both present and future; *To initiate efforts to strengthen future cyber-security efforts. The program includes funding for numerous security measures, including the government's controversial Einstein program, which scans all incoming communications to government-operated websites. The plan also mentions increasing security for classified networks within the government, as well as developing a government-wide plan for counter-intelligence work, although the declassified portions gave little indication as to what that would involve. The program was begun by President George Bush in 2008 as a National Security Presidential Directive, and has been entirely classified until now. At its inception, it was intended to serve as a program to unify cyber-security efforts within the government and to develop other security programs for use nationwide. No budget has been released for the program, although estimates place the cost at $40 billion until 2015.
PARIS The SAS Group announced an overhaul Tuesday, cutting about 40 percent of its work force and asking shareholders for more cash as it sought to ride out the global economic crisis. The Scandinavian airline also posted a fourth-quarter net loss of 2.8 billion kronor, or $337 million, compared with a loss of 625 million kronor a year earlier. Revenue fell less than 1 percent, to 12.9 billion kronor. SAS announced an overhaul under which it would ground 16 planes and retreat from unprofitable routes to focus on its core Scandinavian markets and on business travelers. It is cutting about 3,000 jobs, which combined with another 5,600 employees who are being let go through the divestment or outsourcing of operations account for about 40 percent of its overall work force, Mats Loennqvist, the chief financial officer, said during a conference call. \|\|\|\|\| Nearly 9,000 employees will be adversely affected by the Scandinavian carrier's restructuring plan Scandinavian Airlines reported on Tuesday that it was preparing to fire 3000 of its employees in light of its 6.3 billion Swedish kroner deficit for 2008. Through a press release the airline presented its new 'Core SAS' plan - a restructuring that will result in the lay-off of 3,000 workers. Another 5,600 SAS employees are expected to be forced out of the company due to previous business transactions, including Monday's sale of affiliate airline Spanair. The plan aims to save SAS around 2.7 billion Swedish kroner over the next two years. In addition, collective bargaining agreement negotiations were expected to lead to annual savings of approximately 1.3 billion Swedish kroner. 'It is likely that 2008 will go down as one of the most challenging and turbulent years in airline history,' commented the chief executive of SAS, Mats Jansson. 'To address one of the most severe economic declines we have ever seen, in addition to our internal challenges, a renewed strategic approach was needed. The principal feature of Core SAS is a renewed focus on what we do best: serving our Nordic home market and our core business travellers.' said Jansson. SAS reported a 2008 fourth quarter loss of 2.7 billion Swedish kroner - its fifth straight quarterly deficit. \|\|\|\|\| SAS area at Stockholm Arlanda airport Scandinavian airline SAS is to axe 3,000 jobs, in a major restructuring following big losses in 2008. Another 5,600 employees will leave as part of operations that are to be sold or outsourced, as overall staff numbers are cut by 40% from 23,000 to 14,000. It comes as it reported net losses of 6.32bn kronor ($757m; £532m) in 2008, 2.77bn in the fourth quarter alone, after a profit of 636m kronor in 2007. The Stockholm-based carrier is to also sell Air Baltic, and shed other stakes. Financial plan The biggest divestment will come as the airline sells its money-losing Spanish subsidiary Spanair unit to a Spanish consortium for one euro, which will see 3,000 employees leaving SAS's operations. SAS said the yearly figure included a loss of 4.89bn kronor associated with that sale. It hopes to sell its interests in Spirit, Air Greenland, BMI, Estonian Airways, Skyways, Cubic and Trust, as it concentrates on business travel in the Nordic market. The carrier has also announced it would make a 6bn kronor rights issue, as part of a financial recovery plan called Core SAS. 'Turbulent year' The Stockholm-based airline said the share rights issue was supported by the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Norway - which own half of the struggling firm. It also has the backing of its biggest private shareholder, Sweden's powerful Wallenberg family. Airlines such as SAS have been struggling for years with overcapacity, falling demand, and competition from budget airlines. Easing oil prices have brought some relief but the firm is now pressing ahead with its Core SAS programme. SAS Chief Executive Mats Jansson said 2008 was "one of the most challenging and turbulent years that the entire aviation industry has ever experienced". "During the year, we saw a period of record-high oil prices, a financial crisis that heavily intensified during the final quarter and which led to an economic recession in many markets," he added. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	SAS Boeing 737-600 LN-RPA lands at Heathrow in 2004 Sweden-based airline Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) said it will reduce payrolls by 8,600 jobs as part of its "Core SAS" restructuring plan. The airline will cut 3,000 staff directly and eliminate 5,600 by divesting business ventures, reducing the workforce by 40% to 14,000. The restructuring comes after SAS posted losses of 6.32 billion Swedish krona in 2008. The company is also to sell airBaltic and Spanair and its stakes in Air Greenland, BMI, Estonian Air, Skyways Express, Spirit Airlines and Trust. Spanair is to be sold for €1. The company intends to switch to concentrating on its core Nordic market. SAS is to seek 6 billion krona from shareholders, while the government of Denmark is to invest 600 million Danish kroner in the company. Currently, Denmark owns 14.3% of SAS, Sweden has 21.4% and Norway 14.3%. The rest is publicly traded. The airline was founded in 1946 when the state airlines of Denmark, Sweden and Norway merged their longhaul services.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Milton Friedman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist who helped shape modern free market economics, died Thursday in San Francisco. He was 94. A spokesman for the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation confirmed the news to CNN. The cause was heart failure, according to Reuters. Friedman, who won the Nobel Prize in 1976, helped interpret and popularize so-called supply-side economics, which came to dominate much of U.S. public policy in the second half of the 20th century. Supply-side economics holds that minimally regulated markets offer the most efficiency in the distribution of goods and services. The theory was prevalent until it fell out of favor during the Great Depression, when Keynesian economics became popular. Friedman won the Nobel in 1976 for "his achievements in the fields of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy," according to the Nobel Prize Web site. Friedman's theories, which included tight fiscal discipline and deregulation of markets, grew influential in the United States after Ronald Reagan became president. Friedman's ideas were embraced by President Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s and lauded by many in the business world. But they were also controversial because of the deep cuts in government spending and the more restricted role they entailed for government in buffering citizens from economic forces. Friedman was regarded as the leader of the Chicago School of monetary economics and the leading proponent of free market theory. The Chicago School regarded the quantity of money as a key instrument of government policy, capable of influencing inflation and business cycles, according to his biography at the Hoover Institution, where Friedman served as a research fellow. The changes brought about by Friedman's economic work represented a departure from Keynesian economic philosophy, which included generous provisions for the unemployed and wage and price controls. John Maynard Keynes was an English economist influential in the first half of the 20th century. Overseas, Friedman's work helped shape policies used in Chile in the 1970s. His influence raised eyebrows among critics because of the repressive political situation in the country in that period. "Milton Friedman revived the economics of liberty, when it had been all but forgotten. He was an intellectual freedom fighter. Never was there a less dismal practitioner of 'the dismal science' [economics]," Thatcher said in a statement published by Reuters. Other notable figures, including former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, lamented the news of Friedman's death. "I am deeply saddened at the passing of Milton Friedman," Greenspan told Reuters. "He had been a fixture in my life both professionally and personally for a half century. My world will not be the same." Current Fed chief Ben Bernanke said Friedman had "no peer" among economic scholars. "The direct and indirect influences of his thinking on contemporary monetary economics would be difficult to overstate," Bernanke said in a statement. "Milton conveyed to millions an understanding of the economic benefits of free, competitive markets, as well as the close connection that economic freedoms bear to other types of liberty. He will be sorely missed." Edward Crane, founder and president of the libertarian Cato Institute, said, "Milton was in my mind the greatest champion of freedom in the 20th century. He was a warm, intelligent, wonderful human being and will be deeply missed." "Milton changed the direction of the world," observed Crane, who recalled attending a conference with Friedman in China in 1988 where Friedman was received "like a rock star" for his reputation as champion of free markets and a free society. "His first policy concern was freeing people from government influence in their lives," said Crane. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement: "Milton was one of the great thinkers and economists of the 20th century, and when I was first exposed to his powerful writings about money, free markets and individual freedom, it was like getting hit by a thunderbolt." Even economists who didn't always agree with Friedman concurred on his wide influence. Friedman "had an enormous impact on the shape of most economies in the world in the last 25 to 35 years," said Mark Weisbrot, economist at the progressive Center for Economic and Policy Research. "If you go back to his book Capitalism and Freedom [published in 1962], it wasn't even reviewed by major reviewers like [the] New York Times. By the end of Reagan's last term, most of his policies were implemented," Weisbrot said. "Friedman fought a counterrevolution in the 1950s against Keynesianism," said Weisbrot. "He succeeded in that policy moved to the right and the concerns of workers took a back seat compared to those of creditors and bankers." Crane said that Friedman "never demeaned the motives of his opponents, although they did him. Milton was always willing to talk to anyone. He was respectful of a questions asked him." Friedman was born in Brooklyn in 1912 to immigrant parents from a province of what was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He received a B.A. from Rutgers University in 1932, an M.A. from the University of Chicago the next year and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Revolt of the fairly rich Fortune Portraits of Power \|\|\|\|\| Friedman was seen as the leader of the Chicago school of monetarism Mr Friedman died in San Francisco, a spokesman for his family said. The cause of death is not yet known. Mr Friedman, who popularised the phrase "there's no such thing as a free lunch", was awarded the Nobel Prize for economics in 1976. Known as the high priest of monetarism, his ideas gained popularity in the 1980s when they influenced the policies of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. 'Intellectual' The leaders were won over by Mr Friedman's idea that the supply of money was the key factor in determining economic growth and the rate of inflation. Lady Thatcher paid tribute to Mr Friedman, calling him "an intellectual freedom fighter". "He revived the economics of liberty, when it had been all but forgotten," she said. "Never was there a less dismal practitioner of the dismal science. I shall greatly miss my old friend's lucid wisdom and mordant humour." America has lost a true visionary and advocate for human freedom Gordon St Angelo, Friedman Institute Obituary: Milton Friedman Send us your comments And Chancellor Gordon Brown described Mr Friedman as "one of the great economic theorists" of the 20th century. "He had a major influence on post-war economic policy not least in establishing the importance of credibility in monetary policy making," he said. 'Visionary' Mr Friedman was also a key advocate of deregulation and privatisation. Throughout his more than 30 years as Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Mr Friedman was a champion of the free market, and his approach became known as the "Chicago School." He was also viewed as an accomplished and fluent speaker who, it was said, had never lost an argument. "America has lost a true visionary and advocate for human freedom. And I have lost a great friend," said Gordon St Angelo, president of the Friedman Foundation. Mr St Angelo added that Mr Friedman had been a highly influential figure who had "transformed the minds of US Presidents, world leaders, entrepreneurs and freshmen economic majors alike". The Cato Institute - a free market think tank in Washington that Mr Friedman advised - added that Mr Friedman had "revolutionised" economic thinking. "If (John Maynard) Keynes dominated economic thinking in the mid-20th century, Friedman dominates economic thinking at the end of the century, and well into this century," an institute spokesman told AFP news agency. And Ben Bernanke, the head of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, said in a speech in 2003 that "his thinking has so permeated modern macroeconomics that the worst pitfall in reading him today is to fail to appreciate the originality and even revolutionary character of his ideas." Libertarian Friedman was born on 31 July 1912, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants, and worked his way through university. During his lifetime he also advised US Presidents Reagan and Nixon and was also a prolific writer. His books included A Theory of the Consumption Function, Tyranny of the Status Quo and Free To Choose - the two later titles accompanied TV series of the same name. However, his work was not just limited to the economic realm. He was also a libertarian campaigner who supported home schooling as well as the decriminalisation of drugs and prostitution. As part of his campaigning Mr Friedman advocated the abolition of the military draft in the US after the Vietnam War, something he said was one of his proudest achievements.	Nobel laureate Milton Friedman has died at the age of 94, his family announced. Friedman is considered to be one the most influential economists of the past century. Friedman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976 and essentially defined the theory of Monetarism. He served on U.S. President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board and significantly influenced post-WWII economic policy in the U.S. He was a leading figure in the Chicago school of economics.
The area around Jos has been the site of several massacres this year [AFP] The area around Jos has been the site of several massacres this year [AFP] Most of the victims of the raid on the village of Byei in the Riyom region of Nigeria's Plateau state were women and children, state radio reported. At least 13 people have been killed by armed herdsmen near Nigeria's central city of Jos, close to where hundreds of people have died in ethic and religious clashes this year. "I can confirm that 13 people have died while six others have been critically injured," Gregory Yenlong, the state's information commissioner, said. Yvonne Ndege, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, said: "We know that the attack was executed by Muslim Fulani herdsmen on a Christian community. "One of the most worrying things we're hearing is that some of those who survived the attacks are alleging that some of the attackers were dressed in Nigerian military fatigues." She said the military was preparing a statement and would likely deny any involvement in the attack. Military deployment Reports from the scene said that many of the victims had deep machete cuts and had been partially burned. At least three huts were also burned in the raid. The attack happened despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Plateau state, which has been enforced by the military since January when hundreds of people, mainly Muslims, were killed in clashes in the region. Earlier in March, more than 500 people, predominantly Christian villagers near the central city of Jos, were killed in an attack blamed on Muslim herders from nearby hills. "Enough is enough. We don't want the military again," said Emmanuel Jugu, who represents Riyom in the Plateau parliament. "We have been observing the curfew. So how can people now come and slaughter us. The military should withdraw. We are capable of defending ourselves." Plateau, of which Jos is the capital, lies at the crossroads of Nigeria's Muslim north and Christian south, a region known as the "Middle Belt". The repeated unrest has been attributed in part to fierce competition for control of fertile farmlands between Christian and animist indigenous groups on one side and Muslim settlers from the north on the other. The unrest comes at a difficult time for Nigeria, with Goodluck Jonathan, the country's acting president, trying to consolidate power while Umaru Yar'Adua, the ailing president who recently returned from three months in a Saudi hospital, is too sick to govern. \|\|\|\|\| At Least 13 Killed in New Nigerian Sectarian Clash Photo: AP Nigerian officials and residents say at least 13 people were killed by Muslim herdsmen who attacked a predominantly Christian village close to the troubled central city Jos. Witnesses say the attackers, disguised as soldiers, raided the village, 30 kilometers south of Jos, at dawn. Most of the victims of the attack were women and children. Local officials said security forces were alerted about the attack, but help came too late. Previous violence in and around Jos has claimed several-thousand lives. More than 200 people, mostly Christians, died last week in massacres in three nearby villages. More than 300 people, mostly Muslims, died in January during clashes in and around the city. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is almost evenly split between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. A human-rights campaigner and peace activist in the north, Shehu Sani, is leading a campaign to stop the violence and promote peaceful co-existence. "Our own position is that there should be peace among tribes, religions and cultures in Nigeria," said Sani. "Ethno-religious violence has not brought anything to our country. For over 30 years, thousands of Muslims and Christians have died and the peace efforts between Muslims and Christians have always been done at a very elitist level. People at the grassroots level have not been involved. And people like me felt we should bring those within the community level to the front of the fight, to see that fighting is no more fashionable." Analysts say the latest convulsion of violence is bound to complicate any peace process as the talk has shifted to revenge and pre-emptive attacks. The violence is also seen as a struggle between ethnic groups for fertile lands and political power in the region known as Nigeria's Middle Belt. The government says security forces in Plateau and neighboring states had been placed on red alert.	At least thirteen people were killed by armed herdsmen in Nigeria yesterday, in a village near the city of Jos, reports say. According to witnesses, the herdsmen, who were disguised as soldiers, attacked the village of Byei, south of Jos, at dawn. Media reports say that most of the dead were women and children. "I can confirm that thirteen people have died while six others have been critically injured," commented state information commissioner Gregory Yenlong. A correspondent for the Al Jazeera news agency said that the military was preparing a statement about the attack, and probably will deny any involvement in it. Violence in and around Jos, mainly between Christians and Muslims has recurred frequently in recent times, and has claimed several thousand lives. Last week 200 people were killed after clashes in villages near the city, while in January, another 300 people died in similar unrest. The violence has been blamed partially to competition for fertile land between Muslims in the north, and Christian and animist groups from the south. According to reports, many of the victims had deep wounds from machetes, and some were burned; at least three huts were torched in the violence as well.
By Nation Correspondent in MOGADISHU Mortar shells hit parts of central Mogadishu close to the port on Friday evening killing 10 people in a former medical facility. De Martino Hospital, which has been converted into a lodge for the Somali war veterans of the 1977-1978 conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, was hit by the shells just as its residents, most of who are disabled, were preparing to break their fast. The shells caused six deaths on the spot and injured 25. By yesterday morning four more wounded veterans lost their lives at Medina Hospital. “It is one of the most shocking events we witnessed,” said Hassan Sheikh Qalli, a resident in Hamarweyne district, where De Martino Hospital is located. War veterans The injured persons included the spokesman of the disabled war veterans, Abdi Ali Mahad. The Transitional Federal Government was quick to blame the Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, for the attack and the deadly death toll. Sheikh Abdirizak Mohamed Qaylow, the spokesman of the pro-government paramilitary unit known as Drawiish condemned what he called “the anti-peace” groups. “The anti-peace (Al-Shabaab) group engages in this kind of merciless act in the course of their drive to defeat the government of Somalia,” said Sheikh Qaylow. “They do not even care who suffers in civilian populated areas,” he added. Well-wishers and sympathetic groups gathered this morning at the hospital for the funeral. “We are all shocked,” said a legislator who lost a relative, but declined to be named. Mogadishu residents have been experiencing intense battles between the TFG and the opposition Islamist groups since early May. Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam have declined repeated calls from the government to settle differences through negotiations. \|\|\|\|\| At least 12 former soldiers were killed in the shelling [Reuters] At least 12 former soldiers were killed in the shelling [Reuters] The shells fired by opposition fighters missed their intended target in Mogadishu, the capital, and hit a residential area containing the hospital, Somali officials said on Saturday. Disabled veterans are among 15 people killed after mortar rockets fired by fighters in Somalia hit a war veterans' hospital. "I was sitting in my wheelchair about 10 metres away from my friends when a mortar exploded and smoke and dust covered us all," Mohamed Abdi, 50, a paralysed ex-soldier said. "I saw my friends on the ground, with blood scattered everywhere like slaughtered goats." Three civilians also died and 15 other veterans were wounded in the attack on Friday. Overthrow attempt The mortars were believed to have been fired towards Mogadishu's port but landed in the residential area by mistake, officials said. In video Disabled die in Somali raid Former army officers paralysed or missing limbs from the country's 1977 war with Ethiopia resided in the hospital, said Shiek Abdirisaq Oeylow, a government spokesman. Somalia has suffered civil war for the past 18 years and African Union peacekeepers are currently in the country aiming to back the government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The government holds only a few areas of Mogadishu and al-Shabab, an opposition group, is attempting to overthrow them with the suspected help of foreign fighters. The US has accused al-Shabab of having links with al-Qaeda, which al-Sahbab denies. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- At least nine people were killed in Somalia's war-torn capital Mogadishu when mortars slammed into a home for disabled veterans, according to journalists and witnesses. Al Shabaab fighters display two bodies of Somali police officers during a battle August 12 in Mogadishu. At least 27 people were wounded in the Friday night incident, when Muslim militants fired mortars toward Mogadishu's port and struck a residential area. The mortars hit a home for former national army officers who were disabled in a late-1970s war with Ethiopia, the sources said. Insurgents from the Al-Shabaab militant group have been fighting to topple Somalia's government. Its fighters have frequently shelled the city's airport and seaport, which are controlled by the African Union and government forces. The United States is supporting the Somali government's fight against the insurgents, including providing weapons to government forces. Al Shabaab is on the U.S. list of terror organizations because of its ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. The United States is concerned that Somalia's weak government could fall to the Islamist insurgency, as it did in 2006 before Ethiopian forces ousted the militants from power later that year. All About Somalia • Mogadishu • Osama bin Laden \|\|\|\|\| By ABDULKADIR KHALIF, Nation Correspondent, Somalia MOGADISHU, A number of mortar shells hit parts of central Mogadishu on Friday evening leaving at least ten dead. One of the mortars landed in a residential area while another crashed onto the city’s main jail. The worst incident, however, occurred at De Martino Hospital, a former medical facility that had been converted into a lodge for the Somali war veterans of the 1977/78 conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia. Most of the residents are the Ogaden war veterans and the blast killed six on the spot and left twenty five severely injured. It was just before Iftar (Futuru) as the residents were waiting to break the fast. By early Saturday morning, four more wounded veterans lost their lives at Medina Hospital. “It is one of the most shocking events we witnessed,” said Hassan Sheikh Qalli, a resident in Hamarweyne district where De Martino Hospital is located. The injured persons included the spokesman of the disabled war veterans, Abdi Ali Mahad. The Transitional Federal Government was quick to blame the Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, for the attack. Sheikh Abdirizak Mohamed Qaylow, the spokesman of the pro-government paramilitary unit known as Drawiish condemned what he called the anti-peace (opposition) groups. “The anti-peace (Al-Shabaab) group engage in this kind of merciless act in the course of their drive to defeat the government in Somalia,” said Sheikh Qaylow. “They do not even care who suffers in civilian populated areas,” he added. “We are all shocked,” said a legislator who lost a relative, but declined to be named. Mogadishu residents have been experiencing intense battles between the TFG and the opposition Islamist groups since early May. Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam have declined repeated calls from the government to settle differences through negotiations.	The Somali (TFG), the internationally recognized government of the former state of Somalia, could not stop an attack conducted by insurgents in the capital as they shelled the city's port; but, some rounds fell short which led to dozens of casualties. Late last week, Somali insurgents conducted a mortar attack in downtown Mogadishu missing their intended target at the city's seaport; instead, hitting a veteran's hospital killing between 6 and 9 former soldiers and wounding at least 12 others. Many of the hospital's patients are veterans from in the Ogaden, according to government spokesman Shiek Abdirisaq Qeylow. The disabled veterans were gathering and chatting in the hospital's courtyard ready for the (Futuru), the feast that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast observed during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, when the shells fell, according to the Associated Free Press. Their home, De Martino Hospital, was collateral damage in what was meant to be an attack on the seaport according to Mohamed Abdiazis, a Somali Policeman. Victims were taken to the Medina Hospital which is where four of the victims died. Eyewitnesses said that several rounds hit the seaport and the main jail. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Al-Shabab, the militant youth group that has now taken the reigns of the insurgency in Somalia after the dissolution of the , is widely suspected. Al-Shabab seeks to institute the strictest sense of Shari'a Law in Somalia and is a seam of contention for their participation in the government. Earlier this year, the newly elected Somali President agreed to implement tenets of Shar'ia into the nation's statutory codes, however negotiations quickly broke down over the details. While the TFG has made attempts to quell violence in the capital and in other parts of Somalia, little success has been realized. The government relies on assistance from the African Union to maintain some semblance of order in Mogadishu. Parts of the country like Somaliland in the north have claimed de-facto independence in the absence of a central government capable of protecting all parts of the country.
Champions Trophy 2009 ICC board endorses South Africa to host Champions Trophy Cricinfo staff The ICC board has endorsed a recommendation by its Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) to hold this year's Champions Trophy in South Africa. The ICC said that the event, which runs from September 24-October 5, would be held in Johannesburg and Centurion. However, the ICC admitted that Cricket South Africa (CSA) has been sought as the alternative host, with the Wanderers and SuperSport Park as the venues, provided an agreement on the financial arrangements can be reached. CSA will now have to confirm whether it accepts the event's revenue model. The ICC president David Morgan described the move as a "sensible decision" and thanked the boards of Sri Lanka and South Africa for their commitment. "I think the board has made a sensible decision that will give the event every chance of success," he said. "We now have clarity on the subject and we can make firm plans for what is going to be a great spectacle of ODI cricket. "I would like to thank Sri Lanka Cricket for its commitment to offer an alternative to Pakistan. And also, I want to acknowledge its willingness to step aside in this matter. I'd also like to thank CSA for putting its hand up and offering to host this event. "With Wanderers and Centurion, CSA can provide two world-class venues in what is effectively one location and as we know from the ICC World Twenty20 2007, weather conditions in the area around Johannesburg in September and October are stable and ideal for cricket," said Morgan. The hosting rights will remain with Pakistan, ensuring a significant windfall for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "The decision of giving the Champions Trophy to South Africa hasn't changed the picture," the PCB's chief operating officer Salim Altaf told reporters in Lahore. "If the ICC gives South Africa financial assistance, it would still have no impact on the PCB's share, which is $2.75 million." The CEC had expressed concern over the tournament being held in Sri Lanka and strongly suggested it be held in South Africa following concerns over weather conditions in the island nation during that period. The teleconference also unanimously agreed that the dates for next year's ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies would be between April 30-May 16. © Cricinfo ICC board endorses South Africa to host Champions Trophy The ICC board has endorsed a recommendation by its Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) to hold this year's Champions Trophy in South Africa Read more Fantasy cricket games: SA v Australia, NZ v India and WI v Eng Login/enter here Video: Watch Daily SportsCentre news bulletins On cricinfo.tv Live scores, news & ball-by-ball commentary on your phone Cricinfo Mobile \|\|\|\|\| Australia were unable to defend the Champions Trophy last year The Champions Trophy may be moved away from Sri Lanka in October 2009 because of concerns the country's wet season will disrupt the tournament. The competition was due to take place in Pakistan in September 2008 but was postponed over security fears. "It usually rains in Sri Lanka during that time of the year," said International Cricket Council [ICC] general manager Dave Richardson. "Questions have been raised if it's wise to hold the tournament there." Richardson said a decision would be made at an ICC board meeting in Dubai next month. 606: DEBATE "If it's not Sri Lanka, the ICC have decided we want to hold the tournament over 12 days, which means that we have to have two venues in virtually the same city," he added. "Certainly there can't be any question of international travel being involved. "That itself narrows the options down considerably to perhaps Perth, Johannesburg, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. "There are a couple of options which need to be considered and [those venues] would be in the frame when the decision is made."	ICC logo. South Africa will be the host for the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy for cricket. The tournament, originally planned for 2008 in Pakistan, was postponed to 2009 owing to security issues. Sri Lanka was proposed as an alternative venue, but due to weather concerns in Sri Lanka during the month of October, the tournament has now been moved to South Africa. This was confirmed by an ICC Board teleconference. ICC President David Morgan said, "I think the Board has made a sensible decision that will give the event every chance of success. We now have clarity on the subject and we can make firm plans for what is going to be a great spectacle of ODI cricket." He also thanked the Sri Lankan Board for their commitment. The tournament features eight national test cricket teams competing in One Day Internationals. The games will be conducted in Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg and SuperSport Park, Pretoria. It will be held from September 24 to October 5, 2009 in these two venues.
Webb insisted on the doors of his ambulance being open as he was driven through Beaconsfield to hospital. "You can't kill me, son," he was heard shouting to a wellwisher. Rescue coordinator Rex Johnson said the two miners had wanted to clean themselves up before emerging from the mine. "I did not think they would get out," he said. "They wanted to pamper themselves pretty well." As free beer flowed at a local hotel, messages of support flowed in from around the country, including from the prime minister, opposition leader and treasurer preparing for what had suddenly been relegated to a secondary news event - the federal budget. The miners were pronounced in "excellent spirits" and "very positive" physical condition at nearby Launceston hospital - so positive they are determined to attend the funeral later on Tuesday of the workmate who died alongside them, 44-year-old Larry Knight. "They have asked us to pass on to you their jubilation with being out of the mine and they have also expressed a wish to go to the funeral this afternoon," said Launceston General Hospital CEO Dr Stephen Ayre. "We'll be seeing what we can do to facilitate that." The grieving Knight family had won widespread admiration for delaying the funeral service as long as possible so that Todd Russell and Brant Webb could attend. "I think the important thing is that they actually pay their respects to their colleague, as a point of closure and moving on from the situation that they've been in," Dr Ayre said. Prime Minister John Howard said he hoped to express his admiration personally to the two miners, adding he was prepared to look at federal help for the Tasmanian town if the mine was forced to close. Their rescue was announced to the people of Beaconsfield by the ringing of a church bell not used since WWII and by wailing fire sirens which prompted hundreds to gather outside the mine. Mr Johnson said the last part of the rescue was hard because the men were so close and everyone just wanted to rush in and get them out. But he said the rescue team, and Mr Webb and Mr Russell, all knew they had to stop, take their time and do everything properly. "It was quite easy towards the end but you've just got to be careful. You can't take any chances," he said. "The miners that did the work should be congratulated. They did an unbelievable job." There had been no time to celebrate, Mr Johnson said. "We had a job to do, get them out, so I'll have a bit of time to myself later on. "I've got Larry Knight's funeral to go to this afternoon, and I think all the guys are going to hold their emotions until then," Mr Johnson said. He said he expected the freed pair would attend Mr Knight's funeral in Launceston. "I think they will be doing everything they possibly can to get there. They are in good spirits so, yeah, the boys are going really well." Mr Russell's brother-in-law Allan Bennett was at the top of the mine to greet his relative and friend. "It's what dreams are made of, mate," he later said. "I said `a miracle' to start with, that's all I could think of, and `it's what dreams are made of'." Mr Bennett said he would attend 44-year-old Mr Knight's funeral. "Don't forget Larry and the other 14 men (who escaped the April 25 rockfall). They're all one, that's how it works," a crying Mr Bennett said. Mine manager Matthew Gill praised rescuers, and said he was amazed at the health and physical condition of the miners. "They are incredible people. They are absolutely incredible people," he said. "In fact, we were a bit worried with the amount they were eating we would have to make the hole a bit bigger. "I am amazed at their condition. They are pretty tough." Mr Howard said he had phoned West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther to congratulate everyone involved in the rescue operation. "I just want to say how relieved and elated the whole country is and what a huge tribute this is, the way everybody has pulled together," Mr Howard told the Nine Network. He said the rescue effects that saved the miners' lives were fantastic. "That's the greatest thing you can do for somebody else," he said. "Everybody has played a great role. "It's one of those occasions where everybody is entitled to feel elated at the outcome." \|\|\|\|\| ABC News 2 Australian Miners Freed After 2 Weeks Two Australian Gold Miners Are Rescued After Being Trapped 3,000 Feet Underground for Two Weeks By RICK RYCROFT BEACONSFIELD, Australia May 8, 2006 (AP) Two Australian gold miners trapped for two weeks in a tiny steel cage 3,000 feet underground were rescued early Tuesday by teams drilling round-the-clock by hand through hard rock. Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, were buried after a small earthquake April 25 trapped them under tons of rock in the Beaconsfield Gold Mine. The safety cage they were working in kept them from being crushed. Fellow miner Larry Knight, 44, was killed. Mine manager Matthew Gill said the men were safe and in good health after their 300-hour ordeal, underground in a cage too short to stand up in. Doctors were inspecting the men in an area still below ground before bringing them out of the mine. For five days Webb and Russell survived on a single cereal bar and water they licked from rocks, until rescue crews with thermal heat sensors detected them. Teams of specialist miners bored through more than 45 feet of rock over the past week with a giant drilling machine to reach the men. Cutting the final sections of the escape tunnel was been slow and difficult, as the men used hand tools to avoid causing a cave-in. The rescue ends a drama that riveted the nation, with TV crews camped in the mine parking lot, and residents of the close-knit community waiting anxiously at the mine gates to welcome the two men, now considered heroes. Television networks cut live to the news that the men were saved. A fire engine drove through Beaconsfield, a town in the southern state of Tasmania, its siren wailing to alert the local residents to the news. A church bell not used since the end of World War II rang out in celebration. "The great escape is over," union official Bill Shorten told Nine Network television. "A giant rock of presure has been taken off these families." Seventeen men were working the night shift when the magnitude 2.1 quake sent tremors through the century-old mine. Fourteen men made it safely to the surface. But Webb, Russell and Knight had been working deep in the belly of the mine repairing a tunnel.	Location of Beaconsfield The two miners who had been trapped almost one kilometer beneath the surface in Beaconsfield, Tasmania in a collapsed gold mine for 14 days have now been rescued. The men, Brant Webb and Todd Russell, were well enough to walk out from the lift onto the surface and threw their arms up in exultation. They then walked to a board and removed their location tags to indicate that they were no longer underground at approximately 5:59 a.m. AEST before embracing family and friends and making their way to the waiting ambulances. The vehicles slowly made their way through the crowds with a police escort and the miners waved to the crowds through the open rear doors. They will undergo medical supervision at Launceston Hospital for a period of time before being confirmed well enough to return home. The last stages of the rescue, cutting the final sections of the escape tunnel had proceeded very slowly because very hard rock was encountered and work had to proceed gently to minimize the chances of further rock collapses. The escape tunnel was completed at 4:47 a.m. AEST and it took another hour for the men to be transported to the surface via a "crib room" at "Level 375" (375 metres underground) where they were medically examined and were also able to shower. A bell at Beaconsfield's Uniting Church pealed just after 5 a.m. AEST to celebrate the rescue, and an air raid siren was sounded. This was the first time the church bell had been rung since the end of World War II. A local fire engine drove through Beaconsfield's streets sounding the siren to wake residents for the good news. A funeral will be held later today for a third miner, Larry Knight, who was killed in the collapse that trapped the miners on April 26.
Take a look back at the defining moments from around the world in 2006. Experience an audio slide show of the best news, sports and space images from around the world and close to home. NBC News and news services MADRID, Spain - A car bomb exploded in a parking lot at Madrid’s glittery new airport terminal on Saturday, following a warning call from the Basque separatist group ETA, officials said. Three people were slightly wounded. The blast halted all air traffic on one of the year’s busiest travel days, and brought a fiery end to an nine-month-old ETA cease-fire that had spurred the greatest hopes in a decade of a peaceful end to the conflict The timing of the blast — just hours after the execution in Baghdad of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein — caused initial fears that Islamic militants might be involved. But officials soon discounted that, saying that two warning calls were received in the Basque region just before the explosion. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement In the second call, a man speaking in Spanish claimed responsibility for the separatists, the Basque Interior Department’s emergency rescue services said. The blast came about 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. ET) at the airport’s new Terminal Four, said Javier Ayuso, a spokesman for the emergency rescue services of the Madrid city government. “They started closing all the stores, which was the first indication there was a problem,” passenger Lisa Berry told NBC News. Berry, who was traveling to Italy with her son, John, said there were “thousands” of people on the tarmac after the explosion, which she said appeared to be near a drop-off point. She said she could see two columns of smoke from the area. Berry also said armed military personnel were stationed in front of the airport, along with several ambulances. ETA declared a cease-fire in March after four decades of armed struggle for independence of the Basque Country in which it killed more than 800 people. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced in June that he would start a peace process with ETA but the group said in November that it would break off contacts unless there was quick progress in separate talks over the future of the Basque Country. © 2006 MSNBC Interactive \|\|\|\|\| Horas antes de la comparecencia del presidente, el ministro del Interior, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, ha confirmado la autoría de ETA en una rueda de prensa en la sede de su departamento. Además, Rubalcaba ha asegurado que el ataque "interrumpe y rompe el alto el fuego permanente" decretado por la banda en marzo y ha agregado que la violencia "es incompatible con el diálogo en cualquier democracia". El ministro no ha ocultado su sorpresa por el atentado, al asegurar que ni él "ni nadie podía imaginar que se pudiera producir este atentado hoy porque las pautas y las reglas son las que son". No obstante, aunque no había indicios de que esto pudiera ocurrir, las fuerzas de seguridad, ha dicho el ministro, no han bajado la guardia "ni un milímetro". El ministro, quien se ha puesto en contacto a lo largo de la mañana con los portavoces parlamentarios, ha mostrado su convencimiento de que la autoría del atentado es de ETA, ya que los datos "no dejan rastro de duda alguna", aunque ha advertido de que éste no es el comportamiento habitual de la banda ya que siempre ha anunciado la ruptura de sus treguas. "Tenemos la convicción" de que ha sido ETA, ha remarcado, para añadir "es ETA y ETA, sin más".	Smoke rising from Barajas Airport. Around 9:00 a.m. local time (0800 UTC) today, an explosion occurred at Barajas International Airport, in Madrid, Spain. A car bomb exploded in the Level-D Parking Garage of the recently completed Terminal 4. A Spanish official declared that the police first received a telephone call warning them about the bomb, and then a second call with the type of vehicle. The second caller claimed the attack for the Basque nationalist group ETA. Thanks to the telephone call, the police could evacuate most of the area. One man is reported missing after the explosion, and 26 people including two police officers were reported to be injured in the blast. The terminal sustained serious damage, and the situation in the airport became chaotic on one of the busiest days of the year. Arnaldo Otegi, spokesman of ETA's political wing Batasuna, did not condemn the attack, but said the peace talks are not interrupted by the explosion. The Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba condemned the attack, saying that it "breaks nine months without violence on the part of ETA, which breaks the permanent ceasefire." Only in June, the Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announced peace talks with ETA. But tonight, Zapatero ordered the suspension of all dialogue, because "with violence, there can be no kind of dialogue."
The Conservatives unveiled three new television ads Sunday attacking Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, a day before members of Parliament return to the House of Commons. The English-language ads, which will be followed by a second series of French ads, assert that Dion is a weak leader who would take the country back to the past. The Conservative ads use footage from the Liberal leadership debate. CBC They also criticize Dion's record as environment minister, charging that greenhouse gas emissions went up and air quality went down under his watch between 2004 and 2006. In response to the ads, Dion told CBC News, "[Harper] wants to spend all this money to try to attack me in a very negative way, and it'll backfire." "Canadians will not be impressed by that." Dion also criticized Harper's environmental record, saying that several months ago the prime minister said that greenhouse gas emissions didn't exist. The ads use footage from last fall's Liberal leadership debates, including clips of Michael Ignatieff, now Dion's deputy leader, and Ken Dryden admitting that the Liberals failed to meet the Kyoto targets for emission reductions. One ad includes a clip of Dion plaintively responding to attacks on his environmental record, telling Ignatieff he doesn't know how hard it is to set priorities. B.C. Conservative MP James Moore said, "We think that Stéphane Dion has been getting a little bit of a free ride. We're going to hold him accountable for the things he didn't do as environment minister." The Conservatives, who have secured a prized spot for the ads during next weekend's Canadian broadcast of the Super Bowl, refused to say how much the party is spending on the election-style campaign. With files from the Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| Sign-up to receive the weekly top stories, contest and promotion announcements every Tuesday Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Canada.com Newsletter will soon be in your inbox.	The Conservative Party of Canada have taken a new approach by launching a new ad campaign. It is aimed at the Liberal Party of Canada leader Stéphane Dion. The ads, which will frequently be aired during next weekend's Canadian broadcast of the Super Bowl, criticizes Dion as a leader and also criticizes his past in the government, as Canada's environment minister. They also feature clips from the Liberal leadership debate last fall. The ads are in English but another set of ads will air in French speaking Quebec, Dion's home province. The Conservative Party of Canada logo. Dion, who was elected Liberal leader in December, responded to ''CBC News'' saying that it will "backfire" on Stephen Harper. "Harper wants to spend all this money to try to attack me in a very negative way, and it'll backfire," Dion said. "Canadians will not be impressed by that." "Mr. Harper has nothing positive to say about his own record." One ad says that air quality deteriorated when Dion was environment minister. The second ad says that he wants to go back to the previous Liberal government. The third ad says that he is not a leader. The main ad is entitled "Stéphane Dion Is Not A Leader".
Tue, January 2, 2007 Calgary smokers find a loophole By SHAWN LOGAN, SUN MEDIA CALGARY -- Smokers lit up at a handful of local pubs yesterday, despite a sweeping smoking ban that came into effect on New Year's Day, setting up a potential showdown between city hall and defiant bar owners. While representatives at city restaurants and bars flouting the new bylaw declined to speak yesterday, patrons who found they could still smoke were in a jubilant mood and vowing to continue to push for their rights. Doug Baum, who sat on a barstool with a cigarette at the Bull & Finch Pub, said politicians shouldn't be able to legislate personal choice. "I don't ever tell anyone else how to live so they shouldn't tell me how to live," he said, adding he was surprised to come in for a drink on New Year's Day and learn he could still light up. "Pubs like this one are the last places you can still go to have a smoke and enjoy yourself." Ashtrays were conspicuous on many tables at the pub, but only a handful of patrons was smoking. Management wouldn't comment on the reason for their defiance, but Baum said he was told it was based on the presence of VLTs and the hope the bar would be exempt as a gambling establishment. The ban, which was fast-tracked by council from the original time frame, includes all public facilities, although exemptions were put in place for bingos, casinos and establishments with smoking rooms until Jan. 1, 2008. Bylaw officers will enforce the bylaw mainly on a complaint basis with first-time offenders facing fines of $200. Over at Partners Dining & Cocktail Lounge, a sign warning that the establishment is a smoking facility still hung on the outside window while a grey haze lingered inside. Crowded around a table playing pool, a group of regulars said they will continue to smoke in the neighbourhood bar as long as they are able. Next story: Kwong show \|\|\|\|\| As the start of another new year rang in resolutions to quit smoking, health officials and other experts said public bans and restrictions are helping Canadians kick their addiction to nicotine. Calgary and the southern Alberta city of Lethbridge became two of the latest areas of the country to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, starting Monday. Smoking is already banned in public places in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Canadian Cancer Society spokesman Peter Dawe says such bans have had a significant effect even in his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, where 20 per cent of residents still smoke daily. "Getting smoking out of restaurants, bars, public places — it all adds up, and what we're seeing is [a] major drop in smoking rates," Dawe said. John Malcom, head of the Cape Breton District Health Authority in Nova Scotia, said the number of smokers in the region has dropped from 30 per cent to 24 per cent since it became the first area in the Maritimes to ban smoking in public five years ago. A provincewide ban went into effect in Nova Scotia on Dec. 1. Takes time to see health effects: expert Malcom said California, which banned smoking nearly 20 years ago, has shown it takes more than a decade to see a widespread decline in smoking and lung cancer rates. He notes that now, only 10 per cent of California residents smoke. Malcom added that work remains to be done even in places that have banned public smoking. "I think the next step is to communicate to the public — rather than to legislate — the dangers of smoking in the home and in vehicles, so that we get people to move out of their home and not expose non-smokers in the home or children to second-hand smoke." Calgary's bylaw, which passed in October and took effect Monday, makes it illegal to light up in all public places, including restaurants and bars. But the city has given one-year exemptions to businesses that have separate ventilated smoking rooms, as well as to casinos and bingo halls. While that exemption has upset business owners who don't have ventilated smoking rooms, fearing they'll lose customers to other establishments, city officials say studies have pointed to positive outcomes. "In some other jurisdictions, there was a dip in business," said Alvin Murray, Calgary's operations co-ordinator of bylaw services. "But there were also other businesses reporting that they saw an increase in their business, because the people that normally would not have entered those premises because of the smoke have now started using them." The fines for violating the bylaw range from $100 to $300, and can include a court appearance. In Lethbridge, smoking is now banned in workplaces, except on patios and in employee smoking rooms. Meanwhile, Quebec is offering prizes worth up to $30,000 and a variety of support for smokers in the province who try to quit this year and pledge not to smoke between March 1 and Apr. 11. This is the eighth year of the Quit to Win Challenge, being held in partnership with Health Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, Jean Coutu, Pfizer and Hydro-Québec.	Calgary, Alberta and the southern Alberta city of Lethbridge became the eighth and ninth cities in Canada to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. On October 18, 2006, Calgary City Council approved of the bylaw that bans smoking in public areas. Exemptions were put in place for bingos, casinos, and establishments with smoking rooms until January 1, 2008. First time offenders will pay $200 in fines. A city bylaw boss said people who deliberately go against the law could pay $3,500 or more. "Obviously, I am ecstatic about it," said Robyn Hauck back in October, who is an anti-smoking activist. "For us to be going smoke free Jan. 1, with a few exceptions, I couldn't be happier." However, the smoking ban which came into effect on New Years Day didn't have much effect on some smokers. "I don't ever tell anyone else how to live so they the politicians shouldn't tell me how to live," said resident Doug Baum, who was surprised that he could still light up at the local pub. "Pubs like this one are the last places you can still go to have a smoke and enjoy yourself." Another bar allowed customers to smoke. "Absolutely we'll keep smoking because it's not fair the exemptions make it discriminatory," said Chris Daskas, who owns Filo's Restaurant.
Michael Jackson will not be buried on what would have been his 51st birthday as originally planned, a spokesman for his family has confirmed. The late King of Pop was due to be interred on August 29 during a private ceremony at the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles. But in a brief statement it was announced that the date had been put back to September 3. No reason was given for the changed arrangements. The statement added that the ceremony would be limited to family and close friends. Jackson died on June 25 at his rented property in Los Angeles. He had been rehearshing for his 50-date This Is It residency at London's O2 Arena, which was scheduled to get under way last month. Advertisement - article continues below » Investigators are working on the theory that the singer's heart stopped hours after he was given a heavy sedative to help him sleep. Jackson will be buried at Forest Lawn's Glendale site, around eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It boasts a mausoleum with replicas of the work of Renaissance greats, including Michelangelo's David and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper recreated in stained glass. Others stars believed to be buried at Glendale, which opened in 1906, include Hollywood actors Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable. Details of the burial place and the original date were released earlier this week, following speculation over his final resting place. Win £1000 to spend in Topshop.. Fashion Heaven!! \|\|\|\|\| Jackson's coffin was on stage during his memorial gig in Los Angeles Michael Jackson's remains will be buried in Los Angeles on 3 September - not 29 August as had been announced, a Jackson family spokesman has said. In a statement, Ken Sunshine did not say why the date had been changed. He said the "King of Pop" would be interred in the Forest-Lawn memorial park in Glendale at a private ceremony. The Jackson family said earlier he would buried on 29 August on what would have been his 51st birthday. The cause of his death in June remains unclear. The Great Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn memorial park is protected with security cameras and access is carefully regulated. Exhibition The mausoleum contains a stained-glass replica of Leonardo da Vinci's painting The Last Supper and also copies of statues by Michelangelo. A different Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles provided the setting for the memorial service held by the family in the hours leading up to the globally televised tribute concert on 7 July. His coffin was taken to the concert and remained on stage while family members and celebrities paid tribute to the star. Meanwhile, a court has approved a deal allowing a tour of the pop star's memorabilia. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said the agreement between Jackson's estate and a company owned by AEG Live is "in the best interest of the estate". The touring exhibition is expected to start at London's O2 arena at the end of October, to coincide with the release of a film based around the singer's final concert rehearsals. It is not yet known what will be included in the exhibition, which could visit three cities and stay up to six months in each. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Michael Jackson A spokesperson for Michael Jackson's family has confirmed that the funeral of Michael Jackson will be postponed from what would have been his 51st birthday—August 29. Family spokesman Ken Sunshine has said that the date for the burial of the King of Pop would be pushed back to September 3. The reason for the change of arrangements was not specified. Details of the burial place and the original date were released earlier this week, after speculation about his final burial place. Ken Sunshine has also said that the interring that will take place in the Forest Lawn Memorial in Glendale, Los Angeles, and will be private with only close friends and family being invited to see the ceremony. The family are currently trying to keep his burial location unknown.
Jesse Helms had revelled in his conservative image Former US Republican Senator Jesse Helms - a leading conservative politician - has died aged 86, officials say. He died early on Friday of natural causes in Raleigh, North Carolina, his former chief of staff said. Mr Helms had served five terms in the Senate representing North Carolina before stepping down in 2003. He was dubbed "Senator No" for blocking many policies he saw as contrary to his conservative view of the world. Mr Helms was chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, becoming the first lawmaker to address the UN Security Council. Isolationist Mr Helms died at 0115 local time in Raleigh, the Jesse Helms Center said. "He was very comfortable," Jimmy Broughton, Mr Helm's former chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. Jesse Helms started political life as a Democrat, albeit a conservative-sounding one, who worked as a newspaper editor and a television commentator. He first went to the Senate to represent North Carolina in 1972. He had polarised voters in the southern state and opinion throughout the country, correspondents say. I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars Jesse Helms Obituary: Jesse Helms He became known for his refusal to ratify international treaties and obstinate blocking of other executive actions, the BBC's Jonny Dymond says. It was Mr Helms who stopped the US paying its dues to the UN; Mr Helms who blocked ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and the Kyoto Protocol on global warming; and Mr Helms who opposed the use of US troops in Bosnia. "I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars," Mr Helms said. Frequent clashes Before he became chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he attacked accords such as the Panama Canal Treaty and the Salt II arms reduction pact. As committee chairman he clashed with the Clinton administration. Its multilateral approach to foreign relations did not fit in with his view of how America should operate. He also helped sink the administration's attempts to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1999, and in 2000 made it clear that a modified 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty would not pass the Senate. Mr Helms never cared very much what his critics thought, our correspondent says - and if he had, he certainly would not have been so outspoken about what he perceived to be the ills of modern life. But there was also a compassionate side to Mr Helms, who had campaigned for the passage of a debt relief bill through Congress, our correspondent says. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Conservative Sen. Jesse Helms, 86, a truly great American and champion of freedom, died at 1:15 a.m. today. Helms, who gave our country three decades of service as a U.S. senator from North Carolina, was ill in recent years. Heritage President Ed Feulner (pictured at right with Helms and his wife Dorothy) presented Helms in 2002 with the Clare Boothe Luce Award, Heritage’s highest honor, calling him a “dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle.” In response to today’s sad news, Feulner offered this statement: Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people. The defeat of Soviet communism and the rise of Ronald Reagan would not have happened without his intrepid leadership at decisive times. July 4, 2008, like July 4, 1826, and July 4, 1831, will long be remembered as a very special day in the history of American independence. On the Fourth of July 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died. On the Fourth of July 1831, James Monroe died. On the Fourth of July 2008, another great American patriot, Jesse Helms, died. He was the longest serving U.S. senator from North Carolina and a great friend to The Heritage Foundation. Although America has lost a great Patriot, his legacy will live on. UPDATE — 12:28 p.m.: Reflections on Helms’ life are pouring in. Ben Domenech has written a wonderful post on RedState, and I’ve offered a few thoughts on my personal blog. UPDATE — 6:40 p.m.: Heritage’s Ed Meese, former U.S. attorney general in the Reagan administration, offered these remarks in remembrance of Helms. \|\|\|\|\| POSTED: 10:17 am EDT July 4, 2008 Former Sen. Jesse Helms, who built a career along the fault lines of racial politics and battled liberals, Communists and the occasional fellow Republican during 30 conservative years in Congress, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86. Helms died at 1:15 a.m., said the Jesse Helms Center at Wingate University in North Carolina. The center's president, John Dodd, said in a statement that funeral arrangements were pending. "He was very comfortable," said former chief of staff Jimmy Broughton, who added Helms died of natural causes in Raleigh. Helms, who first became known to North Carolina voters as a newspaper and television commentator, won election to the Senate in 1972 and decided not to run for a sixth term in 2002. "Compromise, hell! ... If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?" Helms wrote in a 1959 editorial that foretold his political style. As he aged, Helms was slowed by a variety of illnesses, including a bone disorder, prostate cancer and heart problems, and he made his way through the Capitol on a motorized scooter as his career neared an end. In April 2006, his family announced that he had been moved into a convalescent center after being diagnosed with vascular dementia, in which repeated minor strokes damage the brain. Helms' public appearances had dwindled as his health deteriorated. When his memoirs were published in August 2005, he appeared at a Raleigh book store to sign copies but did not make a speech. In an e-mail interview with The Associated Press at that time, Helms said he hoped what future generations learn about him "will be based on the truth and not the deliberate inaccuracies those who disagreed with me took such delight in repeating." "My legacy will be up to others to describe," he added. BULLETIN BOARD: Leave Your Condolences Helms served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and Foreign Relations Committees over the years at times when the GOP held the Senate majority, using his posts to protect his state's tobacco growers and other farmers and place his stamp on foreign policy. His opposition to Communism defined his foreign policy views. He took a dim view of many arms control treaties, opposed Fidel Castro at every turn, and supported the contras in Nicaragua as well as the right-wing government of El Salvador. He opposed the Panama Canal treaties that President Jimmy Carter pushed through a reluctant Senate in 1977. Early on, his habit of blocking nominations and legislation won him a nickname of "Senator No." He delighted in forcing roll call votes that required Democrats to take politically difficult votes on federal funding for art he deemed pornographic, school busing, flag-burning and other cultural issues. In 1993, when then-President Clinton sought confirmation for an openly homosexual assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Helms registered his disgust. "I'm not going to put a lesbian in a position like that," he said in a newspaper interview at the time. "If you want to call me a bigot, fine." After Democrats killed the appointment of U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle, a former Helms aide, to a federal appeals court post in 1991, Helms blocked all of Clinton's judicial nominations from North Carolina for eight years. Helms occasionally opted for compromise in later years in the Senate, working with Democrats on legislation to restructure the foreign policy bureaucracy and pay back debts to the United Nations, an organization be disdained for most of his career. And he softened his views on AIDS after years of clashes with gay activists, advocating greater federal funding to fight the disease in Africa and elsewhere overseas. But in his memoirs, Helms made clear that his opinions on other issues had hardly moderated since he left office. He compared abortion to both the Holocaust and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "I will never be silent about the death of those who cannot speak for themselves," the former senator wrote in "Here's Where I Stand." Helms never lost a race for the Senate, but he never won one by much, either, a reflection of his divisive political profile in his native state. He knew it, too. "Well, there is no joy in Mudville tonight. The mighty ultraliberal establishment, and the liberal politicians and editors and commentators and columnists have struck out again," he said in 1990, after winning his fourth term. He won the 1972 election after switching parties, and defeated then-Gov. Jim Hunt in an epic battle in 1984 in what was then the costliest Senate race on record. He defeated former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in 1990 and 1996 in racially tinged campaigns. In the first race, a Helms commercial showed a white fist crumbling up a job application, these words underneath: "You needed that job ... but they had to give it to a minority." "The tension that he creates, the fear he creates in people, is how he's won campaigns," Gantt said several years later. Helms also played a role in national GOP politics -- supporting Ronald Reagan in 1976 in a presidential primary challenge to then-President Gerald R. Ford. Reagan's candidacy was near collapse when it came time for the North Carolina primary. Helms was in charge of the effort, and Reagan won a startling upset that resurrected his challenge. During the 1990s, Helms clashed frequently with President Clinton, whom he deemed unqualified to be commander in chief. Even some Republicans cringed when Helms said Clinton was so unpopular he would need a bodyguard on North Carolina military bases. Helms said he hadn't meant it as a threat. Asked to gauge Clinton's performance overall, Helms said in 1995: "He's a nice guy. He's very pleasant. But ... (as) Ronald Reagan used to say about another politician, `Deep down, he's shallow."' Helms went out of his way to establish good relations with Madeleine Albright, Clinton's second secretary of state. But that didn't stop him from single-handedly blocking Clinton's appointment of William Weld -- a Republican -- as ambassador to Mexico. Helms clashed with other Republicans over the years, including fellow Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana in 1987, after Democrats had won a Senate majority. Helms had promised in his 1984 campaign not to take the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he invoked seniority over Lugar to claim the seat as the panel's ranking Republican. He was unafraid of inconveniencing his fellow senators -- sometimes all of them at once. "I did not come to Washington to win a popularity contest," he once said while holding the Senate in session with a filibuster that delayed the beginning of a Christmas break. And he once objected to a request by phoning in his dissent from home, where he was watching Senate proceedings on television. Helms was born in Monroe, N.C., on Oct. 18, 1921. He attended Wake Forest College in 1941 but never graduated and was in the Navy during World War II. In many ways, Helms' values were forged in the small town where his father was police chief. "I shall always remember the shady streets, the quiet Sundays, the cotton wagons, the Fourth of July parades, the New Year's Eve firecrackers. I shall never forget the stream of school kids marching uptown to place flowers on the Courthouse Square monument on Confederate Memorial Day," Helms wrote in a newspaper column in 1956. He took an active role in North Carolina politics early on, working to elect a segregationist candidate, Willis Smith, to the Senate in 1950. He worked as Smith's top staff aide for a time, then returned to Raleigh as executive director of the state bankers association. Helms became a member of the Raleigh city council in 1957 and got his first public platform for espousing his conservative views when he became a television editorialist for WRAL in Raleigh in 1960. He also wrote a column that at one time was carried in 200 newspapers. Helms also was city editor at The Raleigh Times. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Helms and his wife, Dorothy, had two daughters and a son. They adopted the boy in 1962 after the child, 9 years old and suffering from cerebral palsy, said in a newspaper article that he wanted parents. \|\|\|\|\| The Heritage Foundation today awarded Sen. Jesse Helms its highest honor, the Clare Boothe Luce Award, praising him as a “dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle.” “As the award’s citation says, Sen. Helms is, ‘one tough cookie,’” noted Heritage President Edwin J. Feulner. “But because of that toughness, our country is a much better place. Giving him this award today is our way of saying thank you from Heritage, the conservative movement and many throughout the nation.” Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., (left) receives the Clare Boothe Luce Award from Heritage Foundation President Edwin Feulner (right). The award is the think tank's highest honor. With them is Helms' wife, Dorothy. (for high-definition, full-size version, click on photo)	Jesse Helms. Former United States senator from North Carolina Jesse Helms has died today at the age of 86 after a long battle with vascular dementia. "Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people," said Ed Feulner, president of the Heritage Foundation. Helms was born Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. on October 18, 1921 in Monroe, North Carolina. He was a five term senator for N.C. and was also a former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman. He also became the first U.S. lawmaker to speak in front of the United Nations Security Council. Helms opposed the use of American troops in Bosnia saying "I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars." In 2002, Helms received the Clare Boothe Luce Award, which is the foundation's highest award. The Foundation stated, "Helms is dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle." At various times throughout his career Helms created controversy with his ties to Salvadoran death squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson, his unflinching support of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, and statements viewed by some as racist and homophobic.
PESHAWAR: The fire on Nato oil tanker at Ring Road of Peshawar has been brought under control, Geo News reported Monday. According to police sources, the reason of the tankerís fire could not be ascertained as yet. However, some eyewitnesses said a couple of unidentified miscreants opened fire at the tanker that was soon wrapped up in flames. Police said the fire was hugely intense; however, on time activity by the fire tenders saved the nearby locality. Police undertook a search operation against the unidentified miscreants; however, nobody was arrested. \|\|\|\|\| Militants armed with guns and rockets on Monday blew up a fuel tanker in northwest Pakistan carrying supplies for NATO troops across the border in Afghanistan, officials said. Two people, a driver and his helper, were wounded after about 10 militants ambushed the tanker outside Peshawar, the head of the northwestern city's administration, Sahibzada Anees, told AFP. "About 10 armed people fired at a tanker carrying petrol for NATO forces and later lobbed a rocket at the vehicle, which set alight some 78,000 litres (17,000 gallons) of fuel," Anees said. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack, he said, but Taliban and members of local militant group Lashkar-e-Islam (Army of Islam) have regularly attacked NATO supply vehicles on the main route through northwest Pakistan. \|\|\|\|\| GEO Pakistan Nato-supply tanker ambushed in Peshawar Updated at: 0920 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010 PESHAWAR: Unknown miscreants, attacking a Nato-supply oil tanker, have blown it up here on Ring Road, leaving it engulfed in deadly fire flames and shattering completely but no loss of life or injury was reported during suspected ambush, Geo news reported. According to police sources, some unidentified miscreants carried out bomb attack on a Nato oil tanker, which caused a massive explosion followed by deadly blaze and not only had it engulfed and burnt down oil tanker completely but also threatened to effect the nearby residential population. Nevertheless, the residents of the areas were successfully rescued from danger of being caught in fire with no more damage whatsoever, owing to timely action by police and fire brigade officials. Later, police parties kicked off search operation in localities lies nearby but no success has been ascertained as yet, sources said. Back \| Send this story to friend Share this story!	The area east of the ''(pictured)'' in Pakistan has seen very frequent attacks. Militants in north-west Pakistan blew up a fuel tanker carrying supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan on Monday. More than ten armed men shot at the tanker and fired a rocket at the vehicle outside Peshawar city, and the driver and a passenger were injured in the attack, although no loss of life is reported. Head of the north-western city's administration, Sahibzada Anees, said "About ten armed people fired at a tanker carrying petrol for NATO forces and later lobbed a rocket at the vehicle, which set alight some 78,000 (17,000 ) of fuel". According to witnesses, the tanker was quickly in flames. The residents of the areas were successfully rescued by police and fire fighters and the blaze was brought under control. Police have launched a search operation in nearby areas, although with no success. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Oil tankers and trucks bringing goods from port city of Karachi for allied forces battling the in Afghanistan have been regularly attacked. About 80% of supplies destined for the more than 113 thousand NATO troops in Afghanistan have to pass through Pakistan. The coalition forces bring 70% of supplies through Pakistan every month, from a total of two thousand truckloads.
Hoosier Lottery officials say one winning ticket for last night's Powerball drawing worth $314.3 million was sold at a Speedway convenience store in Richmond, the eastern Indiana city on the Indiana-Ohio state line. Hoosier Lottery spokesman Mark Sirkin says lottery officials won't know who holds that ticket until someone comes forward. He says it could be one person or a hundred people who pooled their money in an office pool. But whoever it is, he says, they're now wealthy. The ticket bearing the winning numbers 2, 8, 23, 29, 35 and the Powerball: 19 was sold at a Speedway convenience store in Richmond that will receive $100,000 for selling the ticket. Hoosier Lottery executive director Kathryn Densborn says Indiana is a very lucky state. She says that aside from the winning ticket, a ticket matching five of the six numbers was sold in the northwestern Indiana city of Munster and it's worth $200,000. The game is played in 29 states as well as Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The pot had grown so huge because there had not been a big winner in any of the drawings since late June. And for people out of luck on Powerball, there is another giant lottery jackpot out there. The Mega Millions prize will be worth about $250 million for Tuesday's drawing. \|\|\|\|\| The only winning ticket for a $314.3 million Powerball lottery prize was sold in this city on the Indiana-Ohio state line, lottery officials said Sunday. Lottery officials won't know who holds that ticket until someone comes forward, said Mark Sirkin, a spokesman for the Hoosier Lottery. "We don't how many people if it's one person, or a hundred people is the winner. We have no idea. Whoever it is, they're wealthy," Sirkin said. The ticket bearing the winning numbers 2, 8, 23, 29, 35 and the Powerball: 19 that were drawn Saturday night was sold at a Speedway convenience store. The store in Richmond, about 70 miles east of Indianapolis, will receive $100,000 from the lottery for selling the ticket. Aside from the winning ticket, a ticket matching five of the six numbers was sold in Munster and is worth $200,000, said Kathryn A. Densborn, Hoosier Lottery executive director. "Indiana is a very lucky state," Densborn said. "It's a big day in Indiana." Powerball, which began in 1985, is played in 29 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The record jackpot was $365 million won by eight workers at a Nebraska meatpacking plant in February 2006. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.	There was one ticket that matched all the numbers in last night's Powerball lottery game. The ticket was sold at the Speedway convenience store in eastern Indiana. Lottery officials will not know who won the jackpot worth an estimated $314 million until the winner comes forward. The convenience store will receive $100,000 for selling the winning ticket. Last night's winning numbers were: 8, 23, 29, 35 and the Powerball was 19. Also sold in Indiana was a ticket matching five of the six numbers, earning $200,000. The jackpot grew so huge because there was not a winner since early June. The Powerball lottery game is sold in 19 states. Wednesday's jackpot falls back down to $15 million.
Pirates Seize Greek-Owned Ship off Yemen A Kenyan maritime official says pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen A Kenyan maritime official says pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen. Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program says Red Sea Spirit was taken Thursday, but news of the seizure only emerged Saturday. Somali pirates have continued to defy foreign navies patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa and are holding at least 13 vessels and more than 200 crew. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| NAIROBI (Reuters) - Pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier on Thursday in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen, a Kenyan maritime official said on Sunday, but Greek officials said the attack may have been unsuccessful. The vessel was taken 36 nautical miles off the Yemeni port of Balhaf and news of the seizure only emerged on Saturday, said Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme. “Red Sea Spirit was taken by gunmen off the Yemeni coast last Thursday. She is flying the Panama flag,” Mwangura said. “She is a Greek-owned bulk carrier.” However, a Greek merchant marine ministry spokesman said the managers of the ship, Sekur Holdings, did not confirm the incident. Sekur Holdings were not available for comment. Meanwhile, pirates said they may release the Chinese De Xin Hai next week. The Chinese bulk vessel was seized mid-October with 76,000 tonnes of coal and 25 Chinese crew. It is owned by the Qingdao Ocean Shipping Co. “Negotiations between us and the owners to free the Chinese ship are going on now,” a pirate named Mohamed told Reuters from the pirate stronghold of Haradheere. “We agreed on $3.5 million to free the ship.” Somali pirates have continued to defy foreign navies patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa and are holding at least 13 vessels and more than 200 crew. There was a pause in hijackings during monsoon rains, but the sea gangs have stepped up attacks in the past two months, extending their range to as far as the Seychelles, to evade the naval vessels. Piracy attacks around the world numbered 324 during the year to October 20, according to figures from the ICC International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center. Attacks by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia, numbered 174, with 35 vessels hijacked and 587 crew taken hostage. Nearly 20,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year, heading to and from the Suez Canal.	A Kenyan maritime official said today that pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen. Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program said the ship, named the ''Red Sea Spirit'' was taken on Thursday, but news of the seizure only emerged earlier today. According to him, the vessel was seized about 36 nautical miles from Balhaf, a Yemeni port. "Red Sea Spirit was taken by gunmen off the Yemeni coast last Thursday. She is flying the Panama flag. She is a Greek-owned bulk carrier," Mwangura said. Somali pirates are currently holding at least thirteen ships and more than 200 crew. They are still active in the waters off the east coast of Africa, despite the presence of many navies patrolling the region.
After four years together, Swedish House Mafia have announced they are splitting up. The news came as the trio headlined the Dance Arena at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, part of the London 2012 festival. The group is made up of DJs and producers Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. Swedish House Mafia broke the news on their website confirming the tour they are about to go on will be their last. Their final UK date will be at Milton Keynes Bowl on 14 July but dates in Ibiza will follow in August before the last date on home turf in Sweden on 24 November. All three co-signed their online statement, saying, "We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey," before signing off "we came, we raved, we loved". Tinie Tempah, who recorded the hit single Miami 2 Ibiza with the trio, said the news was "such a shame". "Dance music has been going on for a very long time but, in this sort of new wave, they came together to create something that was really incredible." "All the guys are talented geniuses. Within their own rights, they're great artists and producers. I wish them all the best of luck." \|\|\|\|\| Swedish House Mafia: Our Next Tour Will Be Our Last 'We came, we raved, we loved' Swedish House Mafia performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. FilmMagic.com/FilmMagic By Rolling Stone Swedish House Mafia have announced that their days touring together will soon come to an end. "Today we want to share with you that the tour we are about to go on will be our last," the group wrote in a message on their website. "We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey. We came, we raved, we loved." Photos: The Hottest Live Photos of 2012 The three members of Swedish House Mafia – Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell (a.k.a. Axel Christofer Hedfors) – began DJing in a Stockholm pizza parlor in the early 2000s. In July, they'll headline the 65,000-seat National Bowl at Milton Keynes in England (an occasion they note on their website as their last UK show), followed by a date in Ibiza and one in Sweden. "The final leg of this journey will be announced in August," the statement says. Although their plans to stop touring together appear firm, it is unclear whether the end applies to their producing as well. Just last week, Ingrosso spoke to Rolling Stone about his hopes for a Swedish House Mafia collaboration with Paul McCartney. "I think the Beatles made something that's kind of melancholic to sad and happy combined, and that's just amazing," Ingrosso said, while noting smiliarities between the two groups' chord progressions. "I kind of analyze music a lot, and I think that what the Beatles have done is what we do today. [It] doesn't matter that we do dance music."	Swedish-based group have announced their intention to disband after their next tour. A statement from the group said "the tour we are about to go on will be our last". The group, which consists of DJs , and , formed in 2008, with its members initially DJing in a pizza shop in in the early 2000s. In a statement on their website, the group expressed their appreciation to their supporters. "We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey," the group statement reads. "We came, we raved, we loved." Swedish House Mafia appeared at at the weekend. The group also announced future tour dates, including Ushuaia on the Spanish island of from July 4 to August 29, the in Sweden on November 24 and the in the British town of on July 14, the latter of which the page says will be the group's final night in the United Kingdom. "The final leg of this journey will be announced in August," the statement reads. Last week, Ingrosso told '''' magazine of his interest in having Beatles member collaborate with Swedish House Mafia, describing The Beatles' music as "kind of melancholic to sad and happy combined", calling it "just amazing". Ingrosso believed "what the Beatles have done is what we do today. It doesn't matter that we do dance music". Below is an image gallery of the members of Swedish House Mafia:
Knife found at O.J. Simpson's former L.A. home studied by police LOS ANGELES Police said on Friday they were examining a knife purportedly found at the former home of O.J. Simpson, the onetime football star acquitted of stabbing to death his ex-wife and her friend in the "Trial of the Century" two decades ago. \| Supreme Court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion law WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, two days after hearing a major abortion case from Texas, on Friday temporarily blocked a Louisiana law imposing regulations on doctors who perform abortions in a move that would allow two recently closed clinics to reopen. Exclusive: U.S. watchdog to probe Fed's lax oversight of Wall Street NEW YORK A U.S. watchdog agency is preparing to investigate whether the Federal Reserve and other regulators are too soft on the banks they are meant to police, after a written request from Democratic lawmakers that marks the latest sign of distrust between Congress and the central bank. Brazil's Lula detained in corruption probe; Rousseff objects SAO PAULO/BRASILIA Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff. \| \|\|\|\|\| FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2006 WWW.USDOJ.GOV FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2006 CRT (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 Justice Department Files Class Action Lawsuit Against American Airlines to Defend Employment Rights of Military Pilots WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice today announced the filing of a lawsuit against American Airlines, Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). This lawsuit represents the first class action complaint filed by the United States under USERRA. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Dallas, Texas, alleges that American Airlines violated USERRA by denying pilots Mark Woodall, Michael McMahon and Paul Madson employment benefits during their military service. Woodall and McMahon serve as pilots in the Naval Reserve and hold the ranks of Captain and Commander, respectively. Madson serves as a pilot in the South Dakota Air National Guard and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. “This nation depends on our reservists to faithfully carry out their duty. No reservists – indeed, no members of our armed forces – should ever be punished or discriminated against for answering the call of duty,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The filing of this lawsuit reflects the Civil Rights Division’s continuing commitment to fully protect our uniformed service member’s employment rights.” The complaint alleges that American Airlines conducted an audit of the leave taken for military service by American Airline pilots in 2001. The complaint further alleges that based on the results of that audit, American Airlines reduced the employment benefits of those of its pilots who had taken military leave, while not reducing the same benefits of those of its pilots who had taken similar types of non-military leave. “This action shows the Labor Department and the Justice Department are working together effectively to protect the jobs and benefits of National Guard and Reserve service members upon their return to civilian life, as required under USERRA,” said Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The Justice Department’s lawsuit was filed after the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the Department of Labor referred Captain Woodall’s, Commander McMahon’s and Lt. Colonel Madson’s complaints to the Justice Department upon completion of its investigation and failed settlement efforts. More information about USERRA is available at http:www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm. ### 06-015	The US government has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines on behalf of three pilots. The pilots were employed by the company while serving in the Naval Reserve and Air National Guard. The US Department of Justice alleges that when the pilots were called into active duty by the US military, American Airlines denied them employment benefits. The Department of Justice said in a complaint filed in the US District Court in Dallas that American Airlines conducted an audit of leave taken for military service by pilots in 2001. The Justice Department charges that based on that audit American Airlines then cut the employment benefits of pilots who had taken military leave while not cuting benefits of pilots who had taken non-military leave. Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Wan Kim said "This nation depends on our reservists to faithfully carry out their duty. No reservists, indeed no members of the armed forces, should ever be punished or discriminated against for answering the call of duty." This is the first class action lawsuit under the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
A minister and his family members were injured when a parcel bomb exploded at his home [EPA] A minister and his family members were injured when a parcel bomb exploded at his home [EPA] The blast occurred in a village in Upper Dir district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) while worshippers were attending Friday prayers. At least 30 people are feared to have been killed in a bomb blast at a mosque in northwest Pakistan. Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, said: "Our sources are telling us that at least 30 people were killed in that attack, including 12 children. "We have been told that so far in the district headquarters at least eight wounded have been received." Hyder said the blast appeared to have been caused by a lone suicide bomber. "The attack took place in a village near the border with Swat, in a mosque which takes care of about 250 families that have settled in that particular area," he reported. Hyder said that the assailants blocked the roads from the mosque, preventing the wounded from being taken to hospital. "It must be remembered that in Lower Dir the Pakistan military has been on the offensive [against the Taliban], and the government has been making no secret of the fact that there are elements trying to destabilise Pakistan. "When this operation started it was expected that there would be very still resistance from the Pakistani Taliban. "The military was able to overwhelm those militants ... but while the military has been moving on the ground they need the support of the civilian elements." The latest blast is the ninth bomb attack in the country since the army launched a major offensive against the Taliban in neighbouring Swat valley. The operation is aimed at flushing out Taliban fighters from the region. Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, was in Islamabad on Friday to consult the country's leaders on what needs to be done after confronting the Taliban in the Swat valley. Elsewhere, a member of Pakistan's parliament and his family were wounded on Friday when a parcel bomb exploded at his home in the southern city of Karachi, police said. \|\|\|\|\| A bomb has exploded at a mosque in north-western Pakistan during Friday prayers, killing at least 38 people and wounding dozens more. Police said a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the mosque in Upper Dir district, although some witnesses said the bomb was already in the building. Nearby Swat Valley has been the scene of heavy fighting between the Pakistani military and Taliban militants. Upper Dir has also been the scene of sporadic clashes between the two. The bomb exploded at the mosque in the village of Hayagai Sharki, about 15km from the town of Upper Dir. The building was severely damaged and many worshippers were reported to have been trapped under the rubble. A resident of the village described the carnage at the scene of the blast. "A large number of body parts are scattered in the mosque. We don't know whether these are parts of the dead who have been identified or of others," Umer Rehman told the Reuters news agency. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the north-west region as a whole has witnessed a number of suicide attacks linked to the Taliban insurgency, as well as the Shia-Sunni sectarian divide. Condemnation In March, about 50 people died in a suicide bomb attack at a mosque near Jamrud, on the Khyber Pass route to Afghanistan. There are fears of a militant backlash in response to the army's military campaign in Swat, analysts say. The bombing has been condemned by both the Pakistani president and the prime minister who have reiterated Pakistan's determination to establish full government control. Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, said in a statement last night that the army had "turned the tide" against the Taliban and reiterated that the army aimed to completely eradicate them from the neighbouring Swat valley. In recent days the army has captured a number of militant strongholds as it continues its offensive. More than two million people have been displaced by the fighting.	A bomb blast at a mosque in northwestern Pakistan is suspected to have killed at least forty people on Friday. According to police reports, the explosion happened in a village located in the district of the . The incident occurred while worshipers were offering the Friday prayers. "Around 40 people are killed. We have no idea as yet how many have been wounded," said Atif-ur-Rehman, a senior government administrator of Upper Dir. The mosque was damaged heavily by the explosion, and many people have been trapped under debris. "A large number of body parts are scattered in the mosque. We don't know whether these are parts of the dead who have been identified or of others," said Umer Rehman, one of the village's residents, to the Reuters news agency. This is the ninth bomb blast in Pakistan since the country's armed forces started attacks against the Taliban in the nearby valley from the past few months, in an attempt to force the fighters out of the area. and both condemned the attack. The London-based chief, , has also condemned the blast.
Stormy weather conditions slowed emergency crews scrambling Tuesday to restore electrical power to dozens of communities on Newfoundland's northeast coast. The storm blew power lines down on Random Island. (CBC) About 7,500 customers were still without power on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland Power said Tuesday afternoon. In the town of Bonavista, councillors were considering whether to call a state of emergency. Police, firefighters and volunteers were going door to door in the town on Wednesday afternoon to ensure that all residents were safe. Much of eastern Newfoundland was plunged into darkness on Sunday, as storms caused a series of malfunctions on the power grid. Problems on the Bonavista Peninsula, though, remain serious because the storm knocked down seven large support structures for transmission lines in the area. Michelle Coughlan, director of corporate communications with Newfoundland Power, said those supports "literally toppled to the ground" during a storm that brought winds that topped 100 km/h. About two kilometres of transmission line also collapsed. Much of the damage occurred in back country that is "not easily accessible at the best of times," Coughlan said Tuesday morning. Newfoundland Power crews began installing portable generators on Tuesday, and the company hopes to begin rationing power on Tuesday night. Coughlan said the utility is asking customers to be patient, as power is not expected to be fully restored until next Monday. Consumers, she said, should "really have a focus on turning off or not using any unnecessary power as we prepare to restore power and until power is restored." Coughlan said Newfoundland Power will be dispatching crews to the Bonavista Peninsula as soon as they complete repairs in other areas. At its worst on Sunday, the storm knocked out electrical service to about 100,000 customers. Phone service, including cellphone coverage, was also temporarily disrupted. The power outage sparked a run on supplies, with some stores expressing concern about how long they will last. "People [are] looking for white gas, propane, everything like that for your houses," said Douglas Blackmore, who works at Moody's Gas Bar in Port Blandford. "Out in [the] Clarenville area, it's all sold out. Here, it's pretty well all sold out, and this is just the first night of it for us," Blackmore said Monday. Stephen Kelley, another Port Blandford resident, bundled his family into a car — and a freezer's worth of food into a trunk — to head to relatives in Gander, about 115 kilometres away. "There [are] no community centres set up for anything. There's no place to go, but to go with family in central Newfoundland," he said. "You gotta do what you gotta do." Restaurants and hotels in some communities, such as Clarenville, have been overwhelmed by unexpected customers. Margaret Hobbs, a Bunyan's Cove resident, said that she is grateful to have a generator, but a lack of electricity still poses challenges, as she cares for three mentally challenged adults. "I was depressed about it, because when you're in home care, you got a lot of clothes to wash," she said. "It's just piling up." Hobbs said she has been told she should have power restored by Tuesday night. \|\|\|\|\| NEWS Last updated at 6:57 PM on 04/12/07 Some areas of Bonavista Peninsula getting power faster than expected The Telegram The lights are back on in some areas on the Bonavista Peninsula tonight as Newfoundland Power crews are completing line repairs faster than anticipated. A spokeswoman for Newfoundland Power confirms that about 4,000 of about 8,500 customers in the Bonavista and Catalina areas, who were left without power following a fierce winter storm that toppled power lines and poles throughout the Bonavista Peninsula Sunday night, have had their power turned back on. The utility company had originally predicted that power could be turned for between three and seven days in some areas. More coverage in Wednesday’s Telegram.	Parts of the northeastern coast of Newfoundland, Canada, in particular the Bonavista Peninsula, were hit hard following a Sunday evening storm. Power went out in St. John's Sunday night, but was promptly restored. By Tuesday, around 7500 customers were without electricity on the Bonavista Peninsula alone. However a spokeswoman with Newfoundland Power Corporation said Tuesday that power had been restored faster than expected in parts of the peninsula.
Due to the changes in climate, pollution and bad planning some of the largest and well-known rivers in the world are currently at risk of drying up. An environment group called WWF made a study that pays attention to ten best-known rivers that can dry up in case people won't take certain measures. The report states that indifference towards these rivers might lead to "fresh water emergency." Among the ten rivers that the report is focused on five are situated in Asia. These include the Yangtze, the Salween and the Ganges. In serious danger are also: Danube, that flows in Europe, African Nile and Rio Grande, flowing in South America. One of the most important issues that the report focuses on is concerned with the dams and dykes, like the ones along the Danube. The representatives of WWF stated that both dams and dykes were the cause of destruction of the river basin's wetlands and floodplains. About 80 percent was destroyed. Another problem concerns the extraction of water for agriculture. An notable example of the issue, as showed by the report, is the Indus river, flowing in India. Water over-extraction might cause water scarcity which in its turn is a threat for the freshwater fish populations. These represent an important food source for people around the globe. The report calls on governments to provide a better protection of rivers and a sustainable water use. In such a way governments will be able to protect the livelihoods of people and the habitat, which is being provided by freshwater sources. Heading the Freshwater programme of WWF, Dr. David Tickner, outlined the fact that today our world is facing a massive freshwater crisis. This fact, he said, might be as harmful as the change of climate. Those businesses that deal with food and fibre products use a large amount of water, which is why they must look for a more efficient way to use the vital resource of our planet, said Gr. Tickner. For a better response to the issue the WWF said that countries should have certain agreements on smart use of water resources. In addition Dr. Ticker stated that the crisis of the freshwater is much bigger than the rivers listed in the report. "It mirrors the extent to which unabated development is jeopardising nature's ability to meet our growing demands." he said. \|\|\|\|\| Some of the world's largest and best-known rivers are at risk of drying up as a result of climate change, pollution and bad planning, a report warned today. The study by the environment group, WWF, focuses on the ten rivers most danger of drying up or dying, and warns that, without action, the world faces "a freshwater emergency". Five of the 10 rivers listed are in Asia, including the Yangtze, the Ganges and the Salween, highlighting the profound problems facing the region. Europe's Danube, the African Nile and South America's Rio Grande are among other rivers under serious threat. Among the problems highlighted in the report - which is published ahead of World Water Day on Thursday - are those caused by dams and dykes, such as those along the Danube. WWF said these have already destroyed 80% of the river basin's wetlands and floodplains. The extraction of water for agriculture is also taking its toll on rivers around the world, WWF said, with India's Indus river a notable example cited by the study. Over-extraction can lead to water scarcity and severely threaten freshwater fish populations, which serve as an important food source for tens of millions of people worldwide. The report, which draws on eight international assessment reports, offers solutions for the problems caused to rivers by over-extraction, pollution, over-fishing, climate change, dams and invasive species. It calls on governments to better protect rivers and ensure more sustainable water use in order to protect people's livelihoods and the habitat provided by freshwater sources. "The world is facing a massive freshwater crisis, which has the potential to be every bit as devastating as climate change," said Dr David Tickner, head of WWF UK's Freshwater programme. ""We need business leaders and government to recognise that climate change is not the only urgent environmental issue that needs to be dealt with, and that they need to take notice of this freshwater emergency and act now, not later." Dr Tickner said businesses, particularly those relying on food and fibre products that demanded a lot of water to produce, should look at how they could be more water efficient. "Conservation of rivers and wetlands and security of water flows must be seen as part and parcel of national security, health and economic success," he said. "Emphasis must be given to exploring ways of using water for crops and products that do not use more water than necessary." To ensure a worldwide response to the problem, WWF said there should be agreements between countries as to how to manage water resources. Dr Tickner added: "The freshwater crisis is bigger than the ten rivers listed in this report but it mirrors the extent to which unabated development is jeopardising nature's ability to meet our growing demands."	Several factors including climate change and pollution may put at risk of drying up some of the largest rivers on the globe, a report by the environmental group WWF says. Following a study of ten rivers currently at risk of drying up, the group warns that without any action the process of drying up might lead to freshwater emergency. Three Gorges dam across the Yangtze is the largest hydroelectric river dam in the world The report analyzes ten rivers, including the Yangtze, the Ganges and the Salween in Asia; the Danube in Europe and Rio Grande in North America. The study raises concerns overs dams and dikes, which the report says destroy 80 percent of river basin's wetlands and floodplains. Another problem is the extraction of water for agriculture. The environment group states that active extraction of water, such as in the Indus river, takes its toll on our planet's rivers. Over-extraction might lead to its scarcity and have a serious negative impact on freshwater fish populations, which represents an important food source. The report says governments should ensure better protection of rivers and provide more sustainable water use, in such a way that people's livelihoods are protected. According to Dr David Tickner, head of WWF UK's Freshwater programme, the freshwater crisis is a serious problems that could worsen as climate changes. He said that preserving rivers and providing security of water flows should be seen as part of national security, health and economic success.
Iceland parties strike deal on new government REYKJAVIK (AFP) — Two left-wing parties in crisis-hit Iceland agreed Saturday to form an interim coalition to replace the country's recently resigned government, the leader of one of the parties said. "I believe we're now in the clear and open. By this time tomorrow (Sunday) we should have a new government," head of the Left Green party Steingrimur Sigfusson told reporters in Reykjavik. The announcement came after five days of talks between the Left Greens and the Social Democrats to create a minority government to replace outgoing Prime Minister Geir Haarde's right-left coalition that was forced to resign on January 26 over Iceland's deep economic crisis. Thousands have lost their savings and jobs since the once booming financial sector crumbled in October, and many blame Haarde for the crisis that forced Reykjavik to take control of the major banks as the currency nosedived. The new government talks had stumbled Friday after the centrist Progressive Party, which had pledged its informal backing to the new coalition in parliament, appeared to backtrack, reportedly charging key policy proposals were too vague and demanding more influence. Progressive Party leader Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson however told reporters late Saturday his party had agreed to offer the needed parliamentary support to the new coalition. "The Progressive members of parliament have reached the conclusion that we will defend the government from a vote of no confidence," he said, stressing that his party would not commit to voting with the coalition on every issue. The new government is expected to be presented around midday (1200 GMT) on Sunday after it has been approved by the two parties' lawmakers, and should receive the blessing of President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson later in the afternoon, Sigfusson said. Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, has been tipped to head the coalition, thus becoming Iceland's first woman prime minister and the modern world's first openly gay head of government. One of Iceland's most experienced politicians, Sigmarsdottir served as minister of social affairs in the outgoing government and is known as a champion of social causes, earning her the nickname Saint Johanna. The new government is unlikely to remain in place for long however, since Haarde shortly before his resignation called snap elections for May 9. Both the Social Democrats and the Left Greens have meanwhile decided to propose holding them earlier, on April 25, Sigfusson said. Saturday's announcement came shortly after around 1,500 people gathered outside the parliament to celebrate that weekly protests since October had helped force through the resignation of Haarde's government. "The demands of the people have been met. Therefore today is a celebration," main protest organiser Hordur Torfason told the cheering crowd. In addition to forcing out the government and prompting new elections, the demonstrators also take credit for pushing the Financial Services Authority regulatory body to swap its board and replace its director. The only main protest demand that has yet to be met is the ousting of central bank chief David Oddsson, widely viewed as the main culprit of Iceland's economic meltdown after he as prime minister liberalised the country's financial markets in the 1990s. Iceland, a country of just 320,000 people, was until the crisis one of the most prosperous members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the past decade, Iceland posted average annual growth of four percent, peaking at 7.7 percent in 2004. In 2007, it registered growth of 4.9 percent. But the Icelandic economy is now expected to shrink by 9.6 percent this year and see no growth in 2010, while unemployment, once almost unknown in Iceland, is expected to reach 7.8 percent in 2009 and 8.6 percent in 2010. And in November, it became the first Western European country to be rescued by the International Monetary Fund since Britain in 1976, receiving a 2.1-billion-dollar loan from the international body. \|\|\|\|\| ISTANBUL — Turkey and Egypt have turned to each other for support, looking to build an alliance that could represent a big shift in the Middle East prompted by the Arab Spring.	Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. The newly formed Icelandic coalition interim government will take office today, according to a coalition leader. The new government will also include a new prime minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, the country's and the world's first openly gay prime minister. "If everything goes as planned now a new government will take over this afternoon," said Steingrimur Sigfusson, who heads the Left-Green Movement. On January 27, it was announced that the nation's coalition government had collapsed and dissolved following a banking financial crisis. In October of 2008, Iceland's banking sector collapsed and was largely nationalised. Iceland's interest rate is now 18%, with GDP expected to fall 9.6% this year. Inflation has reached 13.1%. Just before the announcement of the government taking office, nearly 1,500 people were protesting outside the parliament building over the collapsed government and the recent financial crisis, but protesters seemed happy about the change. "The demands of the people have been met. Therefore today is a celebration," said protest organizer Hordur Torfason to the crowd who were cheering about hearing the news. The new minority coalition will consist of Jóhanna's Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement with backing from the Progressive Party. Jóhanna will be replacing the current prime minister, Geir Haarde who resigned on January 26, and is the chairmen of the nation's independent party and a critic of Jóhanna. He criticizes her appointment because he believes she will not help the economic crisis, resulting in more government spending. The quick appointment of the new government also means an early election, which is scheduled to take place on April 25.
Spaceflight Now + Subscribe to Spaceflight Now Plus for access to our extensive video collections! How do I sign up? Video archive STS-106: Making the station a home in space Following the Russian Zvezda service module's long-awaited launch to serve as the station's living quarters, Atlantis pays a visit in September 2000 to prepare the complex for arrival of the first resident crew. Play \| X-Large STS-101: ISS service call An impromptu maintenance mission to the new space station was flown by Atlantis in May 2000. The astronauts narrate their mission highlights. Play \| X-Large STS-96: First ISS docking The first shuttle mission to dock with the fledgling International Space Station came in May 1999 when Discovery linked up with the two-module orbiting outpost. The STS-96 crew tells story of the mission. Play \| X-Large STS-88: Building the ISS Construction of the International Space Station commenced with Russia's Zarya module launching aboard a Proton rocket and shuttle Endeavour bringing up the American Unity connecting hub. STS-88 crew narrates highlights from the historic first steps in building the outpost. Play \| X-Large Delta 4-Heavy launch The first operational Delta 4-Heavy rocket launches the final Defense Support Program missile warning satellite for the Air Force. Full coverage Become a subscriber More video Covert satellite for Israel launched by Indian rocket BY STEPHEN CLARK SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: January 21, 2008 The PSLV rocket fires up. Credit: ISRO An Israeli spy satellite designed to scout enemy military activity in the face of darkness and poor weather was successfully launched aboard an Indian rocket Monday during a mission shrouded in a veil of secrecy. The covert payload, wrapped inside the nose of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, lifted off at 0345 GMT Monday (10:45 p.m. EST Sunday) from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island off India's east coast, Indian news reports said. The 146-foot-tall rocket's four stages propelled the booster into orbit, and the TECSAR satellite was cast free of the PSLV's upper stage as planned about 20 minutes after liftoff. Officials declared the mission a complete success, achieving an elliptical orbit with a high point of 360 miles, a low point of 280 miles and inclination of 41 degrees to the equator. Israeli and Indian government agencies made no official announcement of an imminent launch prior to Monday's mission. A report last month indicated the flight was postponed several months due to concerns voiced by U.S. political leaders, but Indian officials immediately quashed those claims, blaming the delays on technical glitches. TECSAR is fitted with a large dish-like antenna to transmit and receive radar signals that can penetrate darkness and thick clouds. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries, the roughly 700-pound satellite is the first such spacecraft for the Israeli government. Space-based radar payloads allow intelligence analysts access to fresh imagery 24 hours a day, no matter the weather conditions. Also called Polaris, the satellite joins a fleet of Israeli optical reconnaissance satellites that can resolve ground objects as small as two feet. TechSAR's X-band radar system is believed to have a maximum resolution below four inches, according a report in the Jerusalem Post. Previous Israeli news reports said the new satellite will help keep tabs on military activity inside Iran and Syria. \|\|\|\|\| Officials say the satellite has already begun transmitting The Israeli press is reporting that the satellite will improve Israel's ability to monitor Iran's military activities. Indian officials that given these sensitivities, the operation was secret and carried out under tight security. The Tecsar satellite - sometimes referred to as the Polaris - was put into space on Monday morning. 'Sinister tie-up' Tecsar is said to have enhanced footage technology, which allows it to transmit images regardless of daytime and weather conditions. It is considered to be one of the most advanced spy satellites that India has put into orbit to date. India is eager to compete in the world space technology market Correspondents say the launch was the second commercial mission on behalf of another country that has been carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation. "It was a grand success," an unnamed official told the AFP news agency from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Israeli newspapers reported that both Israeli and Indian space engineers were at the launch, and that 80 minutes afterwards, the Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) ground station began receiving Tecsar's first signals. The 300kg (650-pound) satellite is reported to be Israel's most advanced space craft, and equipped with a camera that can take pictures in almost any weather conditions. Israel reportedly took the decision to launch the satellite from India three years ago, and asked for Delhi's help because it lacks a vehicle capable of boosting the satellite into a polar orbit. "The kind of low-earth polar orbit they are putting the satellite into, it is meant to give Israel the capability to keep an eye on the Iranian nuclear programme," an unnamed defence analyst told the AFP news agency. "This is bound to be seen in the Islamic world as a sinister tie-up between Israel and India," he said. Experts also say that the launch is an "important milestone" in the commercialisation of India's 45-year-old space programme, which put an Italian satellite in orbit in April last year for a fee of $11m. Correspondents say that India is eager to compete against the US, Russia, China, the Ukraine and the European Space Agency in providing commercial satellite launch services, a market worth about $2.5bn a year. India started its space programme in 1963, and has since designed, built and launched its own satellites into space. \|\|\|\|\| Israel Launches Advanced Spy Satellite JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel launched an advanced spy satellite Monday that will be able to track events in Iran, the country it considers its top foe, even at night and in cloudy weather, defense officials said. The TECSAR satellite is of particular importance for Israel because it can be used to keep tabs on Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S. and Israel fear is a cover for pursuing nuclear weapons, they said. The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, operates with a special radar system, allowing it to view much more than existing Ofek satellites that use cameras, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. Israel has backed U.S. efforts to get the international community to intensify sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program. Iran insists its program is for power generation. The company confirmed the satellite launching in a statement. "The TECSAR is the first satellite of its kind developed in Israel, and ranks among the world's most advanced space systems," the statement said. The satellite includes an advanced imaging system based on synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, technology, the statement said. The development and launching cost tens of millions of dollars, the officials said. Within two weeks it will be possible to view pictures from the device, the officials said. Israeli and Indian experts cooperated to launch the satellite with an Indian rocket from southeastern India, IAI said. The satellite weighs some 660 pounds, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported, citing unnamed company officials. Israel currently operates a number of reconnaissance satellites, including Ofek 5 and Ofek 7, as well as several commercial satellites such as the Amos and EROS series, Haaretz said. \|\|\|\|\| Israeli satellite launch by ISRO runs into 'tech difficulties' New Delhi (PTI): The launch of Israel's spy satellite by Indian Space Resource Organisation (ISRO) is facing "technical difficulties" and will be scheduled for launch once these are overcome, the top space scientist said. "We are facing some technical difficulties. Once we overcome these, the launch will be scheduled," ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said. TechSAR, Israel's first synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite, can take sharp pictures of sub-metre resolution, which will boost its intelligence gathering capabilities significantly. Nair said discussions were on with Israeli officials to sort out the matter. On reports that the launch was cancelled under pressure from the US, he said "it is a figment of imagination." "The launch is not scheduled yet," Nair said ruling out any suggestion of cancellation. The satellite can be used to obtain clear images of activities on earth and they would be better than those available from the Indian Remote Sensing satellites. The microwaves sent from SAR can penetrate thick cloud cover and dust storms and send sharp photographs back to earth. The 260-kg technology demonstration satellite combines high resolution with large area coverage using electronic beam steering. Israel has chosen the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle of ISRO to launch the satellite over its indigenously developed Shavit-1 launcher. Sci. & Tech.	Israel has today launched an advanced spy satellite, named TecSAR, into orbit on board India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The PSLV successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 3:45 a.m. GMT today, with a successful cast off from the launch rocket at around 4:05 a.m. GMT. Israel Aerospace Industries report that the first signals were received 80 minutes after the launch, present at which were both Israeli and Indian space engineers. The launch was delayed several times for unclear reasons. At one point, it was rumoured that the launch had been cancelled completely due to pressure from the US Government. Indian and Israeli authorities denied this, however, citing technical problems instead. The satellite, also referred to as Polaris, is equipped with the latest in spy technology, including Synthetic aperture radar, which can be used to provide details information on ground cover. The ''BBC'' also reports "enhanced footage technology" - which allows Israel to receive video and images at any time of day or night, and under any weather conditions. Israeli defence officials have said that the satellites main purpose is to track events in Iran, the countries' number one foe. The events that they wish to track include the Iranian nuclear programme, as well as military happenings in Iran and Syria. The satellite is capable of a maximum resolution of 10 centimetres, of which the first images wil be available in "a few weeks." Development of the satellite has been quoted as "tens of millions of dollars" - and India is benefiting from a major boost in the commercialisation of the countries' 45-year-old space program - which hopes to compete with the US, Russia, China, the Ukraine and the European Space Agency in the satellite launch service field.
(CNN) Thirty-three people had signed up to spend what promised to be a glorious Labor Day weekend aboard the Conception , a 75-foot boat that offered a scuba diver's dream: unlimited diving among giant fish and colorful underwater sea life, with gourmet meals served between dives. The destination was San Miguel, in California's Channel Islands, where huge halibut and other fish abound, and September is the perfect time to visit, because of swells and strong winds at other times of the year, trip organizers said in their promotion of the $665 weekend. But on the last part of the trip, the ship caught fire off of Santa Cruz Island, and it was fully ablaze by 3:30 a.m. Monday, said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown. It was basically a hopeless situation, authorities said, because the ship was in such a remote location, in the middle of the night, with a fire that's growing out of control. "You couldn't ask for a worse situation," Brown said at a press conference. "This is probably the worst-case scenario you can possibly have," Brown said. "You have a vessel that's on the open sea, that is in the middle of the night. I mean, it's 3:30 in the morning." By 7:20 a.m., the ship began to sink. It had burned down to the water line, Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said. The Conception was carrying 33 passengers on a diving excursion when a fire broke out. As evening drew in, only five people -- crew members -- had been found alive of the 39 people who had been on board when the fire started. Twenty bodies have been found, according to Brown who spoke to the New York Times . More than a dozen are still missing. None of the people who were aboard the vessel have been identified. A search and rescue effort for survivors will become a recovery mission Tuesday morning, Eliason told reporters Monday. "It's going to be maintained a search and rescue effort until dawn tomorrow," Eliason said. "Then we're going to make the unfortunate transition to recovery." The five rescued crew members were awake in the main cabin and were able to jump ship, but the boat was already fully engulfed in flames, said Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester. A nearby boat rescued them from the water. The passengers were below deck, most likely sound asleep. A mayday call revealed one side of the harrowing discussion between a Coast Guard dispatcher and the Conception's captain. Only the dispatcher's words were captured, but it provides insight into the panic the captain was experiencing. After the captain apparently reports a fire and provides a location, the dispatcher is heard saying, "And there's 33 people on board the vessel that's on fire, they can't get off? ... Roger, are they locked inside the boat? ... Roger, can you get back on board and unlock the boat, unlock the door so they can get off? ... Roger, you don't have any firefighting gear at all? No fire extinguishers or anything?" Later in the conversation, the dispatcher asks, "Was that all the crew that jumped off? ... Roger, is the vessel fully engulfed right now ... Roger, and there's no escape hatch for any of the people on board?" At one point, the caller says, "I can't breathe." Truth Aquatics, the company that operates the Conception, did not provide comment to CNN. Rochester said the vessel has been in full compliance. James Kohls was in Oxnard waiting to learn the fate of his brother, Mike Kohls, the gallery cook and a deckhand on the Conception. At 4 a.m., his brother, a lifelong surfer and father of one daughter, is typically making breakfast for the passengers, James Kohls said. "It's very surreal at the moment," he told reporters. "They were going to let me know whether he was one of the survivors that got off." Firefighters had difficulties snuffing out the fire, the Coast Guard's Aaron Bemis told CNN, because each time it was extinguished, it flared back up -- perhaps because of the fuel on board. The 75-foot Conception was on a three-day trip and was slated to return Monday. "We're still holding hope that someone may have swum to shore," Eliason told CNN. "When they anchor overnight, they're pretty close to shore. We have to hope, but we plan for worst-case scenario." The boat was about 20 miles off the mainland coast, near Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park. Authorities are searching the islands' shorelines for survivors, the Coast Guard said. The Conception was launched in 1981 and had bunk space for 46 people, according to Truth Aquatics' website . The boat was fully equipped with "all appliances necessary for food preparation," including a built-in barbeque. It had rafts and life jackets for 110 passengers. The cause of the blaze is not clear. Authorities said there were no signs of criminal activity. "This isn't a day that we wanted to wake up to for Labor Day, and it's a very tragic event," Rochester said at a press conference. "But I think we all should be prepared to move into the the worst outcome," Rochester said. \|\|\|\|\| SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – All 33 passengers and one crew member are assumed dead after a tragic boat fire early Monday that occurred in open water off the California coast. Authorities reported in a press conference Tuesday that 20 victims had been recovered, including 11 females and 9 males. Of those victims, 16 had been recovered Monday. Approximately four to six victims were discovered in the wreckage but were unable to be recovered by nightfall. U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester announced that the Coast Guard had decided to suspend search efforts, as "no additional signs of distress or debris has been witnessed." Rochester said that the nearly 24-hour search operation included seven missions and three helicopters crews, covering an area of 160 miles. The boat had six crew members and the 33 passengers when it became fully engulfed in flames during a recreational scuba diving trip. The passengers and one crew member were assigned to bunk-beds on the bottom of the deck. Five crew members sleeping on the top deck jumped off and took a dinghy to safety. Two had minor injuries. The crew members took their dinghy to a private fishing boat, The Grape Escape, that was anchored near the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. The boat's owners said two of the crew members went back to look for survivors but found no one. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities said Tuesday that there was no indication that an explosion had occurred. Passengers were unable to get out because both the main stairwell and escape hatch were likely blocked by fire. It is unclear if passengers were actually asleep when they perished, Rochester said. CLOSE At least 25 people are dead and nine are unaccounted for after a diving boat caught fire off Santa Cruz Island in California. USA TODAY What caused the fire? California dive-boat fire highlights need for more than one exit from sleeping quarters Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll said five others have been found but not recovered because of unsafe conditions under the boat. CLOSE Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said, "You couldn't ask for a worse situation" than that of the deadly dive boat fire near Santa Cruz Island. USA TODAY "You couldn't ask for a worse situation," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Monday news conference. Brown said the boat was upside down in relatively shallow water with receding tides that were moving the vessel around. A 3,000-foot temporary flight restriction was established around it. Authorities said it was under discussion whether to tow the vessel to shore or examine it on site. Authorities opened a family assistance center where counseling was being provided to relatives of those onboard. None of their names were immediately released. At least two students and their parents, whom may have been aboard during the incident, were reportedly from Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, according to KCBSTV. "Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those yet missing, particularly those of our students," Head of School Maria C. Reitano said in a statement sent to the Salinas Californian. "Right now, our priority as a school community is to support our students, staff, and families." Authorities responded Monday to a 3:30 a.m. mayday call of a boat engulfed in flames off Santa Cruz Island, about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Coast Guard said at a news conference later that day. "The call was garbled, it was not that clear, but we were able to get some information out of it to send vessels," said Coast Guard Petty Officer Mark Barney. Coast Guard crews, the Ventura County and Santa Barbara County fire departments, and Vessel Assist responded to the call regarding the 75-foot commercial diving vessel called Conception and operated by Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara Harbor. The boat had been anchored in an area called Platts Harbor at Santa Cruz Island, part of the five-island Channel Islands National Park and technically a part of Santa Barbara County. 'The flames were 30 feet tall': Boat owner describes saving distressed crew members after Santa Cruz Island boat fire Truth Aquatics, a Santa Barbara-based company, was founded in 1974. It had been chartered by Worldwide Diving Adventures, which says on its website that it has been taking divers on such expeditions since the 1970s. The names of the passengers on the boat were not available as of Monday evening. Truth Aquatics said the list of all the people aboard was in the hands of the Coast Guard. Authorities said Monday afternoon they were still working to notify next of kin of those who died. A spontaneous memorial for the victims popped up at Santa Barbara Harbor Tuesday. Jennifer Stafford came to the seaside memorial with heart-shaped pins and flowers to tie to the wharf. The longtime Santa Barbara woman said she wanted to find a way to help. “I just brought them along to see if I could give them to family members so they would have a touchstone,” she said, after hugging a woman who said she had a family member who was still missing. The woman wore one of Stafford’s pins. Stafford said one man had a fallen to his knees sobbing at the memorial, where flowers, leis and candles had been left. A pair of flippers hung from a post with the words “We love you Conception” written on them. “People are in shock,” Stafford said. “If they lost a family member or best friend or coworker ... it’s shocking and it’s so sad.” Rodriguez reported out of McLean, Virginia. Contributing: Cheri Carlson, Gretchen Wenner and Megan Diskin, Ventura County (California) Star; The Associated Press. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/03/california-dive-boat-fire-us-coast-guard-confirms-dozens-dead/2195446001/ \|\|\|\|\| News Release Sept. 3, 2019 U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB Office: (310) 521-4260 After Hours: (310) 781-0619 PA Detachment LA/LB online newsroom Coast Guard suspends search for survivors of sunken boat near Santa Cruz Island SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard suspended their search for survivors aboard the Conception Tuesday at 9:40 a.m. following a search that began Monday. In total, Coast Guard assets searched for 23 hours covering approximately 160 square miles. The Coast Guard utilized the following assets throughout the search: (4) Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco’s Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews (2) Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews (1) Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-65 Jayhawk helicopter crew The Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal, an 87-foot Patrol Boat homeported in Corona Del Mar The Coast Guard will continue working alongside partner agencies throughout the recovery and investigation phases.	The ''Conception'' fire at night A deadly boat fire earlier this week near off the coast of California, United States, resulted in the death of all 33 passengers. The boat, ''Conception'', which caught fire overnight in open seas, carried 33 passengers and six crew members. Five people, who were all crew, were rescued while the rest are presumed dead. Helicopter footage of response to the boat fire on Monday The ''Conception'' was a 75 (~23 ) long commercial boat on a three-day voyage for with Monday being the holiday. The fire started some time after 3 a.m. local time {1000 UTC) Monday. "This is probably the worst-case scenario you can possibly have," said Bill Brown. "You have a vessel that's on the open sea, that is in the middle of the night. I mean, it's 3:30 in the morning." As of late Tuesday, 20 bodies had been recovered, eleven women and nine men, according to Brown. The (USCG) called off its search late on Tuesday. USCG Captain Monica Rochester told the press a nearly 24-hour search mission involving three helicopters covering 160 (~415 km2) had discovered no further signs in the water. "It is never an easy decision to suspend search efforts," she said. "We know that this is a very difficult time for families and friends of the victims." Authorities have not named a cause for the fire, though it was intimated there were no signs of an explosion and the ''Conception'' was known to have the requisite fire suppression equipment. CNN, however, reported on a distress call from someone on the ''Conception'', who may or may not have been the captain. The excerpts, which are only the dispatcher's words were reported by CNN as such: Commenting on the radio communications, Captain Rochester said the situation had "a lot of adrenaline, a lot of confusion. ... The dispatcher was trying to ask for information." However, she added, "there are no locked doors in accommodation spaces" where the passengers would have been. The ''Conception'' was owned by Truth Aquatics and chartered by Worldwide Diving Adventures. Both companies have been in operation since the 1970s according to ''USA Today''. == Sources == * * *
Turkey's pro-Kurdish political party banned by the constitutional court for having links to armed separatist fighters has said its legislators will boycott parliamentary sessions. Ahmet Turk, the chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and one of two pro-Kurdish legislators who were expelled from parliament, said on Saturday the entire group had withdrawn from the assembly. "Our group has withdrawn from the parliament effective today," Turk said. The Kurdish party had a total of 21 seats in the 550-seat assembly before the constitutional court shut it down on Friday. The court found the party guilty of co-operating with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast in a conflict that has lasted 25 years and claimed 40,000 lives. Violent protests Angered by the ban, Kurds battled Turkish police with rocks and firebombs on Saturday in the town of Yuksekova, close to the borders with Iraq and Iran, Dogan news agency video showed. In neighbouring Hakkari city, a mob attempted to lynch two police officers but were prevented by local Kurdish politicians, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organisation to be their reason of existence" Abdullah Gul, Turkish president The move deepened uncertainty over efforts to end conflict between the state and the ethnic minority. The legislators of the banned party could have formed another party under a new name or continued their work as independents, but Turk said they opted for a boycott. The court barred Turk and Aysel Tugluk, another legislator, from joining any political party for five years along with 35 other party members - including Leyla Zana, a prominent Kurd who served a decade in prison on charges of separatism. Abdullah Gul, Turkey's president, defended the court decision during a visit to Montenegro on Saturday. "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organisation to be their reason of existence," the Anatolia news agency quoted Gul as saying. The ruling is likely to hamper Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, which had warned Ankara that banning the party would violate Kurdish rights. Turkey's Kurdish population, whose language was outlawed for years, has long complained of discrimination. 'Terror link' But Hasim Kilic, the constitutional court chairman, said the party's closure "was decided due to its connections with the terror organisation and because it became a focal point of the activities against the country's integrity". The ruling comes after weeks of clashes between police and protesters angry at the the prison treatment of Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the PKK. Earlier this week a protester was shot dead as 15,000 pro-Kurdish protesters marched in the city of Diyarbakir. Anita McNaught, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Turkey, said there are fears the ruling will lead to more violence. "We've seen an escalation of street protests, we're now seeing fatalities ... and this will be seen by many Kurds as provocation, they will not take this well," she said. The DTP was founded in 2005 as a successor to several Kurdish parties that were forced to wind up for collaborating with the PKK. The PKK is listed as a "terrorist" group by Turkey and much of the international community. The party says it has "no organic links" with the separatists, but insists the group should be considered an interlocutor in efforts to resolve the Kurdish conflict. Cengiz Aktar, a columnist with the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, said there are "some links" between the DTP and the PKK but criticised Turkey for making party closures "a habit". "The links apparently are there, according to the constitutional court. But in modern democracy, party closures are very seldom," he told Al Jazeera. "This one really comes at a very unfortunate moment when the country was making a very important opening towards its Kurdish minority. "It's a totally new era and suddenly comes this unacceptable decision that may overturn the whole democratisation process and bring the country to the verge of chaos." \|\|\|\|\| Kurds fight running battles with Turkish police ANKARA, Turkey — Angry Kurds battled Turkish police with rocks and firebombs Saturday to protest a decision by the country's top court to shut down a pro-Kurdish political party on charges of ties to militants. The party's lawmakers said they would boycott parliament. The party was banned Friday, a day after the main Kurdish rebel group claimed responsibility for killing seven Turkish soldiers in an ambush in central Turkey, an attack that outraged the country. The ban and ensuing violence deepened uncertainty over efforts to end a conflict between the state and its largest ethnic minority. A crowd pelted an armored police bus with stones as firebombs hit two other armored vehicles, briefly engulfing them in fire in the town of Yuksekova, close to the borders with Iraq and Iran, Dogan news agency video showed. Protesters blocked streets with barricades and burning tires. Police used water canons to mark the protesters with brightly colored water. In neighboring Hakkari city, a mob attempted to lynch two police officers but were prevented by local Kurdish politicians, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. Police detained about a dozen protesters, the area's governor said. Protests took place elsewhere in the region and the western cities of Ankara and Izmir, Anatolia said. Democratic Society Party chairman Ahmet Turk said the remaining 19-seat group had withdrawn and would not attend sessions of the 550-seat assembly. The party had 21 seats but the court Friday expelled Turk and another legislator from the assembly. The political turmoil has jeopardized a government project to reconcile with minority Kurds in the hopes of ending the fight with Kurdish rebels who have been labeled terrorists by the West. The party has resisted calls from Turkish politicians to label the guerrillas as such. The European Union has expressed concern over the ban, saying in a statement that "while strongly denouncing violence and terrorism, the presidency recalls that the dissolution of political parties is an exceptional measure that should be used with utmost restraint." The court said in its ruling that the party had ties to the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has fought for autonomy from the Turkish state since 1984. The court also barred Turk and legislator Aysel Tugluk from joining any political party for five years along with 35 other party members, including Leyla Zana, a prominent Kurd who served a decade in prison on charges of separatism. "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organization to be their reason of existence," the Anatolia news agency quoted President Abdullah Gul as saying during a visit to Montenegro. The court has shut down several Kurdish party on similar charges in the past. The predecessor of the Democratic Society Party had dissolved itself in 2005. The party is the 27th to be shut down in Turkey since 1968. Associated Press Writer Ceren Kumova in Ankara contributed to this report. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement MPs from a pro-Kurdish party say they will withdraw from Turkey's parliament in protest at the Constitutional Court ruling to dissolve their party. The court voted on Friday to ban the Democratic Society Party (DTP) because of alleged links with Kurdish separatist rebels. Turkey's largest pro-Kurdish party has 21 MPs, two of whom have been banned from politics for five years. It is the latest in a series of pro-Kurdish parties to be closed down. The EU, which Turkey hopes to join, has expressed concern over the ruling. There have been clashes between Kurdish protesters and Turkish security forces in at least two eastern cities following the ban. Middle path The DTP MPs had threatened to resign their seats if the party was banned, even though they have the option of remaining in parliament as independents. Instead they have taken a middle path, not resigning, but withdrawing from all parliamentary business, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. But the verdict of the Constitutional Court has shut down the only political mouthpiece of the Kurds, our correspondent says. DTP chairman Ahmet Turk says closing pro-Kurdish parties is not the answer Almost immediately, angry crowds in the mainly Kurdish south-east vented their anger by clashing with riot police. The ruling comes four months since the government promised a new beginning in the state's relationship with its largest minority. It had hoped that by offering reforms giving the Kurds greater freedom of expression, it could cut support for the armed campaign, which has been waged by the militant PKK for the past 25 years, our correspondent says. But there has been a strong nationalist backlash against the initiative, fired up by a series of provocative incidents which culminated in the killing this week of seven police officers by the PKK, he says. Hopes for a political settlement to the Kurdish conflict rested to a large extent on the growing co-operation between the government and the DTP. It has now become the 10th pro-Kurdish party to be banned by the Constitutional Court, and party leaders have warned that its closure can only cause greater feelings of frustration and hopelessness within the Kurdish community, our correspondent adds. Some 40,000 people have died since the outlawed PKK launched an armed campaign in the mainly Kurdish south-east in 1984. Kurds make up about 20% of Turkey's population of more than 70 million. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Turkey's constitutional court has banned the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the country's largest pro-Kurdish political party. The court found it guilty on Friday of supporting violence and being linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, a Kurdish rebel group better known as the PKK. The move has sparked violent protests across the country and caused the DTP to announce a boycott of parliament. The party's two leaders, Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, were banned from politics for five years and expelled from the Turkish parliament. On Saturday, Türk announced that the remainder of DTP's parliament members would also pull out. They had held 21 seats out of a total of 550. The verdict comes as the government is attempting to bring an end to 25 years of fighting with the Kurdish rebels, and follows weeks of intensified ethnic violence. The judges of Turkey's constitutional court took only three days of deliberating over the evidence to unanimously rule that the DTP was guilty of inciting hatred and violence and was linked to the PKK. Haşim Kılıç, the head of the court, explained their decision. Flag of the PKK "No party has the right to utilize discourse and activities that contain terror, violence and pressure. A party should separate activities and discourses that contain violence and terror from the peaceful ones", he said. Speaking shortly after the ruling, Türk condemned the court's decision. "This deepens the desperation", he says. "This is a reality. But we are hopeful that Turkey will find its peace one day. But by closing a political party you can't solve the problem. Turkey can only solve its problems through reason and dialog." Kılıç acknowledged the ramifications of his decision: "Some people will say this verdict will sabotage the peace process, but this case is two years old, and we are judges not politicians." He says no country in Europe would allow such a party to exist. In justifying the ruling Kılıç also said they had studied similar cases in the European Union – in particular the closure by Spanish courts of the pro-Basque Batasuna party. But the EU later issued a statement that "while strongly denouncing violence and terrorism, the presidency recalls that the dissolution of political parties is an exceptional measure that should be used with utmost restraint." Such concerns will likely affect Turkey's relations with the EU, which it is currently seeking to join. This is the 27th time a Turkish political party has been shut down since 1968. Turkish president Abdullah Gül expressed his approval of the decision. Speaking during his visit to Montenegro, he asked: "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organization to be their reason of existence?" The PKK are listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkish authorities, the EU and the United States. They have been engaged in an armed struggle against the government since 1984. An estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the fighting. The verdict comes after weeks of ethnic violence, in which Kurdish youths have been clashing with security forces across cities in Turkey's predominately Kurdish southeast. The demonstrations were in response to alleged mistreatment of Abdullah Öcalan, founder of the PKK, whilst in prison. A pro-Kurdish protester was shot dead in Diyarbakır last weekend, sparking further unrest. Turkish nationalists have also been demonstrating, following the killing of seven Turkish soldiers by the PKK in central Turkey on Monday. Almost immediately following the verdict, violence erupted in the predominantly Kurdish south-east of the country between advocates of the party and Turkish riot police.
Mr Chamlong was arrested as he went to vote in city mayoral elections Police in Thailand say they have arrested a key organiser of mass anti-government protests in Bangkok. Chamlong Srimuang was detained after leaving the prime ministerial compound, where he and thousands of supporters have been barricaded since late August. He is one of nine protest leaders accused of illegal assembly and inciting unrest. Protesters demand the resignation of the government, which they say is a proxy for ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Chamlong was arrested as he arrived at a polling station to cast his vote in Bangkok's mayoral elections. Another protest organiser, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, was detained on Friday as he left the compound. A police spokesman told the Associated Press that the authorities were preparing to arrest all the protest leaders at the appropriate time and place. Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been occupying key government buildings in Bangkok for more than two months. They have vowed to remain in place until their demands for a government independent of Mr Thaksin are met. Last month, Mr Thakin's brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, won a majority parliamentary vote to become the country's new prime minister after a court forced his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down. \|\|\|\|\| Thai protest leader arrested BANGKOK: The police arrested on Sunday the leader of a group of anti-government protesters who have occupied the grounds of the Thai prime minister's office here for more than a month. Chamlong Srimuang, who faces charges of insurrection and inciting unrest, was detained early Sunday immediately after casting his vote in the Bangkok gubernatorial election. Thailand's prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, who took power last month, has been working out of the VIP lounge of Bangkok's old airport because the protesters have barricaded themselves into what would normally have been his office. Until now, Somchai has been publicly conciliatory toward the protesters, offering to start negotiations with them. It was unclear if the arrests of Chamlong and another protest organizer, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who was detained Friday, indicated a harder line by the government. But the arrest appeared to undermine plans by the deputy prime minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, to meet with protest leaders later this week. The opposition leader in Parliament, Abhisit Vejjajiva, warned Sunday that the arrest could worsen the country's political crisis, which began about three years ago with demonstrations against Thaksin Shinawatra and his removal in September 2006 in a military coup. Anand Panyarachun, a former prime minister, compared Chamlong's arrest to "starting a fire." "It will definitely heat up the temperature, and I don't know where it is going to lead," Anand told reporters after casting his vote in the election for Bangkok governor. Chamlong's arrest was almost cordial - the police allowed him to vote before detaining him and let him sit in the front seat of a police vehicle. The protest leader appeared to anticipate his arrest, leaving a note before he went to vote that urged demonstrators to carry on in the barricaded prime minister's compound. Bangkok's Metropolitan Police commissioner, Suchart Muangaew, seemed apologetic in explaining Chamlong's arrest. "I want people to understand that if the police didn't arrest the suspect when we saw him, the police might be accused of negligence," Suchart said. The police would not use force to arrest seven other leaders of the anti-government protests, he added. A criminal court in Bangkok will consider on Monday whether the warrant against Chamlong and the other leaders is valid. Chamlong, 73, is a former army general turned politician who was once Bangkok governor. In addition to his role as protest leader, he also heads an ascetic Buddhist sect. \|\|\|\|\| Chamlong Srimuang who has been arrested after leading demonstrators in a five-week siege on government offices Thai police arrest second anti-govt protest leader BANGKOK (AFP) — Thai police arrested Sunday a second protest leader who led thousands of demonstrators in a five-week siege of government offices in the capital. Police said retired general Chamlong Srimuang was arrested on treason and other charges as he visited a polling booth for elections for Bangkok governor. Srimuang is a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) camped outside Government House to demand the resignation of the government which it accuses of being too close to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. "The police arrested Major General Chamlong this morning when he was entering an election station at Sethasathien school," deputy police spokesman Surapol Tuanthong told reporters. "He cooperated and let the police do their job after being informed," he said, adding that extra police had since been deployed to the PAD's protest camp. Srimuang, currently detained at police regional border patrol headquarters, is the second leader to be picked up after police issued nine arrest warrants in August in the wake of the demonstrations. Rally organiser Chaiwat Sinsuwong was arrested on Friday and remains in detention awaiting a court appearance. Under Thai law a person convicted of treason can face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The PAD has questioned the legality of the police action as appeals lodged against the arrest warrants have not yet been heard. At the PAD's camp, set up outside government offices on August 26, members denounced the latest arrest and read aloud a letter purportedly from Chamlong urging them to continue their protest. "This is a test for PAD's strength. The arrests of Chaiwat and Chamlong show that those who truly love their country are attacked by the police," media tycoon and PAD founder Sondhi Limthongkul said. The seven other PAD members still wanted by police include Sondhi, activist MP Somkiat Pongpaibul and PAD leaders Somsak Kosaisuk and Pibhop Dhongchai. PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila and rally organisers Therdpoom Chaidee and Amorn Amornrattannond are also sought on arrest warrants. The PAD led protests against Thaksin in months of political turmoil before he was ousted in a military coup in September 2006. It launched the latest demonstrations to topple former premier Samak Sundaravej, who was eventually forced from office last month for receiving payment to host two television cooking shows. His successor, Somchai Wongsawat, has tasked deputy prime minister and seasoned politician Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with negotiating with the PAD. Somchai and his cabinet have been forced to work out of Bangkok's old airport since the demonstrators took over the government compound. The new prime minister on Wednesday urged the protesters to leave ahead of the cremation of the king's sister in mid-November and the December summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which Thailand chairs. \|\|\|\|\| Enter your search terms Submit search form Web www.bangkokpost.com Chaiwat's arrest 'was the work of the government' WASSANA NANUAM The arrest of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) key figure Chaiwat Sinsuwong is widely seen an attempt to undermine Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Lt-Gen Pirat Sawamiwat, Gen Chavalit's close aide, said the arrest was made despite an agreement from police not to do so. Pol Maj-Gen Kharonwit Thoopkrajang, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police Division 1, had agreed not to make any arrests while the talks to resolve the political stalemate were ongoing. "We asked for seven to eight days. An agreement was reached, yet a PAD leader was arrested and Gen Chavalit had no idea about this," he said. Gen Chavalit had planned to meet Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, and address supporters on stage. Maj-Gen Chamlong also raised concerns about the implications of Mr Chaiwat's arrest and said it could be a plot to discredit Gen Chavalit. Maj-Gen Chamlong said that the arrest, made while the talks were still in progress, was a slap in the face for Gen Chavalit and was the work of the government. "It is possible some people in the government want to instigate a conflict and frustrate Gen Chavalit's progress," he said. Maj-Gen Chamlong said while the arrest would have an impact on the dialogue, PAD would not use it to stir up unrest. PAD member Chirmsak Pinthong said that the timing was significant as Mr Chaiwat and other PAD members are waiting for an Appeals Court ruling on their appeal against the arrest warrants they face. \|\|\|\|\| BANGKOK, Oct 5 (TNA) - Core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which has been demonstrating calling for the ouster of the Thai government for over four months said Sunday that the pending negotiations between between the activists and the authorities are unlikely to happen due to the arrests of two PAD chiefs. PAD core leader Somsak Kosaisuk said the arrests showed the government to be insincere and that the PAD leaders would "not hold talks with irresponsible people". His remarks were made after PAD core leader Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang was arrested early Sunday after casting his ballot in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) election to choose a new governor. On Friday, police apprehended PAD core leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who is now being detained at Bangkok Special Prison. Police on August 27 issued arrest warrants for nine of the group's leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, and illegal assembly on the part of more than 10 persons and refusing orders to disperse. The warrants imposed on the nine leaders spelled out serious criminal charges punishable by death or life imprisonment. The charges were filed after the PAD seized Government House, the seat of the Thai government, as well as several ministries and state agencies on August 26 in a bid to oust the government which it accused of being a proxy of ousted, fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. PAD members and supporters have occupied Government House since then. The coalition government assigned Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to negotiate with the Peoples' Alliance core leaders with the intention of ending Thailand's political deadlock shortly after the new administration took office late last month. Asked whether the arrest of Gen. Chamlong was a PAD plan to mobilise more critics of the government to gather, core leader Pipop Kosaisuk said "the government created the conditions, and it is its duty to solve the problem. "The PAD will continue demonstrating peacefully", Mr. Pipop asserted. Meanwhile, about 50 PAD members processed to Region 1 Border Patrol Police headquarters in suburban Pathum Thani where Gen. Chamlong is being detained. The activists were able to meet and give him morale support after police gave the permission to visit. Two PAD lawyers said that on Monday they will petition the Criminal Court to revoke the arrest warrants issued against the nine coalition core leaders because they held that the charges against them were against the law. But a spokesman of the Royal Thai Police insisted on Sunday that the police only performed their statutory duty in arresting Gen. Chamlong as warrants for the arrest were issued for the nine PAD core leaders. The police spokesman said the Appeals Court is scheduled to rule Monday afternoon whether to revoke arrest warrants requested by the nine. If revoked, the case would be contested under a judicial process, he said. (TNA) Political News : Last Update : 16:27:41 5 October 2008 (GMT+7:00)	Chamlong Srimuang Police in Thailand have announced the arrest of Chamlong Srimuang, a retired general and former Bangkok mayor who is one of the leaders of protests against the current government. Chamlong and other protesters who have occupied government buildings for several months accuse the incumbent government of acting as proxy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Chamlong is the second of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD - Thai: พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย) protest leaders to be arrested; Chaiwat Sinuwong was arrested on Friday as he left the occupied prime minister's compound. Former mayor, Chamlong had today left the security of the protest site to vote in the city's elections. Protests have been ongoing, led to a September, 2006 military coup, and have centred around corruption allegations initially championed by Sondhi Limthongkul against Thaksin Shinawatra who the coup deposed and left in exile for in excess of a year. Following the dissolution of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, and an October, 2006 election, the protesters have focused on removing what they perceive as Thaksin's ongoing influence on the country's government. In June then-PM Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet narrowly survived a no-confidence vote. Last month saw him replaced with the incumbent, Somchai Wongsawat following a court decision. Somchai was appointed as the result of a parliamentary vote, protesters are particularly incensed at this as he is former PM Thaksin's brother-in-law. Charges of insurrection, illegal assembly, and inciting unrest have been brought against nine of the protest leaders, including Chamlong; police have vowed to arrest all the protest leaders although there are no plans to employ force to carry this out. The charge of insurrection in Thailand is the equivalent of treason, the sentence can be life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Government proposals for the deputy prime minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, to negotiate with the PAD have been scuppered by the two arrests. According to the Thai News Agency, the leaders of the PAD state that the negotiations are unlikely to take place now. The arrests were described as indicating the government was not sincere and the PAD will "not hold talks with irresponsible people". The outstanding arrest warrants are for the PAD founder, Sondhi, the group's leaders and spokesman, Somsak Kosaisuk, Pibhop Dhongchai and Suriyasai Katasila, MP Somkiat Pongpaibul, and protest organisers Therdpoom Chaidee and Amorn Amornrattannond. An appeals court challenge against the arrest warrants is pending and a decision is expected Monday; if the warrants are revoked, it is expected that the Royal Thai Police will instigate a judicial process to contest this.
Ed Mirvish, the Toronto businessman renowned both for his landmark discount store Honest Ed's and for his key role in revitalizing the city's theatre scene, has died at 92. Ed Mirvish walks with Diana, the Princess of Wales, as they arrive at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto to see Les Miserables in 1991. Mirvish saved the theatre from demolition by buying it in 1962. (Canadian Press) He died early Wednesday morning of natural causes, his family confirmed. Toronto Mayor David Miller described Mirvish as a man with "incredible strength of character. "His store was about making sure that everyone could afford to live with some dignity and decency. His theatres were about bringing some joy and passion into people's lives," Miller told CBC News. Actress Louise Pitre performed in some of Mirvish's shows. "He achieved just about everything you can in Canada but was so humble, so soft-spoken, so unassuming … but with a glint in his eye," Pitre told CBC News. "He had a tradition of taking us all out for dinner as a group when you were doing a show," she recalled about the man who is hailed for sparking a revitalization of Toronto's theatre scene beginning in the 1960s. "I think [people] will remember him as a gentle, hardworking man of the people who made it big." As word of his death spread, CBC.ca visitors reached out with tributes, warm memories and kind words. "Our city, our neighbourhood, our country, will never erase the generosity, the empathy, the contribution, the friendship, and the presence of the giant of a man who dwelled among us," said one. "Clearly, in Toronto's dictionary, his picture should be found against the word philanthropist. He will be dearly missed and remembered," said another. Humble beginnings Born in Virginia on July 24, 1914, Mirvish came to Canada with his family at age nine. His father died when Mirvish was only 15, leaving him to take charge of the family's grocery store on Dundas street. Despite struggles in the early years, his marketing savvy and discount prices helped him build one store into an empire of theatres, restaurants and stores — including his famous discount emporium Honest Ed's at the intersection of Bloor and Bathurst streets in Toronto. Honest Ed's began as this relatively humble enterprise, eventually growing to encompass 160,000 square feet at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets. (CBC) The kitschy building, a landmark since it opened in 1948, sports big orange signs proclaiming "Honest Ed's" lit by thousands of flashing lights and humorous plaques with slogans such as "Honest Ed is for the birds … cheap, cheap, cheap."Mirvish was known for his giveaways, equal parts marketing stunts and expressions of his generous community spirit: he handed out free turkeys at the discount store near certain holidays and hosted street parties on his birthday, doling out free hot dogs and cake. "I can imagine the many persons to whom that Christmas turkey and other giveaways provided the most important gift anyone could ever receive: hope," a CBC Your View contributor wrote Wednesday. Focus turns to the arts The inside of the discount superstore is plastered with reminders of Mirvish's other side: the theatre impresario. Its walls hold one giant photo after another showing Honest Ed posing through the decades with stars of the stage and screen. Inspired by his wife Anne, an artist and singer, Mirvish began in the early 1960s to add live theatre to his growing enterprises. In 1962, he bought the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto's downtown and saved the historic venue — which opened in 1907 — from demolition. In this photo from September 1963, Ed Mirvish stands in his then-newly-refurbished Royal Alexandra Theatre. (Robert Ragsdale/CBC Still Photo Collection) As well as spending approximately double the purchase price to restore the beaux-arts theatre, Mirvish also began opening a host of restaurants nearby to lure theatregoers to what was then a desolate stretch of King Street and to provide a complete "night-out." Mirvish's efforts helped revitalize Toronto's downtown theatre strip and, eventually, helped vault the Canadian theatre scene to a new level. "Forty-odd years ago, this [area] was a slum," theatre critic Richard Ouzounian told CBC News in an interview from the King Street theatre district. "He not only bought it, but he ended up launching a theatre network in Toronto that made it one of the most important cities in North America for theatre." Lauded for restoring London's Old Vic Mirvish's involvement with the theatre community didn't end in Toronto. In 1982, he purchased the Old Vic in London, England — acting without even visiting the building, but inspired by the many stories he had heard about the venerable stage from world-famous British actors visited the Royal Alex. CBCNews.ca readers comment on the death of Ed Mirvish 'Funny that a 92-year-old man was one of the coolest things about Toronto. He'll be missed.' 'This outlandish and at times outrageous impresario was a bright light in Toronto.... He will be leaving a very large and historically important footprint.' 'They don't build 'em like that anymore. Thanks, Ed.' 'A true Toronto legend has died and this city is a bit less bright because of it. Sleep well, Honest Ed, you have more than earned your rest.' 'Mr. Mirvish truly loved his neighbour and that was all of us in Toronto. The size of his heart dwarfed the size of our city.' After outbidding the likes of musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and famed director Trevor Nunn, he refurbished the Old Vic. He and his son, David, were eventually awarded a special Laurence Oliver Award recognizing their revitalization of the theatre. Under Mirvish rule, the British venue won acclaim for its revamp and critical praise for its productions. However, the big budgets they required plagued the theatre, which suffered several years of financial loss before the Mirvishes sold it to the Old Vic Theatre Trust in 1998. By that time, the father and son had boosted their theatre empire by building Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre (which opened in 1993 with the blockbuster musical Miss Saigon). The theatre, which features a series of murals by U.S. abstract–expressionist painter and sculptor Frank Stella, is "one of the most beautiful theatres in North America," Ouzounian said. "That's at the essence of Ed. 'Let's do something for a business reason. But if we're going to do it, let's do it really right and really good for the city of Toronto,'" he said. 'Astonishing eye for talent' Ouzounian also praised Mirvish's "astonishing eye for talent" and said that, despite having no theatre training, every now and again, the keen businessman was willing to take a chance on productions that caught his attention. "The classic example in our time has been Mamma Mia, which was a show that did nicely in London but that no one thought would do well in North America," the Toronto Star critic said. "They brought it here to Toronto first. It was the incredible Toronto run that galvanized Mamma Mia and helped turn it into the international phenomenon it is today." Ed Mirvish smiles at an event announcing the Canadian premiere of the musical The Lion King in Toronto in 1999. It was just one of the big-budget shows created abroad that Mirvish brought to Toronto for Canadian stagings. (Kevin Frayer/Canadian Press) David Mirvish, a former art dealer, has since inherited the day-to-day Mirvish operations as well as his father's dedication to live theatre. The younger Mirvish has turned the family name into a significant force on the international theatre scene with participation in major endeavours like The Lord of the Rings musical as well as producing shows for Broadway and London's West End. The elder Mirvish was also known as the man who imported big-budget shows created abroad — mostly from New York or London — to Toronto for Canadian stagings, including hits like Les Misérables, Rent, The Lion King, The Who's Tommy, Hairspray and The Producers. More recently, however, the Mirvishes have bolstered these types of headliner productions with smaller, acclaimed shows from lower-budget local troupes like Soulpepper, Theatre Passe Muraille and the Toronto Fringe Festival. In Britain, Mirvish was awarded the distinction of commander of the Order of the British Empire. At home, he was an officer of the Order of Canada and the recipient of hundreds of awards recognizing his contributions to the community. Mirvish is survived by his wife, Anne, son, David, daughter-in-law, Audrey, sister Lorraine Lazarus and three grandchildren. The funeral is planned for Friday at 11 a.m. at Beth Tzedec synagogue on Bathurst Street. Flags at City Hall are to fly at half mast Thursday to honour Mirvish. \|\|\|\|\| Amber Gero Toronto icon and philanthropist Ed Mirvish passed away Wednesday at the age of 92. "Mr. Mirvish did pass away this morning at around 1:30a.m. at St. Mike's Hospital," said long time friend Russell Lazar. Mirvish, who would have turned 93 July 24th, is best known for his landmark discount store Honest Ed's. Mirvish also founded Mirvish Productions, and was a staple in the theatre and entertainment districts in Toronto. Mayor David Miller told CFRB's Dave Trafford that Mirvish will be missed. "My memories of Honest Ed are all terrific," Mayor Miller said on Toronto at Noon. "He was inspiring. He was funny. He was a character. He was a brilliant businessman. He supported the arts probably like no one else in the history of this city. And most of all, he never forgot where he came from." A funeral service for Edwin Mirvish will take place at Beth Tzedec Synagogue located at 1700 Bathurst Street, south of Eglinton Avenue, on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. A strictly private family Shiva will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ed Mirvish Educational Memorial Fund c/o The Benjamin Foundation, in support of up and coming entrepreneurs. Donations can be mailed to 3429 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 2C3, phone: 416-780-0324. There are three ways members of the public may leave messages of condolence for Edwin Mirvish: Online at http://www.mirvish.com/edwin/edmirvish.html By calling 416.351.1229 ext. 422 In the lobby at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King Street West, where a Book of Condolences may be signed daily from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Statement from the City July 11, 2007 Mayor David Miller comments on passing of "Honest" Ed Mirvish "It is a truly sad day in the city of Toronto. Today we mourn the loss of Mr. Toronto, Ed Mirvish; a man who can only be described as a local hero. "For decades, Ed devoted his life to helping Torontonians and to making Toronto the great city it is. Whether it was his iconic landmark retail store that was responsible for breathing new life into the Bloor and Bathurst neighbourhood or his commitment to the performing arts, Ed's passion for his city was second to none. "One of the things that made him so special and so endearing is that despite being a successful and savvy businessman, his motives were always about more than the bottom line. His philosophy was to keep prices reasonable so everyone could afford to shop at his store. And he always gave back to the community through his turkey giveaway and his annual birthday block party. "His foresight also gave birth to the Entertainment District and helped revitalize the city's live theatre industry bringing with it thousands of jobs and busloads of tourists flocking to see the latest great production. "The lights may have dimmed on Ed's life, but his spirit and legacy have been indelibly burned into the fabric of Toronto. "On behalf of all Torontonians, I extend greatest condolences to Ed's family and friends as well as all those who ever had the privilege of knowing him or who were touched by his generosity. "He will be missed but never, ever forgotten." In honour of Ed Mirvish, the City of Toronto will lower the flags to half mast at City Hall and the civic centres on Thursday, July 12.	Ed Mirvish in 2006. Noted Toronto resident and Canadian merchant and theatre owner Ed Mirvish has died. On July 11, 2007, the Mirvish family released a statement confirming his passing earlier that morning at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. "Honest Ed", as he was known, was two weeks away from reaching his 93rd birthday. "Mr. Mirvish did pass away this morning at around 1:30a.m. at St. Mike's Hospital," said his friend Russell Lazar. The mayor of Toronto, David Miller, told ''CBC News'' that, "His store was about making sure that everyone could afford to live with some dignity and decency. His theatres were about bringing some joy and passion into people's lives." Mirvish was known for his landmark discount store, Honest Ed's, and as a patron of the arts who helped revitalize the theatre scene in Toronto.
Ince's appointment is a landmark for the Premier League Paul Ince has become the first black English manager in the Premier League after he was appointed Blackburn boss. Ince, who has been given a three-year deal, was Rovers' number one target after Mark Hughes left Ewood Park. In his first season with MK Dons, Ince, 40, got them to the League Two title and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Frenchman Jean Tigana with Fulham and Ruud Gullit with Chelsea and Newcastle are the only other two black managers to have managed in the Premier League. Ince will be officially presented as Blackburn's manager on Tuesday. 606: DEBATE Last week the Premier League gave Rovers dispensation over Ince's failure to hold a Uefa Pro Licence. The former West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and England midfielder will be allowed two years to earn his licence. In order to be a football manager in the top divisions of Spain, Italy, Germany and France, coaches must have the Uefa Pro Licence qualification. The licence requires 240 hours of study and usually takes a year to gain. Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. The League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan had insisted he would not lobby against Ince's appointment. Former England manager Steve McClaren, ex-Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and former Getafe coach Michael Laudrup had all been linked with the Rovers post. PAUL INCE FACTFILE 1967: Born Ilford, October 21 1985: Joins West Ham as trainee 1989: After 93 appearances joins Man Utd for £1m 1993: Becomes first black player to captain England 1995: Joins Inter in £7m deal 1997: Joins Liverpool for £4.2m 1998: Plays in World Cup finals 1999: Leaves Liverpool for Boro for £1m 2002: Joins Wolves 2006: Takes first managerial role at Macclesfield 2007: Appointed MK Dons manager 2008: Leads MK Dons to League Two title and Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2008: June 22 - Appointed Blackburn boss on three-year contract Ince moved to the Dons in June 2007 after keeping Macclesfield in the Football League. His managerial achievements attracted the interest of Leicester City, who made an official approach to Milton Keynes for Ince's services earlier this month. Ince is the latest former Manchester United star who played under Sir Alex Ferguson to manage in the Premier League. Hughes is now at Manchester City, Steve Bruce at Wigan, while Roy Keane is Sunderland's boss. Former Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher told BBC Radio Lancashire that Rovers targeted Ince because "they were looking for someone young, hungry, enthusiastic and with a big pull. "Paul knew that he wanted to come, he's got the hunger and desire in his belly to be a good manager. "He showed that at Macclesfield by how he managed to keep them up, and he brought a couple of trophies to MK Dons. "So, it's a good achievement at a low level and hopefully he can bring some of that luck with him to Blackburn." Gallacher conceded that Hughes would be "a hard act to follow" at Ewood Park. But he added: "If Paul can keep the ship floating, keep the good players at the club, continue with the good work Mark has done and add his little bit in, Blackburn can only get stronger." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| BLACKBURN Rovers can today announce that Paul Ince has been appointed the new manager of the football club. Ince has signed a 3-year contract. A press conference will be held at Ewood Park midday on Tuesday. This news was sent out first and exclusively to subscribers of our SMS Breaking News service. If you would like the very latest news direct to your mobile phone then text CLUB ROVRS ON to 88442 to sign up today! \|\|\|\|\| Paul Ince has agreed a three-year deal to succeed Mark Hughes as Blackburn manager. Former England captain Ince, 40, enjoyed a fine season in charge of MK Dons last season, leading them to the Coca-Cola League Two title and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and has been heavily linked with a move to Ewood Park in recent days. Ince, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milan, previously coached Macclesfield, who he saved from relegation from the Football League in 2006-07 but this will be his first management job in the top flight. Ince's appointment makes him the first black Briton to take charge of a top-flight club in England. Despite taking a slightly unconventional route into coaching - most players of Ince's pedigree and stature are usually offered a more glamorous job when their playing days are over - he has been a consistently impressive performer in the lower leagues and has attracted plenty of envious glances. He earned his first manager of the month accolade while with the Silkmen, who were adrift at the bottom of League Two when he arrived only to survive the drop on the last day of the season, before taking the title on three occasions during his stint at stadium:mk. Derby chairman Adam Pearson appeared to covet the former midfielder's services when Billy Davies left the club last term, while Wigan were also thought to be interested before appointing Steve Bruce. He was also firmly in the frame for the Leicester job following Ian Holloway's departure but last week moved to distance himself from that job, perhaps mindful of Rovers' interest.	Paul Ince is the new Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince has succeeded Mark Hughes as new Blackburn Rovers Manager after signing a 3-year contract with the club. He becomes the first black manager to manage in the Premier League and top-flight football. Ince was unveiled at a press conference at Ewood Park on Tuesday 24th of June. Ince moved into management with Maccesfield Town, keeping them in the Football League in the 2006-07 season. He moved to the MK Dons in June 2007, leading them to the League 2 title and he Johnstone Paint Trophy.
Mr Van Rompuy was widely tipped, but Baroness Ashton was not EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President. The other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - foreign affairs supremo - has gone to the EU Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton from the UK. Both are seen as consensual politicians with limited foreign policy experience. Both had unanimous backing from the 27 EU leaders at the summit in Brussels, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. Earlier, the UK government had said it was no longer pushing for former PM Tony Blair to get the presidency post. Mr Van Rompuy, 62, had crucial French and German support. He has a reputation as a coalition builder, having taken charge of the linguistically divided Belgian government and steered it out of a crisis. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "Every country should emerge victorious from negotiations," he told a news conference after his appointment. "Even if unity remains our strength, our diversity remains our wealth," he said, stressing the individuality of EU member states. Baroness Ashton, 53, said she felt "deeply privileged" to get the foreign affairs post. "I was the first woman British commissioner, the first woman trade commissioner, so I am also proud to be the first woman High Representative," she said. "I think there was a strong push to have at least one woman in a senior position," she told the BBC later, adding that she hoped Europe would become "an economic superpower". US President Barack Obama said the appointments would "strengthen the EU and enable it to be an even stronger partner to the United States". "The United States has no stronger partner than Europe in advancing security and prosperity around the world," the White House said in a statement. UK shifts stance Earlier, a UK government spokesman revealed the dramatic twist in the British position. ANALYSIS Jonny Dymond, BBC News, Brussels Against all expectations this deal was done in a matter of hours, the pre-summit deadlock broken by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His decision to abandon Tony Blair's bid for the new post of President of the European Council meant the field was left clear for the Belgian prime minister, Herman van Rompuy. It also meant that he could bag for a Briton the second job of the night - one arguably more important and probably higher-profile - that of High Representative, something close to a foreign minister for Europe. Neither Mr Van Rompuy nor Baroness Ashton are what might be called big-hitters. Their selection indicates a preference for a low-key start to these new jobs. In quotes: Van Rompuy's vision Reaction to Rompuy appointment Send us your comments The UK persuaded the other six leaders in the socialist group to back Baroness Ashton, having dropped Tony Blair. EU leaders met in Brussels especially to select their first full-time president and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs - new posts created by the Lisbon Treaty, which will come into force on 1 December. The idea under Lisbon is to give the EU more coherence and continuity in key policy areas. Up until now the presidency has been held by member states in turn, on a six-month rotation. Going into the meeting the leaders had various candidates to choose from. There were fears that the negotiations would go on late into the night, but it quickly emerged that a deal had been struck. Drive for consensus Mr Brown praised Mr Van Rompuy as "a consensus builder" who had "brought a period of political stability to his country after months of uncertainty". Turning to Baroness Ashton's appointment, he said "it gives Britain a powerful voice within the Council and the [EU] Commission. He is camera-shy, a man who some refer to as the "grey mouse" BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt Read Gavin's thoughts in full "It will ensure that Britain's voice is very loud and clear. It will ensure that Britain remains at the heart of Europe." Baroness Ashton "is the first woman to hold such a high position in the EU," he added. Commenting on the choice, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "It's so important that Britain remains at the heart of the European project." The foreign policy chief will have a seat as vice-president of the European Commission, as well as a budget worth billions of euros and a new diplomatic service of up to 5,000 people. For months Mr Blair had been a favourite for president, backed by the UK government, and he was the highest-profile candidate. Another contender, Dutch PM Jan-Peter Balkenende, ruled himself out of the contest as the meeting got under way. Seeking balance The EU leaders had a working dinner together to negotiate the appointments. THE PRESIDENT'S ROLE Chosen by 27 member states by qualified majority vote Two-and-a-half-year term Can be re-elected once Chairs EU summits Drives forward the work of EU Council of Ministers Facilitates cohesion and consensus Represents the EU on the world stage Profiles of new appointees They were reported to be striving for a balance in the two posts, with one filled by a candidate from one of the bigger EU states, the other from a smaller country. Similarly, the presidency was expected to go to a centre-right politician and the post of foreign affairs chief to the centre-left. The combination of Mr Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton achieves that balance, the BBC's Jonny Dymond says. Mr Barroso said Mr Van Rompuy's appointment was "a tribute to Belgium", noting Belgium's key role as host of the EU's main institutions. The EU president will chair regular meetings of the European Council at which decisions are taken about the political position of the bloc. However, correspondents say the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as the post is officially known, could have an even more powerful role. What do you think of the European Council appointments - have the best people been chosen? Send us your comments 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 \|\|\|\|\| REUTERS - European Union leaders named Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the bloc's first president on Thursday and appointed Briton Catherine Ashton as its foreign affairs chief. A consensus was reached at a summit in Brussels after Britain dropped its insistence that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair should become president, ending weeks of deadlock and opening the way to agreement on Van Rompuy. But Van Rompuy, 62, and Ashton, 53, are low-profile compromise candidates little known outside the EU and at least initially will not have the clout in foreign capitals that an established statesmen such as Blair would have had. "The deal has been done. Both positions have been agreed," said an EU diplomat present at the talks, which involved all 27 member states. The leaders had sought a political balance to satisfy member states and the European Parliament, whose approval is needed for Ashton. This was achieved by appointing a centre-right president and a centre-left high representative for foreign affairs. Van Rompuy, who will not need the assembly's approval, won plaudits for holding together a fragile coalition government after becoming prime minister less than a year ago. Ashton, a baroness and former member of the House of Lords, Britain's upper house of parliament, is hardly known even in Britain and has little foreign affairs experience. But she has made a good impression since becoming the EU's trade commissioner, its top trade official, last year. Brown helps break the deadlock British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's insistence that Blair should become president had been an obstacle to agreement, but a breakthrough became possible when he backed down and decided instead to back Ashton for the foreign policy job. "As it became clear that the chances of a Blair presidency, for a number of good reasons, were declining, the prime minister made the decisive intervention in this meeting (to stop backing Blair)," a spokesman for Brown told reporters. Blair had long been the front-runner but many other states wanted a candidate more likely to lead by consensus and Germany and France joined forces to block his candidacy. He also had no majority among European Socialist parties, where resentment is still felt over his backing for the U.S.-led war in Iraq and many wanted a leader from a country that uses the euro currency. Agreement on Van Rompuy and Ashton prevented a failure at the summit that would have highlighted the divisions in a bloc representing nearly 500 million people, and undermined the goal it had set of boosting the EU's image on the world stage. In backing Ashton, the leaders also answered calls by many EU officials for a woman to have one of the Union's top posts. Although the EU is a major trading bloc, its political influence has not matched its economic might. Political analysts have questioned whether it will be able to do so even after the new appointments. The post of president of the council of EU leaders was created under the EU's Lisbon treaty, which is intended to make decision making easier now the bloc has 27 member states. The foreign policy high representative received enhanced powers under the treaty, which goes into force on Dec. 1, and will be in charge of a new EU diplomatic corps. \|\|\|\|\| Herman Van Rompuy, Belgium's prime minister, has become the first president of the European Council. Van Rompuy, largely unknown outside his native Belgium, was named after a consensus was reached at a meeting of the leaders of the 27-member European Union on Thursday. "I did not seek this high position, I didn't make any steps to achieve it, but from tonight I take on this task with conviction and enthusiasm," Van Rompuy told a news conference. The meeting also agreed to back the candidacy of Catherine Ashton, the British EU trade commissioner, for the foreign policy role. Britain dropped its bid to to get Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, appointed to the presidency earlier in the day after it became clear that centre-right countries, who dominate the EU, were determined that the role should go to someone from their group. "When it became clear that because of the various political considerations and varying views among the rest of the members, then the prime minister made the forceful step of proposing Catherine Ashton for the high representative's position," a spokesman for Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, said. Presidential role Thursday's debate over the appointments had focused over what role the president of the European Council should play, with many arguing that the role should go to a technocrat who can build unity and consensus. The Lisbon Treaty which created the new post was vague on its powers and obligations, saying simply that the president should "drive forward" the EU's work. "The Lisbon Treaty wanted to instill greater continuity and coherence into the European Council of Heads of State and Government," Van Rompuy said. "Six-monthly [rotating] presidencies had the advantage of involving all 27 member states in the work of the Union. The disadvantage was a lack of perspective, it is my firm intention to ensure that our work develops over a long-term period." Van Rompuy will serve a two-and-a-half year term, which is renewable once. Glyn Ford, a former Labour member of the European parliament, told Al Jazeera that building a political presence in Europe was one of the challenges a new president would face. "Europe is bigger than the United States, its richer than the United States, it gives more to the developing world than the United States by far. But we don't actually have the political presence," he said. "Now how do you develop that political presence?" Consensus-builder Van Rompuy told the news conference that he recognised that Europe faced sizeable challenges, including the financial crisis and climate change, and emphasised his credentials as a consensus-builder. "I think there were many names on the shortlist that fitted the job description a bit better [than Ashton] and I am afraid that this is one more case in which horse-trading has prevailed" Marco Incerti, Centre for European Policy Studies "As I am concerned every nation should emerge victorious from negotiations. A negotiation that ends with a defeated party is never a good negotiation," he said "As president-elect of the council I will listen carefully to everyone and I will ensure that our deliberations turn into results for everyone." Marco Incerti, a research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies, told Al Jazeera that the appointments marked a missed opportunity for the European Union. "Because it had been known for some time that Mr Van Rompuy would be appointed as president of the European Council people were hoping that for the foreign minister job we would get somebody a bit better known," he said. "There is nothing wrong with Catherine Ashton herself, but she lacks international experience. "For a post like that of foreign minister of the European Union having been in a comparable job for some time, having built networks ... could have been useful. "I think there were many names on the shortlist that fitted the job description a bit better and I am afraid that this is one more case in which horse-trading has prevailed. It was matter of giving the position to a Socialist in turn of the president of the council to the centre-right." Powerful nations Ashton, who has a reputation as an effective negotiator in Brussels, revealed her surprise at being appointed when she told the news conference that she had no prepared speech, but also asked people to wait to see how she performs. "Judge me on what I do and I think you will be pleased and proud of me," she said. Leila Talani, a lecturer on European politics at King's College London, said that the appointments showed the power of the European Union's big nations. 'The European Council is an intergovernmental institution and it is governed by the most powerful members states ... the most powerful are France and Germany, and to a certain extent the UK. "I would consider it [the UK] one of the winners of these negotiations as they have got perhaps the most important position with the foreign minister." \|\|\|\|\| EU Selects New President Photo: AP The European Union has chosen its first full-time president - Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy. Leaders of the 27-member bloc also chose a woman for the second top job - British commissioner Catherine Ashton, who will be the EU's new foreign policy chief At a press conference in Brussels, the European Union's President-elect Herman Van Rompuy offered a unifying message in English, Flemish and French - vowing to listen and take into account all the diverse views of the 27-member block. "Europe must be in every member state's advantage," said Herman Van Rompuy. "This cardinal principle leds me to a two-track approach. First of all, I will consider everyone's interests and sensitivities. Even if our unity is our strength, our diversity remains our wealth. Every country has its own history, its own culture, its own way of doing things. Our journey may be toward a common destination, but we will all bring along different luggage." Von Rompuy also vowed to ensure that every country in the EU will emerge victorious from any decision taken. He becomes the new EU president January 1. Von Rompuy's selection took place fairly swiftly over a dinner meeting among European leaders, after weeks of divisions over who would get the top job. In selecting the Belgian premier, they opted for a candidate able to cobble unity and compromise, rather than a high profile figure for the job. EU leaders also sought balance in selecting Catherine Ashton, the British trade commissioner for the European Union, for the job as foreign minister. Ashton said she was proud to be selected for a high-profile role in an institution dominated by men. And she said she would deliver results. "Am I an ego on legs? No I'm not," said Catherine Ashton. "Do I want to be seen as saying everything all the time? No I don't. Judge me on what I do and I think you'll be pleased and proud of me." The moment of greatest levity - and complexity - came when a reporter asked who world leaders should dial when they wanted to speak to the European Union. That remains a tricky answer as the EU is still a federation of individual and independent states.	Herman Van Rompuy. File photograph of Baroness Catherine Ashton, who was chosen as the first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been chosen as the first permanent President of the European Council, at a meeting of European Union leaders today in Brussels. Baroness Catherine Ashton of the United Kingdom has been selected as the first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The positions are both newly created by the Lisbon Treaty. Following a week of negotiations, Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was attempting to find a compromise among the leaders of the EU's 27 member states, after division over candidates had previously failed to result in a unanimous decision. Van Rompuy's selection finally took place today, and fairly quickly, over a dinner meeting among European leaders. "I did not seek this high position, I didn't make any steps to achieve it, but from tonight I take on this task with conviction and enthusiasm," Van Rompuy said at a news conference after being chosen. "Europe must be in every member state's advantage," he continued. "This cardinal principle leds me to a two-track approach. First of all, I will consider everyone's interests and sensitivities. Even if our unity is our strength, our diversity remains our wealth. Every country has its own history, its own culture, its own way of doing things. Our journey may be toward a common destination, but we will all bring along different luggage." He also promised to ensure that every country in the EU will emerge victorious from any decision taken. He is to officially become the EU president on January 1 of next year. Initially, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair was a popular candidate for President. However, the relatively unknown Van Rompuy, apparently backed by France and Germany emerged as a compromise. Germany had denied backing Van Rompuy, despite its ambassador to Belgium saying to the ''De Morgen'' newspaper that "The German government is in favour of Prime Minister Van Rompuy, and if his candidacy fails it will not be because of Berlin."
Yegor Gaidar, the controversial architect of Russia's painful transition to a post-Soviet market economy, died today. He was 53. A liberal economist, Gaidar served as Russia's first finance minister under Boris Yeltsin. In January 1992 he abolished state control of prices, wiping out the rouble savings of millions of ordinary Russians overnight. His reforms were described as shock therapy. They paved the way for the dubious state privatisations of the 1990s and the rise of the oligarchs. But they also saw food and other goods surge into Russia after years of Soviet hardship. Today colleagues and friends paid tribute to Gaidar. They said his reforms had led to Russia's decade of unprecedented economic growth between 1999 and 2008. A former prime minister, Gaidar went on to head the influential Institute for Economies in Transition. President Dmitry Medvedev described Gaidar as a brave, honest and determined man who "assumed responsibility for unpopular measures in a period of radical changes". Medvedev said he was "an outstanding economist and statesman. His name is associated with … our country's transition to a radically new path of development," adding: "He always firmly followed his convictions, which commanded respect from both those who shared his views and his opponents." Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who worked with Gaidar in the Union of Right Forces party, said: "Yegor was a fearless, strong and honest person and a genuine patriot." Gaidar was a deputy in Russia's federal duma for the party between 1999 and 2003. "Gaidar knew that a lot of people hated him," Nemtsov said. "But people should know that after the collapse of the Soviet Union there were only two possibilities: disintegration, civil war and rivers of blood or difficult and painful reforms." Gaidar's colleague and friend Anatoly Chubais, the chief of Russia's 1990s privatisation programme, added in his blog today: "He was a great person. Few people in the history of Russia or the world can compare with him in terms of force of intellect, or his clarity of understanding of the past, present and future." Gaidar died of a blood clot at his home in the Moscow region. Friends say he had been in poor health since he was mysteriously poisoned at a conference in Ireland in 2006, collapsing soon after eating breakfast. His sudden unexplained symptoms led to comparisons with the polonium assassination in November 2006 of the renegade FSB operative Alexander Litvenenko – though no link between the two cases was proved. Critics accused Gaidar of intellectual conceit and said that his zealousness for market reforms was reminiscent of the fanaticism displayed by his grandfather, the Soviet writer Arkady Gaidar, for Bolshevism. Defenders point out that Gaider's market-oriented supporters now run the Kremlin. Gaidar was born in Moscow on 19 March 1956. He graduated in economics from Moscow State University in 1978. After leaving politics, he remained influential behind the scenes, offering informal advice to Vladimir Putin on a range of economic issues. \|\|\|\|\| Yegor Gaidar, a well-known Russian politician, died December 16 at age 54. Medics said that Gaidar died at 8 a.m. in his home outside Moscow. The politician died because of a blood clot, medics said. Yegor Gaidar was born on March 19, 1956. He was a well-known Russian statesman, politician and a prominent economist. Gaidar was one of the ideologists and supervisors of radical economic reforms conducted in Russia in the middle of the 1990s. He took high positions in the Russian government from 1991 to 1994 and served as Acting Prime Minister, and then worked as a deputy of the State Duma, Pravda.Ru reports. His father, Timur Gaidar, was a foreign military correspondent of the Pravda newspaper, the son of a well-known Soviet writer, Arkady Gaidar. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yegor Gaidar made a career working at the newspaper Pravda and Communist magazine published by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. He participated in the development of economic reforms run during Gorbachev’s perestroika period. While in government, Gaidar advocated liberal economic reforms according to the principle of shock therapy. His most well-known decision was to abolish price regulation by the state, which immediately resulted in a major increase of prices and amounted to officially authorizing a market economy in Russia. He also cut military procurement and industrial subsidies, and reduced the budget deficit. Gaidar was the First Vice-Premier of the Russian Government and Minister of Economics from 1991 until 1992, and Minister of Finance from February 1992 until April 1992. Read more news \|\|\|\|\| Yegor Gaidar, one of the leading architects of free market reforms in post-Soviet Russia, has died at the age of 53, his aide said on Wednesday. "Yegor Gaidar has died, I cannot currently give any more details," Gennady Volkov said. Gaidar reportedly died of natural causes when a blood clot became dislodged. He was one of the young reformers, including Anatoly Chubais and Boris Nemtsov, that President Boris Yeltsin surrounded himself with in the early 1990s and was acting prime minister during the second half of 1992. The parliament refused to confirm Yeltsin's choice, and Gaidar stepped aside for Viktor Chernomyrdin to become the president's economic adviser. He was vilified by the public for the hardships caused by his "shock therapy" policy to move Russia from the Soviet planned economy to free-market capitalism and left government in 1994, although he was elected to serve two terms in the State Duma, in 1993-1995 and 1999-2003. Chubais, the minister responsible for privatization in the early 1990s, praised Gaidar as Russia's savior. "It was Russia's huge good fortune that in one of the worst moments in its history it had Yegor Gaidar. In the early 1990s he saved the country from famine, civil war and disintegration," Chubais wrote in his blog. Chubais, who was also demonized over the economic reforms of the 1990s but unlike Gaidar has remained near the center of Russian power, said the former top official had remained an "intellectual and moral leader for all of us." "Few people in the history of Russia and in world history can be compared with him for force of intellect, clarity of understanding of the past, present and future, and a willingness to take the most difficult but necessary decisions," wrote Chubais, who oversaw the breakup of electricity monopoly UES and now heads the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation. Ian Bremmer, the president of Eurasia Group, one of the leading experts on Russia, told RIA Novosti, "I'm very sad to wake and learn of this news. It makes you realize how far we are from the days of 'transition'. egor was a towering intellect, a global thinker whose conception of Russia was grounded in history but not incapacitated by it. His untimely passing comes as a shock. This time, there's even less therapy. I'll miss him." Gaidar was born March 19, 1956 in Moscow, the son of former Navy admiral and journalist Timur Gaidar and grandson of famous writer Arkady Gaidar. He is survived by his wife, three sons and daughter. MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti)	Yegor Gaidar Russian liberal economist and politician Yegor Gaidar died on Wednesday at the age of 53. He was the son of the famous Russian journalist Timur Gaidar. Born in Moscow in 1956, he graduated in economics from Moscow State University in 1978. In January 1992 in the position of Russia's first finance minister he dropped state control over prices, making Russia a capitalist country with a market economy. While working as an acting Prime Minister of Russia, Gaidar provided the so-called "shock therapy" treatment of the Russian economy, a set of liberal economic reforms. His health was declining after he was allegedly poisoned in Ireland in 2006, collapsing soon after eating breakfast. This episode led to comparisons to Alexander Litvenenko, killed with radioactive polonium in November 2006. Yegor Gaidar died of a blood clot at his home in the Moscow region. He is survived by his wife, three sons and daughter. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday, the burial place is yet to be decided.
KIEV, August 15 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko sent an urgent proposal to Russia on Friday to draft a bilateral agreement on the Russian Black Sea fleet deployed in Ukraine. Yushchenko said he had presented Russia with "an urgent proposition to launch talks and draw up an agreement to regulate bilateral relations during military operations" such as those in Georgia over the past week. Ships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet patrolled the waters off the Georgian coast during Russia's "peace enforcement" operation that began after Georgia launched an offensive in breakaway South Ossetia on August 8. Yushchenko signed a decree Wednesday stating that Russia was required to notify the Ukrainian authorities of all movements by naval vessels and aircraft from its Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet. He signed the document after returning from Tbilisi, where he took part in a mass rally in support of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili amid fighting with Russia. Both leaders have pursued pro-Western policies, seeking to join NATO and the European Union and reduce Russian influence. Ukraine even threatened last weekend to refuse to allow the Russian vessels to return to the Sevastopol naval base. Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that the Russian Navy had sunk a Georgian vessel transporting missile launchers. Russia's Black Sea Fleet uses the Sevastopol base under agreements signed in 1997. Yushchenko announced earlier this year that Ukraine would not extend the lease beyond 2017. \|\|\|\|\| Stuck at Home, Men in Japan Learn to Help. Will It Last? The pandemic is exposing like never before the severe disparities in how Japanese couples divide household work. \|\|\|\|\| KIEV (Reuters) - Pro-Western Ukraine vowed on Thursday to make Russia seek official permission for movements of its warships based in the ex-Soviet state despite Moscow’s objections, placing the neighbors on a collision course. In this file photo Ukrainian activists of the Young People's RUKH political organization take part in a rally in front of the Russian Embassy, demanding the withdrawal of the Russian navy from its base in Sevastopol May 28, 2008. Pro-Western Ukraine vowed on Thursday to make Russia seek official permission for movements of its warships based in the ex-Soviet state despite Moscow's objections, placing the neighbors on a collision course. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based on Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula under an agreement signed by the two ex-Soviet states. Kiev’s jurisdiction over the area remains a highly sensitive issue among Russian nationalists and in the peninsula dominated by ethnic Russians. Ukraine’s plans for tougher rules on Russian naval moves, announced by President Viktor Yushchenko on Wednesday, are the latest affront to Moscow after Kiev’s sharp criticism of its military incursion into Georgia in support of breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Tension between the two states had already been simmering due to Moscow’s opposition to Kiev’s efforts to join NATO, and past disputes over gas prices and property. On Thursday, Georgian Chief of Staff Serhiy Kirichenko said Yushchenko’s decree would be carried out, no matter what. “There is a presidential decree and it will, naturally, be implemented,” Interfax Ukraine quoted him as saying. “I guarantee that we will do everything to ensure the president’s decree is carried out.” Investors priced Ukrainian assets sharply riskier amid concerns over the row with Russia, with the cost of insuring Ukrainian government debt widening sharply. Yushchenko’s decree on Wednesday required the fleet to secure permission for any movements 72 hours in advance. In Moscow, the deputy head of Russia’s general staff dismissed it as irrelevant. “We have one general commander for the Black Sea fleet. It is the President of Russia,” Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said. “And all commands from outside are illegitimate to us.” TENSION Ukraine’s leaders, like the United States, have backed Georgia throughout the conflict and urged Moscow to withdraw troops from its smaller neighbor’s territory. On Thursday, Yushchenko’s Website said the president had spoken to U.S. President George W. Bush and praised Washington’s “clear and consistent position”. Under the terms of Wednesday’s presidential decree, Ukrainian authorities must inform fleet commanders of their consent for the movement of warships and aircraft 24 hours before their scheduled departure. Should commanders fail to comply with the rules, Ukraine’s foreign ministry would be empowered to ask the vessel or aircraft to leave Ukrainian territory. The conflict in South Ossetia has given rise to suggestions that disagreements between Ukraine and Russia could rekindle tension between the two neighbors over the fleet and Crimea that existed throughout the early post-Soviet years. Under a 1997 agreement, Ukraine agreed to lease harbor space in the Crimea peninsula base of Sevastopol until 2017. Yushchenko and other officials say Ukraine has no intention of extending the lease and have called for negotiations to ensure for an orderly departure of the fleet by 2017 -- a position strongly criticized by the Kremlin. Nationalist Russian politicians regularly suggest that Moscow should reclaim Sevastopol -- or even all of Crimea -- as its own territory. Crimea, part of Russia from the late 18th century, was handed to Soviet Ukraine by Kremlin leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1954 when the collapse of communism was unthinkable. It reverted to independent Ukraine when Soviet rule collapsed in 1991.	Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko issued a decree limiting the movement of Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukrainian waters in response to its deployment in a blockade of Georgia's sea ports during the Russia-Georgia conflict. Ukraine has already before urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia's territory. Last weekend Ukraine threatened to refuse the Russian vessels reentry to the Sevastopol naval base if they became involved in the conflict in Georgia. Russian Москва cruiser of the Black Sea FleetThe Russian fleet is based in Sevastopol on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula under an agreement signed between Russia and Ukraine. Under the terms of the decree, the Russian navy is compelled to obtain Ukrainian permission 72 hours in advance of the departure of any of its warships or aircraft. Ukraine's foreign ministry would be empowered to demand a vessel leave Ukrainian territory if the Russians did not comply. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the Ukrainian move as reflecting "an obsessive desire to please NATO and join it." Russian deputy chief of General Staff, Anatoly Nogovitsyn, dismissed the decree as "nonsense" and said that the order would make Russia's Black Sea Fleet subordinate to the Ukrainian government. According to Russian RIA Novosti news agency, Yushchenko sent a proposal to Russia on Friday to draft a bilateral agreement on the Russian Black Sea fleet deployed in Ukraine. The Russian fleet blocked several Ukrainian vessels in the Georgian port of Poti but within a couple of days they were released. Georgian Chief of Staff Serhiy Kirichenko said on Thursday that the presidential decree would be carried out, no matter what. "Putin's next target will be Ukraine" said Richard Holbrooke, a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations in a CNN interview.
NEWS MIDDLE EAST Violence at al-Aqsa compound Israeli police arrested 17 Palestinians after Friday's clashes in Jerusalem's Old City [AFP] Clashes broke out between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem after Friday prayers. Israeli policemen using tear gas and stun grenades entered the area around the mosque. Seventeen Palestinians were arrested and 17 Israeli police officers were reported to be wounded. Israeli riot police with the visors of their helmets pulled down scuffled with worshippers, some of them middle-aged or elderly. Medics tended several injured people lying on the stone pavement. Jewish worshippers were evacuated from the Western Wall plaza at the foot of the compound. Tense calm prevailed in the Old City by the end of the day. Day of Anger A "day of anger" on the Muslim day of rest had been called by Tayssir al-Tamimi, the Palestinian chief justice, who on Tuesday called for "all Palestinians to go and protect al-Aqsa against Israeli plans that aim to destroy the mosque". On Friday Palestinians hurled stones, bottles and rubbish in outrage over what Israel says is renovation work. Your Views "The daily teachings of suffering and hatred must be replaced with tolerance and co-existence" Docdeb, NY, US Send us your views Israeli police streamed on to the hilltop compound known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, to try to quell what Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, called Muslims rioting over the repair work. Clouds of tear gas rose up at the holy site and stun grenades set off sharp booms. Twenty Palestinians were treated for injuries, a Palestinian medical source said. Witnesses said police arrested a number of people. Mike Hanna, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said tear-gas shells and rubber-coated bullets were fired in different areas of the Old City, injuring a number of people. Dr Khalil el-Baba, a doctor treating some of the injured, also said Israeli officers fired rubber-coated steel bullets. Israeli police denied this. Friday prayers Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the Jerusalem mufti, who delivered the main Friday sermon, criticised what he called Israel's "aggression". He said: "We condemn this blatant Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa mosque and on the worshippers." Thousands of Palestinians had attended prayers at the mosque and heard him criticise the current Israeli works. Israel is "Judaizing Jerusalem", he declared, urging Muslims throughout the world to "protect" occupied East Jerusalem and the mosque esplanade. Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said the mufti issued calls for calm over the mosque's loudspeaker system, normally used for the call to prayer. Stun grenades Maher al-Ami, a journalist for Jerusalem's al-Quds newspaper, said: "We were at Friday prayers and suddenly they [the Israelis] began to shout and throw stun grenades." Adnan Husseini, director of the Muslim organisation Waqf, said: 'We are surrounded. There is one gate still open but they [the Israelis] won't let anyone leave." Rosenfeld said: "Seventeen policemen were hurt, nine of them taken to hospital. Seventeen Arab rioters were arrested and police are in full control. "Around 150 worshippers are now leaving in peace and quiet after dialogue between police and Muslim representatives." Heavy deployment Israel had deployed 3,000 police officers around Jerusalem's Old City in advance of Muslim prayers at the mosque compound, amid widespread Arab anger over Israeli excavation work nearby. Palestinians ran for cover when they were charged by Israeli police on horseback [AFP] Ilan Franco, Jerusalem police chief, said officers were posted on Friday amid "intelligence indications" that disturbances could erupt. Arab states say the work could damage the foundations of the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. Speaking in Saudi Arabia, a day after striking a Palestinian unity government deal, Mahmoud Abbas, the president, said the Israeli works amounted to "hostile measures". Israeli authorities say the building work, begun on Tuesday, is being carried out to replace a centuries-old ramp 60 metres away. Thousands of Muslims regularly attend Friday prayers at al-Aqsa mosque. A controversial visit to the mosque compound in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then leader of the Israeli opposition, sparked the most recent intifada. Source: Agencies \|\|\|\|\| The Islamic Movement rally at the Mugrabi gate is blocking Jews from entering the Western Wall complex to pray, said Aryeh King, from the Jewish associations in East Jerusalem. King appealed to Jerusalem district police to disperse the protestors and added that, if no action were taken by police, he would appeal to the High Court. (Lilach Shoval) \|\|\|\|\| While the recent infighting between Hamas and Fatah has shown the mutual hate and enmity between the two main Palestinian factions, it pales into insignificance when both sides raise to an occasion - real or fabricated - to display their Joo-hate. The waves of hysteria about the newly generated myth about "Israeli Designs on Al-Aqsa" are getting higher and higher by the day. Just to watch the language used by various Muslim sources is highly educational, seeing a new low in the anti-Israeli propaganda. So: Israeli designs on Al-Aqsa (Al Jazeera) Attempts to “obliterate” the Islamic stamp of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al Jazeera) Ethnic cleansing operation (Al Jazeera) Israel's intentions to destroy holy Islamic sites (Abu Mazen via Haaretz) What Israel is doing in its practices and attacks against our sacred Muslim sites in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa is a blatant violation (King Abdullah II via Haaretz) MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List) warned on Tuesday that the excavations are likely to ignite a third intifada, which will include protests and conflict throughout the Arab and Muslim world. "I have a stern warning for the enemy," Khaled Meshal said at a news conference in the Syrian capital. Head of the northern branch of the Islamic movement Sheik Ra'ad Salah, and the head of Jerusalem's Supreme Muslim Council Ikrima Sabri called this week for all Muslims in Israel to flock to the Temple Mount complex to prevent Israel from actions that they say are meant to destroy the Mugrabi Gate. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday said that Israeli excavation works near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were likely to endanger regional peace efforts, Israel Radio reported. The dig is part of a plan to rebuild the Mugrabi bridge walkway planned to run from the Dung gate to the Mugrabi gate, which serves as the primary entrance to the compound referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as al-Haram al-Sherif, the Noble Sanctuary. Husseini said he suspected that the excavations around the holy site were attempts to tunnel under it - a common allegation among Muslims, though one never substantiated - and demanded that Israel cease all digs immediately. *** And, of course, the created myth is immediately foolowed by dire threats. The threats come even from the Israeli Muslims:It is clear then what should be expected and, indeed, came from the others:But what is really going on?The following diagram (from BBC , to avoid accusations of bias) shows the location of the bridge:It is easy to see that the location of the bridge is a) outside the Temple Mount and b) quite far away from the Al-Aqsa mosque. To get a better visual impression, here is a snapshot of the area (the Mugrabi bridge is marked by the red line): Currently the bridge is a wooden temporary construction, a clear safety hazard that must be addressed - for the sake of some of the same rubble rousers that create the hysteria today. It's enough to remind that the old bridge collapsed in 2004: However, the tactics of the Joo-haters are clear: to use the opportunity for heating up the scene and unite the divided Palestinian fractions now is much more important than the destiny of some bridge. And if it collapses again, so what, it is an additional bonus that will allow to blame Zionists anew.To add fuel to conflagration, some parties would use anything:Of course, coming from the camp that produced uncounted myths like use of uranium shells in Gaza, poisonous gases, dissemination of bird flu, poisoning of wells - this one is not surprising.The goal of the current Palestinian PR exercise is clear: while overcoming the internal squabbles is difficult to impossible, it would serve all parties to turn the attention to the Zionists' "atrocity". While keeping the knives ready for the next opportune moment.See more from Judeopundit Labels: Hatefest, Politics, Religion \|\|\|\|\| JAKARTA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, urged Israel on Friday to stop excavations near Jerusalem's most important holy Islamic site, saying the move could worsen the Middle East conflict. Israel says the excavation is aimed at salvaging artefacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex, also sacred to Jews. But Muslims fear the work could damage the foundation of the 1,400-year-old al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine which has been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian fighting in the past. "We call on Israel to stop the excavation because not only the activity has the potential to physically harm the mosque which is highly regarded by Muslims, but also will add to the tension unnecessarily and complicate efforts to revive the peace process in the Middle East," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told a news conference. The excavation work has been criticised by several Arab countries and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said any damage to al-Aqsa would release Palestinian militant groups from a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip. The Arab group at the United Nations appealed on Thursday to the U.N. Security Council to stop the excavation, which Israel says will not harm the mosque. Indonesia also welcomed an agreement reached on Thursday by rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government during talks in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. "It's a step forward. I very much hope this meeting will be a success," he said. Around 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam. Internecine fighting between forces loyal to President Abbas and the governing Hamas movement has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December. In a January 2006 election, Hamas beat the long-dominant Fatah movement of President Abbas, who is seen as a moderate. The United States severed contact with the new Hamas government and other factions refused to join. \|\|\|\|\| Amid the old city of Jerusalem and rising above it is the ancient site of Solomon's Temple and the point from which the Prophet Mohammed journeyed to Heaven. Holy to Jews and Muslims, it is as dangerous these days as a ticking atom bomb. Any readjustment of its ancient stones can detonate outrage among millions of faithful around the world. On Friday, Muslims in Jerusalem protested against Israeli excavation work next to al-Aqsa, one of Islam's holiest shrines, which sits atop the site. Around the world, Muslims declared a universal "day of anger," Israeli police stormed into the Muslim compound and fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at youths trying to hurl stones at Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall. Israeli police claim that 17 protesters and 15 police officers were injured in the clashes, but Palestinians say many more were hurt in skirmishes around the mosque grounds. The latest crisis began when Israeli authorities started rebuilding and extending a pedestrian ramp which rises to the Mugrabi Gate, an entrance that allows tourists to view the gardens of the sacred Muslim precinct, the silver al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, a shrine clad with turquoise mosaics and topped with a glowing, golden dome. The ramp is a simple piece of construction that will rest on seven concrete pillars. A 2004 earthquake and a snowstorm had damaged the old pedestrian bridge. But with tension running high between Israelis and Palestinians, the repair work has become a volatile religious issue, one that radical Muslim clerics are using to whip up more hatred against Israel. Says Dan Seidemann, a Jerusalem lawyer trying to broker a solution to the latest religious flare-up, "It's reaching critical mass and the situation could explode at any time." Neither Muslims nor Jews are comfortable sharing this holy site, and religious extremists are trying through bombs, fire, stones and other provocations to drive the other out. Some Muslim clerics say that re-building the pedestrian walkway is tipping the balance of co-existence between the two faiths. As an editorialist wrote wearily in the Israeli daily Ha'aretz: "The excavation work and bridge construction...have turned into the Battle of Armageddon, as happens every time." In 1996, tunneling by Israeli archeologists underneath the compound led to riots between protesters and Israeli troops in which 69 Palestinians and 16 Israeli soldiers were killed. The Mugrabi Gate has always been a thorn in the side of the al-Aqsa worshippers. It provides the only Israeli access to the Muslim mosque and shrine, and it was through this gate in 2000 that Ariel Sharon, then the Israeli opposition leader, strutted into the Muslim grounds and sparked a bloody Palestinian uprising. It is also via this pedestrian ramp that Israeli police swarm into the Muslim precinct whenever trouble erupts as they did during Friday's riots and Muslim leaders are worried that the new, reinforced ramp will allow more police and extremists to trespass on their holy shrine. Some Christians and Jews believe that the building of the Third Temple by the Jews will herald the Messiah's arrival, and that can only be accomplished by destroying the Muslim place of worship. But Israeli authorities insist they are making the ramp stronger only to make it safer for thousands of daily visitors. Muslims also say that the excavations will also be destroying chunks of their religious heritage, but Israeli archeologists and Palestinian workers on the site are clearing away every stone and pottery fragment with the precision of surgeons. Not that it matters. Throughout the Muslim world, the Israeli excavations adjacent to al-Aqsa are being portrayed as sacrilege, as another blow by Israel and, indirectly, by its ally America, against Islam. For the last three days, the story has topped headlines and news broadcasts throughout the Muslim world. In Mecca, Palestinian leaders from the rival Fatah and Hamas movements took a break from their efforts to avert a civil war and condemned Israel's supposed tampering with the holy place in Jerusalem. Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said: "Israel has a clear scheme to demolish the al-Aqsa mosque through various games and tricks, and we hope to see a decisive Arab and Islamic position. The language of condemnation is not enough." Also in Mecca, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that further excavation could endanger a November cease-fire in Gaza between Palestinian militants and Israelis. The crisis will also complicate Abbas' task of persuading Hamas to moderate its hostility towards Israel, which it refuses to recognize. Meanwhile, in Iran, spiritual leader Ali Khamenei warned: "We must make the Zionists regret their action." All this hostility could have been avoided, say Israeli experts, if the authorities had first sought clearance from the Waqf, the Islamic board which governs the al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is under pressure from his neighbor, Jordan's King Abdullah, and from his own defense minister Amir Peretz, to halt the controversial dig. So far, Olmert has refused their entreaties, saying that the changes would not " harm" anyone. Meir Ben-Dov, a leading Israeli archeologist who has worked on the site for 39 years, criticized the excavation work. He told the Israeli press that it was " short-sightedness by someone who wants riots, by people with no brain." Already, one Palestinian militant group says it intends to attack synagogues in revenge for the excavations. The standoff at Temple Mount/al-Aqsa, over a simple repair, threatens to blow into something far larger and more dangerous. With additional reporting by Jamil Hamad and Aaron J. Klein in Jerusalem \|\|\|\|\| Zafar ul Haq urges Muslim countries to snap diplomatic ties with Israel ISLAMABAD: PML-N chairman Raja Zafar ul Haq has urged the Muslim countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel to snap their ties for pressurizing the Jewish state to abandon its efforts to construct Temple of Solomon in place of al-Aqsa mosque. "The Muslim countries which have recognized Israel should snap diplomatic ties and withdraw their envoys in order to exert pressure on it for preventing it from building Temple of Solomon in place of al-Aqsa mosque. Such attempts on the part of Israel will put in jeopardy the global peace", he said this while addressing a press conference here Friday in Mutmar Aalam Islami. He went on to say that pulpit built by Salah ud Din Ayubi in al-Aqsa mosque was razed in 1969. Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) came into existence after this incident. Israel soon after the establishment of OIC, planned to construct Temple of Solomon in place of mosque. This plan remained suspended from time to time. But the Jews are out to built this Temple at every cost. He alleged that people of Palestine were pitted against each other to secure materialization of this plan. US and other powers are backing Israel under international conspiracies. He pointed out that Yasser Arafat in the last days of his life had realized his mistake of recognition of Israel. " I have sent a letter to UN secretary general and director UNESCO to play their role in this regard", he added. \|\|\|\|\| JERUSALEM -- A fiery Islamic leader called on his fellow Israeli Arabs and Muslims around the world Thursday to rise up in protest of Israeli construction work near a holy site in Jerusalem. Fearing thousands might heed his call, Israeli police intensified security measures ahead of Friday Muslim prayers at the site, adding travel restrictions and plans to send a helicopter hovering overhead. The dispute centers on Israel's decision to begin repair work on an earthen ramp leading to the hilltop compound known as the Temple Mount to Jews and as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. The centuries-old ramp was damaged in a 2004 snowstorm, and Israeli authorities promised that its plan to replace it would not damage the holy site, about 60 yards way. But Muslim leaders began protesting the work as soon as it started Tuesday, and they called for wide-scale demonstrations Friday. "The aggression happening now is a tragedy, a crime," Raed Salah, a leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, told The Associated Press. He accused Israel of declaring "a regional, religious war." The site, home to the golden-capped Dome of the Rock shrine and Al Aqsa mosque, is especially important to Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. Not only is it Islam's third-holiest site, from where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven, but it also is a focal point of their national pride. The compound is also sacred to Jews as the site of their biblical temples. Israel has controlled the contentious compound since the 1967 Mideast War, but has left its administration largely to the Jordanian-controlled trust known as the Waqf and to the Palestinians. When fighting broke out between Israel and the Palestinians in 2000, Israeli restrictions prevented many Palestinians from the West Bank from praying at Al Aqsa. Salah began busing in Muslims from northern Israel to take their place, and his power at the site grew. He also has taken a lead in demonstrating against perceived Israeli violations at the site, and is known by many Palestinians as the "Sheik of Al Aqsa." Salah called for a large demonstration in the Israeli Arab city of Nazareth on Friday, which he declared "Al Aqsa Day." "This is the first step to get all the Palestinians inside Israel energized to participate in the protests," he said, adding that he hoped Muslims around the world would join. Muslim leaders abroad have denounced the work near the site, and UNESCO called on Israel "to suspend any action that could endanger the spirit of mutual respect until such time as the will to dialogue prevails once again."	Al-Aqsa mosque is regarded as the third holiest Islamic site. Violent clashes have broken out between Palestinians and Israeli police near the al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount in Jerusalem, from controversy over Israeli construction near the site, which is holy to both Muslims and Jews. The construction work reportedly is to repair a pedestrian bridge that leads to the Mugrabi Gate, the entrance to the mosque used by Palestinians, and runs over the Jewish Western Wall area of the complex. The earthen ramp bridge leads to a hilltop compound known as the Temple Mount to Jews and as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. The bridge collapsed in 2004 and was temporarily replaced with a wooden bridge which Israelis say is weakening and unsafe. Israel has controlled the contentious compound since the 1967 Mideast War, The construction involves excavation work and digging at the site, which Palestinian leaders contend is part of an attempt to dig under the mosque to find evidence of the Jewish Second Temple and/or to deliberately weaken the foundation of the mosque. Muslims dispute that the Temple was located at the site. Some artifacts have been salvaged from the digging work. Temple Mount and the Western wall. Israeli forces locked down Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem in anticipation of backlashes from the construction. The Old Jerusalem city limits were blockaded, allowing only Palestinians over 45 years old from entering and only on foot. Palestinians from the West Bank were completely barred. Opponents have declared the blockades and the construction work a deliberate act to prevent Muslims from accessing the holy site. The mass of protesters at the site have in turn blocked Jewish access to the Western Wall. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared the construction and blockade as "hostile measures" against Muslims. Palestinian chief justice Tayssir al-Tamimi declared a "day of anger" and called on Palestinians to defend the mosque. Arab and Muslim countries including Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia criticized Israel for the controversial work and urged it to halt construction. Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz also warned against starting construction. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League urged Muslim countries to freeze diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of the work. Around 150 Muslims were inside the mosque for morning prayers when the construction and blockade began. An Israeli Muslim journalist reported that the worshippers were unable to leave and received loud messages from Israeli loudspeakers. The al-Aqsa mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, having once been the central point of prayer (qibla) for Muslims and allegedly the place where Muhammad ascended into heaven. Conventional Judaism believes it is also the historic site of the First and Second Temples, the holiest temple in Judaism, which is prophesised to be rebuilt ahead of the coming of the Messiah. No deaths have been reported in the clashes, which simmered by evening. Demonstrations also took place at mosques throughout the Muslim world, including Egypt and Jordan. Protests were expected later in the day in Nazareth. The incident comes only a few days after rival Palestinian political factions, Hamas and Fatah, came to an agreement for a unity government aimed at restoring international support of Palestine and a return to Israeli negotiations.
Former US VP Al Gore 'will not face assault charges' Mr Gore denies any assault took place during a massage by Molly Hagerty Former US Vice-President Al Gore will not face charges over allegations he groped and assaulted a masseuse in his hotel room in Portland, Oregon, in 2006, law enforcement officials say. The authorities say there is "a lack of credible evidence" and the claims do not warrant a criminal prosecution. The decision comes a month after police reopened the investigation. Mr Gore does not dispute that he had a massage from Molly Hagerty, 54, but denies any assault took place. The case, which was closed previously because of a lack of evidence, was reopened in June after Ms Haggerty told the National Enquirer magazine that Mr Gore had tried to assault her. Having reopened the case, prosecutors reportedly chose not to pursue it because Ms Hagerty had refused a polygraph test and appeared to have been paid by the magazine. Mr Gore was in Portland to deliver a speech on climate change when the massage in question took place. Mr Gore separated from his wife, Tipper, in June. \|\|\|\|\| A spokeswoman for Al Gore said he 'unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learnt of its existence three years ago'. Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP Former vice president Al Gore has been cleared of allegations that he groped and assaulted a masseuse in a Portland hotel room in 2006. After a four-week investigation that included interviews with Gore, the masseuse, her acquaintances and hotel staff, authorities said there was no basis for prosecution. Senior deputy district attorney Don Rees cited "contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, lack of forensic evidence and denials by Mr Gore". Rees also said the masseuse and her attorneys were uncooperative, witnesses could not remember anything unusual, and that the masseuse failed a polygraph examination and would not say whether she was paid by a tabloid newspaper for her story. "Mr Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learnt of its existence three years ago," spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said. "He respects and appreciates the thorough and professional work of the Portland authorities and is pleased that this matter has now been resolved." \|\|\|\|\| Former Vice President Al Gore did not commit acts of sexual harassment "appropriate for criminal prosecution," according to office of the district attorney of Portland, Oregon, which has been investigating allegations that Gore made unwanted advances to a masseuse at a Portland hotel in 2006. Portland, Ore. police vow "to conduct a thorough, fair and timely investigation" An Oregon woman, Molly Hagerty, claimed that Gore propositioned her and tried to hug her when she came to his hotel room to give him a massage. But Senior Deputy District Attorney Don Rees, in a memo to the D.A., Michael D. Schrunk, wrote that Hagerty gave no indication afterwards that she was upset, as she later claimed. Rees noted that Hagerty sold her story to the National Enquirer, failed a polygraph test, thanked the hotel management two days after the alleged incident for sending business her way and "has not provided as repeatedly requested medical records she claims are related to the case." Rees concludes, "This case is not appropriate for criminal prosecution. The matter is closed and the investigative materials will be returned to PPB [the Portland Police Bureau]." Gore's spokeswoman, Kalee Kreider, issued a statement: "Mr. Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago. He respects and appreciates the thorough and professional work of the Portland authorities and is pleased that this matter has now been resolved." According to a 73-page "Confidential Special Report" made public by authorities on June 23, Hagerty, the "licensed massage therapist" who was not named at the time, said she was summoned to a suite at the upscale Lucia Hotel at the request of a guest, where "during the course of this massage session Al Gore did sexually assault me in his room." In a detailed statement given to police more than two years after the alleged incident, the woman described her surprise at arriving for the massage appointment to find Gore drinking beer and opening his arms in a hug, saying, "Call Me Al."	Gore's spokesperson, Kalee Kreider, said Gore denied all claims of sexual assault made by Hagerty. Former United States vice president Al Gore will not be facing assault charges due to allegations made by a masseuse in 2006, according to the , Oregon district attorney's office. Molly Hagerty, 54, claimed Gore "sexually assaulted me in his hotel room." Hagerty was called to Gore's Portland hotel room to give him a massage. Hagerty said Gore pinned her down and "he kept trying to have sex with her." Prosecutors closed the case, but after tabloid ''National Inquirer'' interviewed Hagerty they reopened the case. Hagerty refused to take a polygraph test. Deputy DA Don Rees said there is "contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, lack of forensic evidence, and denials by Mr. Gore." Rees continued saying Hagerty and her attorneys were uncooperative in the investigation.
We're sorry. The page you have requested has expired. Please visit our homepage for the latest Czech news , or visit our past issues page \|\|\|\|\| A daily in-depth look at current events in the Czech Republic. Volunteer loses weight in "Super Size Me" experiment Czech-style [09-03-2006] By Pavla Horakova Exactly a month ago the American documentary "Super Size Me" opened in Prague. On the same day, a volunteer started a similar experiment to the one the film's director, Morgan Spurlock, went through. Instead of eating McDonald's food for a month like Morgan Spurlock did, the Czech "human guinea pig" volunteered to eat typical Czech pub food for thirty days to see what effect it was going to have on his health. On Wednesday night he presented the results of his experiment in a Prague cinema - and they were quite surprising. Karel, photo: www.supersizeme.cz The audiences at the packed Cinema Aero greeted a tall big man in his forties who chose to be known as Karel Gustav Bozan for the duration of the experiment, entitled "Super Spek Me" - which loosely translates as "Super Flab Me". Unlike the hero of "Super Size Me" at the end of his experiment, Karel looked all fit and rosy-cheeked. Before he went on stage, he gave Radio Prague a brief interview. "I feel good, great! The food was varied and there were even enough greens in the garnish. As for beer, I tried to alternate brands but I always settled it with Pilsner. I liked the experiment, it was all paid for by the distributor, Aerofilms. I would do it again, maybe they will propose it to me!" Before Karel put his own body on the line, he underwent a thorough medical check-up. He went for tests again just as the experiment concluded. And here are the results: Karel lost six kilos, his liver enzymes went down and so did his cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid levels. His blood pressure remained the same. Zuzana Pudilova of Aerofilms. "The result of the experiment is surprising - both for us and the experts who monitored it. The medical report says our volunteer has lost weight and his blood sugar has dropped. So we have come to the conclusion that fatty Czech pub grub is not all that bad for you - which I guess wasn't meant to be the result of the experiment at all." Photo: www.supersizeme.cz Although what Karel ate all month can hardly be described as a healthy and balanced diet, there is an explanation for the improved results. Jan Smetanka was coordinator of the experiment. "The experiment suggests that it's not so important what we eat but how we eat. Before the experiment, Karel's eating habits were quite bad. But this past month he had to watch his diet. He ate regularly, three meals a day, which benefited his health a lot, as was proved by the medical tests." The month-long experiment "Super Spek Me" might have produced a completely different outcome had its protagonist been someone with a healthy lifestyle. Greasy Czech pub food certainly cannot be recommended as a good way to lose weight. A word of warning: Don't try this at home.	On February 8, the same day Super Size Me opened in Prague, a Czech film company's volunteer known as Karel Gustav Bozan began a 1 month diet of Czech pub food and beer in a Czech version called "Super Spek Me"; which translates loosely as "Super Flab Me". Zuzana Pudilova of Aerofilms described the volunteer at that time: "He is a well-built man between 45 and 50. He is almost 2 metres tall, he is not exactly thin but until now he has had quite a healthy lifestyle." Karel ate typical Czech pub food for an entire month with three rules: no vegetables or fresh fruit (unless they came with a meal) no exercise, and lots of beer. Karel's menu consisted entirely of typical Czech dishes. Obesity therapist, Iva Malkova, had warned at the beginning of the project: "People in the Czech Republic eat much more fat, especially animal fat than is recommended." Pub meals in the Czech Republic often consist of such fatty items as goose with dumplings or sausages. Yesterday the results were announced; Karel lost six kilos, his cholesterol went down and so did his liver enzymes, triglyceride and uric acid levels. His blood pressure did not change. At his interview with Radio Prague he said: "I feel good, great! The food was varied and there were even enough greens in the garnish. As for beer, I tried to alternate brands but I always settled it with Pilsner. I liked the experiment, it was all paid for by the distributor, Aerofilms. I would do it again, maybe they will propose it to me!" Zuzana Pudilova of Aerofilms said: "The result of the experiment is surprising - both for us and the experts who monitored it. The medical report says our volunteer has lost weight and his blood sugar has dropped. So we have come to the conclusion that fatty Czech pub grub is not all that bad for you - which I guess wasn't meant to be the result of the experiment at all."
Japanese nuclear regulatory officials Tuesday raised the severity rating at the earthquake - and tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant to the highest level by international standards, equaling the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown in the former Soviet Union.The country's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency announced that because of the amount of radioactive material released from the plant after the magnitude 9 earthquake a month ago, the rating would be changed to level 7, a "major accident " on the International Atomic Energy Agency 's scale, up from a level 5, an "accident with wider consequences."In a nationally televised news conference, the agency's spokesman, Hidehiko Nishiyama, said the decision was based on the amount of radioactive iodine and cesium spewed from the power plant in Fukushima , north of Tokyo Nishiyama stressed that the radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant was 10% of the amount at Chernobyl. He also said that unlike at Chernobyl, there had been no deaths linked to the accident at Fukushima."At Chernobyl, the reactor itself exploded," he said. "At Fukushima some radioactivity has leaked from the reactor, but the reactor itself continues to keep most of the radioactive material inside. In that sense, this is different from Chernobyl."Before the rating was elevated, the disaster had been rated at the same level as the 1979 Three Mile Island accident near Middletown , Pa.But Minoru Ogoda of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the change in the severity rating came because "the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean," the Associated Press reported.Measuring severity on the international scale involves factors including the amount of radiation released, how wide an area it reaches and how long any problems may last.Officials said the rating reflects the severity of the problem at the outset, when radiation levels were highest. Those levels have since fallen sharply, they said.Experts, nevertheless, say it will take years to recover from the damage incurred at the Fukushima plant.More than 27,000 people were left dead or missing as the disaster last month, centered in the northeast, destroyed fishing towns and caused severe damage to homes, businesses and almost everything else along more than 200 miles of coastline. The government has estimated economic losses of as much as $300 billion, not including costs such as the cleanup of the Fukushima plant, which is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.The announcement by nuclear agency officials came the day after three powerful aftershocks struck already jittery northeastern Japan within the span of 10 minutes, as the government announced new plans to expand the evacuation area near the stricken nuclear plant due to high radiation levels.Japan is trying to rebuild after the March 11 quake triggered a deadly tsunami that also left tens of thousands homeless. The tsunami has caused several fires and explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which has leaked dangerous isotopes into the air, soil and water.The first of Monday's temblors, which trapped some victims in collapsed homes and vehicles, hit at 5:16 p.m. near the coast in Fukushima prefecture, registering a magnitude 7.1 at a depth of 6 miles underground, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.It was sizable enough to rock buildings in Tokyo, about 150 miles to the south. A magnitude 6 quake hit a minute later in the same area, followed by another temblor, measuring magnitude 5.6, nine minutes after that.Aftershocks continued hours later, the agency said. In neighboring Ibaraki prefecture, one man died after falling and hitting his head during the shaking, according to the local Ryugasaki fire department.The quakes also triggered a landslide that buried three homes in Iwaki city. Two people died in the landslide, including a 16-year-old girl, according to public broadcaster NHK. Three other men pulled from the rubble were unconscious and taken to a hospital, NHK said. Rescuers continued their efforts Tuesday.Officials issued a tsunami warning after the quakes but later lifted it.The quakes temporarily knocked out the power to the Fukushima plant and led to a 50-minute stoppage in the water-spraying operations to cool four of the plant's six reactors. Highways were closed, bullet train services to the region were halted briefly, and as many 220,000 homes in Fukushima prefecture were without power.Tokyo Electric Power Co. said a fire broke out on the plant's premises Tuesday morning at a building where batteries are stored. Within minutes, firefighters put out the blaze, and there appeared to be no impact on workers' efforts to cool four of the reactors, the company said in a statement.On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government would expand a 12-mile evacuation area near the nuclear plant, adding to the ranks of the thousands who have already been told to leave their homes.Unlike the government's previous evacuation orders, the new one is based on data that show higher than normal radiation levels extending to towns and villages that lie beyond the 12- to 18-mile zone around the plant. The government has advised residents in the zone to stay indoors.It was unclear how many residents would be affected by the new order, which the government plans to carry out over the next month. Edano noted that the risk of a massive radiation leak from the Fukushima plant was "considerably lower." \|\|\|\|\| Japan: Nuclear crisis level raised to highest level The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was crippled by last month's earthquake and tsunami Japanese authorities have raised the measure of severity of their nuclear crisis to the highest level, officials say. The decision was taken due to radiation measured at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant, NHK reported. The highest level for nuclear accidents (seven) had previously only applied to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Meanwhile a 6.3-magnitude earthquake was reported off eastern Japan, the second tremor in as many days. The aftershocks come a month after a huge quake and tsunami hit Japan, leaving nearly 28,000 dead or missing. 'Preliminary assessment' The raising of the severity level of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant was announced on national television by an official with the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan. "This is a preliminary assessment, and is subject to finalisation by the International Atomic Energy Agency," said an official at the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), the government's nuclear watchdog, which made the announcement with the Nuclear Safety Commission, Reuters reported. Continue reading the main story Analysis Until now the incident at Fukushima was rated a level five, so upgrading to a level seven is a worrying jump. But officials here point out that the change is not being made because of a sudden deterioration at the plant. Rather a full assessment of the available data now suggests that Fukushima merits the higher rating according to internationally agreed standards. There is no suggestion that the decision is related to a recent series of powerful aftershocks. The move comes a day after the government announced it was extending the exclusion zone around the nuclear plant. Five communities where levels of radiation could pose a long term risk to health will be evacuated over the next month. The level seven signifies a "major accident" with "wider consequences" than the previous level, officials say. "We have upgraded the severity level to seven as the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean," said Minoru Oogoda of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. However, a nuclear safety agency spokesman told reporters the leaks were still small compared to those of the Chernobyl accident. "In terms of volume of radioactive materials released, our estimate shows it is about 10% of what was released by Chernobyl," he said. The decision to raise the threat level was made after radiation of 10,000 terabequerels per hour had been estimated at the stricken plant for several hours. That would classify the crisis at level seven on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (Ines). It was not clear when that level had been reached. The level has subsequently dropped to less than one terabequerel an hour, the report said. The severity level of Japan's nuclear crisis has so far been set at five, the same as that of the accident at Three Mile Island in the US in 1979. Japan has also said it is extending the evacuation zone around the crippled nuclear plant because of radiation concerns. The zone will be widened to encompass five communities beyond the existing 20-km (12-mile) radius, following new data about accumulated radiation levels, officials said. Japan's nuclear commission said that according to preliminary results, the cumulative level of external radiation exceeded the yearly limit of 1 millisieverts in areas extending more than 60 kms (36 miles) to the north-west of the plant and about 40 km to the south-southwest. On Monday, a 7.1-magnitude quake hit north-east Japan, leaving three people dead. It also triggered a brief tsunami warning, and forced workers to evacuate the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Tuesday's quake rocked buildings in the capital, Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of fresh damage, though Japan's Narita international airport temporarily closed its runways, and metro and train services were interrupted. The cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were damaged in last month's disaster and workers have been struggling to prevent several reactors from overheating. Officials have warned it will be several months before the situation at the nuclear facility is brought fully under control. Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) said on Tuesday that a fire had broken out briefly at Reactor 4, before being extinguished. The official death toll from the disaster is 13,130, while 13,718 remain unaccounted for. More than 150,000 people have been made homeless. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions \|\|\|\|\| Strong Quake Hits Japan on One-Month Anniversary of Disaster Photo: Reuters A strong aftershock rattled northeastern Japan Monday, triggering new tsunami warnings and the evacuation of an already-crippled nuclear power plant. Authorities also urged more people living near the plant to prepare to leave the area, citing concerns about long-term health risks from leaking radiation. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the magnitude of the aftershock at 7.1, the same strength as one that hit on Thursday. But authorities later revised it downward to 6.6. A tsunami warning was issued for portions of the northeast coast, but was lifted less than one hour later. Monday's aftershock struck just hours after people across Japan bowed their heads in silence to mark the one-month anniversary of the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami that killed up to 25,000 people and triggered the crisis at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant on the country's northeastern coast. More than 13,000 bodies have been recovered and more than 14,000 remain missing, many still lying under the rubble or washed out to sea. Officials at Japan's nuclear safety agency said workers were temporarily evacuated Monday from the Fukushima nuclear plant, which has been leaking radiation since the March 11 quake. They said outside electrical power to three of the plant's units was cut off, disrupting the injection of cooling water into the reactor cores, but that the electricity was restored after less than an hour. The officials said they had detected no change in radiation levels. Authorities also announced preparations to expand the 20-kilometer evacuation zone around the Fukushima plant. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said residents should prepare to evacuate from certain towns and villages outside the zone as soon as radiation levels exceed pre-determined levels. He said the government will coordinate with municipal officials in those areas and that residents should wait for further instructions. Edano also said residents living between 20 and 30 kilometers from the stricken Fukushima plant should be packed and ready to leave on short notice if the situation at the plant deteriorates. He said those who are ill or have small children should leave the zone in advance of any emergency. Edano said the decision to evacuate specified communities outside the 20-kilometer radius is based on radiation concentrations caused by geological and weather factors. He said residents must also be prepared for a new emergency at the plant, even though the likelihood of that is considerably lower than before. The Greenpeace environmental group issued a statement earlier Monday calling for the government to evacuate residents from several radiation hotspots and to remove the most vulnerable people from Fukushima city. It said its own monitoring showed residents of the city could receive the annual maximum dose of radiation within a few weeks. Earlier Monday, repair crews at the Fukushima plant had begun using remote-controlled power shovels and bulldozers to clear rubble from two nuclear reactors that were damaged by hydrogen explosions. Officials said they were also preparing to transfer highly radioactive water from a tunnel next to the plant's number two reactor into a condenser. Technicians have been pumping less radioactive water into the ocean since last week to make room in a temporary storage facility for the more dangerous water. The crisis has made many Japanese distrustful of nuclear power. About 2,000 to 3,000 people took part in a protest march Sunday demanding that the government shut down all nuclear plants in the country. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. Comments (19) There are many goods-carrying ships available, some even onshore, many can carry 60 000 tons. Why not sacrifice some ships as container vessels for the radioactive water. What keeps water out should be able to keep water in. Feeling so sad for the Japanese and the situation which they are in, without extending much help personally. But I am sure, all the days are not one and definitely they will come out of present struggle and crisis and they will move to safer days as earlier in due course. I am also sure that the present trend of after effects will lie down in its own and the japanese will be safer in days to come. With all the very best and with all emotional support, Yours loving, Peethambaran.P.M Quake after quake and crisis after crisis . Those repeated crisis indicate that the situation of our environment is deteriorating into worst . What they can do more them offering prayers and be patient . They can do more through change the policy of their countries by protesting against unacceptable linger of politicians which has led our world to this miserable level . It seems the rang of radiation will extend gradually which will spread fear and funk among public rapidly . I sympathize with Japanese child who should cope with our mistakes . Even ocean and marine life can not be saved in this catastrophe . I run out of words to say anything . It's a matter of regret a series of earthquake hit Japan one after another. We pray to god to relieve Japan from this catastrophic consequences. Besides,Japan government should shut down all radioactive plant in this moment. God bless them. Our endurance is being tested strongly. We shall overcome. We believe. thank you, i pray every one is recovering from the aftermath earthquake and tsunami. Also, my advice to the Japanese is that be aware that the country is in the red zone, There is no such thing as a "one-month anniversary." "Anniversary" can by definition be marked only on dates which are integral numbers of YEARS after the referenced event. VOA owes its audience correct use of English. These events only conform that we are helpless in-front of MOTHER NATURE. Its high time we have a rethink about nuclear power generation. We have to keep this earth livable for generation's to come. My prayer's are for people of JAPAN Shut up Jean! My thoughts and prayers remain with the Japanese people and that the earth may calm once again. I have been astounded by stories of strength and kindness from this great country. I sincerely hope they are getting as much aid as is needed. Hinduism offers some fixes to prevent future crises. Japan by its name and culture of work ethic is strongly bound to religion. Tantra and Vaastu are among the widely dominant religious norms that guide human beings to live in peace. They have made some very major blunders in these realms. Fixing them can help their coexistence with nature. I NEED HLEP TO JAPAN TOKYO ON ME MARCH 11 12 13 14 2011, JAPAN BY QUAEK. DANIEL BOYTER 39. YEAR OLD 1605 NOTYLE. DR The demand to shut down all nuclear plants in the country is of no help rather creating another period of turmoil. For years, millions are able to benefit from those power plants and it's never fair to compare the recent March11 disaster either to Chernobyl or Three Miles Island. Japan on the other hand simply needs support not another criticism. Philippines have only one neuclear reactor for electrics but you refuse to run it because of potential disaster. It's easier said than done,amigo. I feel so sorry for Japan. But I don't understand the Japanese government's actions for the leak of nuclear reactor. Earthquake and tsunami are natual disasters but the wide spread of radioactive substances is caused by the government's wrong measures. They should have received the UAS's help to protect people from radioacive materials. Why have to drain the toxic water into the sea,are there no other alternative options . this will raise international crisis. esp to then neighboring country .I am worrying about the salt we eat in future will be tainted. The construction of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant began in 1976 in response to the 1973 oil crisis. Days after the April 1986 Chernobyl disaster, the succeeding administration decided not to operate the plant. Strong opposition from its citizens and the fact that it has been built near major earthquake fault lines and close to the then dormant Pinatubo volcano were considered. \|\|\|\|\| Japan: Powerful earthquake hits north-east Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. A powerful earthquake has hit north-east Japan, exactly one month after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. The 7.1-magnitude tremor triggered a brief tsunami warning, and forced workers to evacuate the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. The epicentre of the quake was in Fukushima prefecture, and struck at a depth of just 10km (six miles). It came as Japan said it was extending the evacuation zone around the nuclear plant because of radiation concerns. The cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were damaged in last month's disaster. Workers have been struggling to prevent several reactors from overheating, and avert a large-scale release of radiation. The plant's operator, Tepco, said power used to pump water to cool three damaged reactors had been cut briefly but early indications suggested the plant had not sustained any further damage. The zone around it will be widened to encompass five communities beyond the existing 20-km (12-mile) radius, following new data about accumulated radiation levels, officials said. Top government spokesman Yukio Edano said the new evacuations would take place over the coming month, from areas including Iitate village, which lies 40km from the power station, and part of the city of Kawamata. "This is not an emergency measure that people have to evacuate immediately," he told a news conference, but added that there were concerns about long-term health risks. 'Standing together' The latest tremor struck shortly after the country stopped to observe a minute's silence to remember the nearly 28,000 dead or missing in the 11 March disaster. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Survivors in shelters marked the moment the quake and tsunami hit at 1446 (0546 GMT) with bowed heads. Prime Minister Naoto Kan thanked people around the world for their support. In an open letter carried in seven newspapers around the world, he said that the support had brought hope and inspired courage at a desperate time. "Through our own efforts and with the help of the global community, Japan will recover and come back even stronger. We will then repay you for your generous aid," he wrote. "With this in our hearts, we now stand together dedicated to rebuilding the nation." The official death toll from the disaster is 13,130, while 13,718 remain unaccounted for. More than 150,000 people have been made homeless. Many have lost their jobs. The prime minister has tried to reassure survivors that the fishing industry - which many in the area rely on for their livelihoods - would resume as soon as possible. Continue reading the main story In the exclusion zone We need funds and I think an environment that has a radiation risk simply isn't right - especially for my new baby. I have to make a very hard decision. I want to live peacefully in my hometown. It pains me that I can't. I have no choice but to carry on with my life, and I will work away from home temporarily. I haven't decided what I will do long-term yet. What I know for sure is that I have to give up my dream of being a children's football coach. Sadly my life has changed completely as a result of this disaster. The tsunami wrecked boats and piers, closing down big fishing operations. But the damage to the nuclear plant has also hit the fishing industry, as public and international buyers ditch Japanese food products over fears of contamination. During a visit to Fukushima on Monday, Tepco chief Masataka Shimizu apologised for the nuclear accident. The people who live near the plant are "suffering physically and mentally due to the nuclear radiation leak accident," he said. "We sincerely apologise for this," he said. The local community has been so angered by Tepco's handling of the incident that Fukushima's mayor refused to meet Mr Shimizu. Workers have been feeding water into three reactors at the plant to cool fuel rods. They are continuing to inject nitrogen into the No 1 reactor to prevent another blast caused by a build-up of hydrogen gas. They have also been releasing water with low levels of radioactivity into the sea so that they can transfer highly radioactive water to a sealed area on site. Officials have warned it will be several months before the situation at the nuclear facility is brought fully under control. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions \|\|\|\|\| Monday night, one person was killed in Iwaki and several others were trapped when a powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake triggered landslides there, the fire department said. It happened exactly one month after the country's devastating 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami. The earlier quake was centered about 100 miles (164 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo and about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The landslides in Iwaki buried three houses. Police in Fukushima Prefecture initially reported that four people were trapped. The Iwaki Fire Department later said more than four people were trapped, but the exact number was unclear. Authorities were trying to rescue them. Their condition was not immediately known, police said. The earthquake did not cause a tsunami. Workers at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which has suffered cooling problems and radiation leaks since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, evacuated briefly but soon returned to resume their efforts to cool the troubled facility. Prime Minister Naoto Kan delayed a scheduled news conference as a result of the earthquake, his office said. The government wants to handle the immediate emergency before holding a news conference, the office said. The Tokyo Electric Power Company said 220,000 households and businesses in Fukushima were without power after Monday's quake. Japan has been hit with hundreds of aftershocks since the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that killed at least 13,116 people. More than 14,000 remain missing. \|\|\|\|\| A survivor woman wipes her tear after she takes a moment of silence, exactly a month after a massive earthquake struck the area in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Lee Jin-man) Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force members take a moment of silence exactly a month after a massive earthquake struck the area in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Yomiuri Shimbun, Yasuhiro Takami) Children play games after taking a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m., exactly a month after a massive earthquake struck the area in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Japan, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Lee Jin-man) Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Masataka Shimizu, third right, and other TEPCO officials observe a minute of silence at the Fukushima Prefectural Office in Fukushima, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Hiro Komae) Updated: Mon Apr. 11 2011 19:38:45 CTV.ca News Staff Yet another strong earthquake struck Japan Tuesday morning local time, the country's Meteorological Agency announced, a day after a powerful aftershock claimed a young girl's life. The agency gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 6.3, saying its epicentre was just off the coast of Chiba, east of Tokyo. The quake did not trigger a tsunami warning, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The quake was part of a series of aftershocks that have continued to rock Japan one month after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami devastated the northeastern part of the country. An estimated 25,000 people were killed and officials continue to struggle with radiation leaks and other problems at a nearby nuclear facility. Tuesday's quake came a day after a powerful aftershock struck about 160 kilometres north of Tokyo, just hours after the island nation paused to mark the one-month anniversary of the devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit March 11. Monday's aftershock, which was measured at a magnitude of 7.0 by Japanese officials and magnitude 6.6 by the U.S. Geological Survey, collapsed at least three houses in the city of Iwaki. At least seven people were believed trapped, local police said, in addition to a teenage girl who was found dead in the rubble of her collapsed home. A tsunami warning was issued immediately following Monday's aftershock, but was lifted approximately one hour later. Monday's tragedy occurred as government officials, citing long-term health concerns, told more residents of the disaster-stricken region to leave. In a press conference Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the residents of an additional five communities -- some of which are well beyond the existing 20-kilometre evacuation zone surrounding the crippled Dai-ichi nuclear power complex in Fukushinma prefecture -- should consider heading to another part of the country. Although the Japanese government's top spokesperson insisted there was no imminent peril, he admitted emergency crews have been unable to bring the nuclear crisis at the plant under control. "This is not an emergency measure that people have to evacuate immediately," Edano told reporters. "We have decided this measure based on long-term health risks." A month after the disaster, authorities are still struggling to restore a sense of normalcy in a country where more than 150,000 people are living in shelters, while persistent dangers at the damaged nuclear facility prevent many from returning to their homes. "My chest has been ripped open by the suffering and pain that this disaster has caused the people of our prefecture," said Yuhei Sato, the governor of Fukushima, which saw its coastal areas devastated by the tsunami and is home to the stricken Dai-ichi nuclear plant. The tsunami disabled the cooling systems at the six-reactor Dai-ichi plant, which has suffered explosions, fires and radiation leaks in the ensuing month. Nuclear safety official Hidehiko Nishiyama apologized Monday for the inconvenience caused by the radiation issues at Dai-ichi. "It's still difficult to give a timeline regarding when we can resolve the problem," Nishiyama said Monday. "We are very sorry for the evacuees who are anxious to see the problem resolved." Atsushi Yanai, a 55-year-old construction worker, has not been able to go home since the tsunami. His house was not harmed by the quake or the tsunami, but it is located within an evacuation zone surrounding the Dai-ichi plant. "We have no future plans. We can't even start to think about it because we don't know how long this will last or how long we will have to stay in these shelters," Yanai said. Many memorial services in hard-hit towns took place at 2:46 p.m. local time on Monday, a month after the massive quake struck on March 11. Marina Seito, a 19-year-old college student, was inside a basement restaurant when the quake hit. "Even after a month, I still cry when I watch the news," Saito said Monday, recalling the scene of the ceiling above her falling apart. But hours after Japanese citizens gathered to remember their dead on Monday, the ground began shaking again when the aftershock hit. With files from The Associated Press Comments are now closed for this story Jaid in Toronto @Pugfire: Aftershocks is usually a combination of both, but the most relevant one would be the effect in which an aftershock is usually characterized by a "weaker" earthquake in comparison to the original. So the only way an aftershock would be truly treated as an earthquake is that the score on the Richter scale is higher than the original with the other two conditions satisfied. Lanness My heart goes out to all the people involved in the unfortunate events in Japan. Pugfire Sad to hear of yet more problems in Japan. I do however have a serious question. Anytime there is an earthquake, we get aftershocks. But, when do "aftershocks" stop being that and become earthquakes again? After all, they are basically the same thing! Is it a time measurement? Distance from original epicenter? Amplitude?If anyone can answer this I'd appreciate it. Terri in Tokyo FYI: the moment of silence was at 2:56pm and the aftershock was at 5:16pm - not exactly "moments after the moment of silence" as described in the video blurb. Terri in Tokyo This one was shallow, and under land so it felt bigger than last Thursday's. And it was followed by several smaller ones in quick succession. Quite unnerving, but luckily, no reports of serious injury as yet. They are getting to be fewer and farther between overall, but just when you start to relax - along comes another big one.	A new magnitude 6.6 aftershock yesterday triggered a mudslide which left six people dead. The crisis at a on the northeast coast of Japan is now as severe as the in 1986, officials have said. Radiation is continuing to leak from the plant, which was damaged during the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami last month, which left thousands dead. Japanese authorities have warned the crisis is now a "major accident" with "wider consequences" than previously thought. A spokesperson for , the Japanese government nuclear authority, said officials had upgraded the crisis to a level seven on the —the same applied to the Chernobyl disaster—because of a number of factors, including the detection of radiation in crops. "We have upgraded the severity level to seven as the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean," he said. , the operator of the plant, has warned radiation was continuing to leak from the site and the magnitude of the crisis could exceed that of Chernobyl. Despite this, Japanese nuclear safety officials have insisted the leakage of radiation was small compared to the devastated plant in the former . "In terms of volume of radioactive materials released, our estimate shows it is about ten percent of what was released by Chernobyl," one nuclear official said. The news comes as a new blow after another powerful aftershock yesterday which left at least six people dead after they were killed in a in the city of . The landslide, which destroyed numerous homes, was triggered by a 6.6 aftershock which came exactly a month after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Fire officials in the city said three people had already been rescued and taken to hospital, and emergency workers were working to free an unknown number of others. The International Nuclear Events Scale; the accidents at the Fukushima I have been elevated to level seven, the highest level on the scale, putting it on par with the , originally the accidents were rated at level five, the same level of the . Workers at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant returned after they were briefly evacuated following the earthquake, and officials issued tsunami warnings for the northeast coast which were later cancelled. Workers have been fighting a desperate battle to prevent the reactors from overheating and entering . Raging fires burned into the night after the earthquake, and TEPCO reported widespread power outages; hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses had power cut off. Reports of the change in severity at the damaged nuclear plant followed the announcement that the around the site was to be expanded. A spokesperson for the government confirmed the radius of the zone would be expanded to include another five communities over the next several weeks. He stressed there was "no need to evacuate immediately" but said concerns had been raised over health risks from the leaking radiation. The new development at the plant and the aftershock are new blows to a country wounded after the massive earthquake in March, which caused a tsunami that washed away whole towns and villages along the country's northeast coast. Thousands of bodies have been recovered, and many more are still unaccounted for, many left under mounds of rubble or washed out to sea. More than 150,000 people remain displaced, living in emergency shelters. Before the aftershock struck yesterday, survivors of the first earthquake marked the time it hit a month ago with a across the country. Writing to seven international newspapers, , the , expressed his gratitude to people globally for their support. "Through our own efforts and with the help of the global community, Japan will recover and come back even stronger. We will then repay you for your generous aid," he wrote. "With this in our hearts, we now stand together dedicated to rebuilding the nation." == Sources == * * * (PUBLIC DOMAIN) * * * de:Nachbeben in Japan – Behörden weiten Sicherheitszone aus es:Aumentan el nivel de alerta radioactiva en la central nuclear Fukushima fr:Les accidents de Fukushima évalués de niveau 7 par les autorités japonaises pl:Fukushima: łączna ocena INES awarii podniesiona do 7. stopnia
View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes. RICHMOND, Va. - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express “profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said. “This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution,” said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s approval. The measure also expressed regret for “the exploitation of Native Americans.” The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. ‘Insidious institutions and practices’ The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery “ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding.” In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a “Massive Resistance” movement in the 1950s and early ’60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools. The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor — L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 — and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964. Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying “black citizens should get over” slavery. After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate “Juneteenth,” a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Click for related content R.I. college pledges $10 million over slavery wrongs © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Virginia lawmakers express ’profound regret’ for slavery R ICHMOND - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express ”profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said. ”This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution,” said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s approval. The measure also expressed regret for ”the exploitation of Native Americans.” The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery ”ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding.” In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a ”Massive Resistance” movement in the 1950s and early ’60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools. The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor - L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 _ and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964. Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying ”black citizens should get over” slavery. After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate ”Juneteenth,” a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. © Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2 Low High Current Rating: Your Rating: Please enable cookies to rate articles Search the site all any relevance date Past 7 days Archives G o o g l e Order home delivery Save up to 60% ordering Boston Herald home delivery online. » click here	The State Capitol Building is the main seat of state government in Virginia. The Virginia voted unanimously Saturday in favor of a resolution apologizing for its role in . The former center of the during the became the first U.S. slave state to issue such a proclamation. "This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution," said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the Virginia House 96-0 and the Virginia Senate on voice vote. The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding." The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans." "The resolution's wording was a compromise between House and Senate lawmakers who tweaked the language from issuing an apology, to expressing 'contrition,' to expressing 'profound regret,'" according to the ''Richmond Times-Dispatch''. Prior to the cessation of slave importation, Virginia was a central hub in the slave trade. Historians estimate that more than 100,000 slaves passed through ports on the James River at Richmond, the state's capital. and are considering similar resolutions.
Copenhagen Climate Summit Ends with Meaningful First Step Deal Announcement follows two weeks of tough negotiations, but falls short of what some had hoped for Photo: AP U.S. President Barack Obama has announced that wealthy and developing nations have reached what, he called a meaningful agreement at the UN Climate Change conference. The announcement came in the final hours of two weeks of tough negotiations, but fell far short of what some had hoped for. Agreement came late in the evening and after a day of intense negotiations. President Obama announced what he called a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough. "For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change," he said. Negotiations stalled amid differences over mitigation efforts by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, verification and funding. That formed the core of discussions, said Mr. Obama. "Throughout the day we worked with many countries to establish a new consensus around these three points, a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action to confront the threat of climate change for years to come," he said. The agreement requires countries to list actions they will take to cut gas emissions by specific amounts and allows for verification. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it a good first step, but said a binding treaty must follow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called it a first step and urged more action. President Obama acknowledged that as well, saying this progress had not come easy and alone is not enough. "Going forward we're going to have to build on the momentum that we've established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We've come a long way but we have much further to go," her said. The agreement is a far cry from what environmentalists and developing nations had called for. They wanted a legally binding treaty with much more specific commitments. Some environmental groups criticized the agreement. Kim Carstensen of the World Wildlife Fund spoke of a non-deal that is not fair and does not meet the demands of the developing world. "It's been cooked up by a number of big countries in a closed room, without any transparency, without any civil society engagement in this building (the conference), without much engagement of the vulnerable countries," she said. Climate talks are to continue. Germany is to call a meeting on the issue in the coming months and a climate change summit is also expected to be held in Mexico within the coming year. \|\|\|\|\| COPENHAGEN President Obama announced here on Friday night that five major nations, including the United States, had together forged a climate deal. He called it “an unprecedented breakthrough” but acknowledged that it still fell short of what was required to combat global warming. The agreement addresses many of the issues that leaders came here to settle. But it has left many of the participants in the climate talks unhappy, from the Europeans, who now have the only binding carbon control regime in the world, to the delegates from the poorest nations, who objected to being left out of the critical negotiations. By the early hours of Saturday, representatives of the 193 countries who have negotiated here for nearly two weeks had not yet approved the deal and there were signs they might not. But Mr. Obama, who left before the conference considered the accord because of a major storm descending on Washington, noted that the agreement was merely a political statement and not a legally binding treaty and might not need ratification by the entire conference. The three-page accord that Mr. Obama negotiated with the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa and then presented to the conference did not meet even the modest expectations that leaders set for this meeting, notably by failing to set a 2010 goal for reaching a binding international treaty to seal the provisions of the accord. \|\|\|\|\| "A Meaningful and Unprecedented Breakthrough Here in Copenhagen" Posted by Jesse Lee on December 18, 2009 at 06:57 PM EST [View Full Size] In a much-anticipated United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the President arrived after nearly two weeks of work with the firm intention of seizing the opportunity to get something solid done. And as he explained in remarks at the end of the day, defying many expectations, the world will not leave empty-handed: Today we've made meaningful and unprecedented -- made a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough here in Copenhagen. For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change. Let me first recount what our approach was throughout the year and coming into this conference. To begin with, we've reaffirmed America's commitment to transform our energy economy at home. We've made historic investments in renewable energy that have already put people back to work. We've raised our fuel efficiency standards. And we have renewed American leadership in international climate negotiations. Most importantly, we remain committed to comprehensive legislation that will create millions of new American jobs, power new industry, and enhance our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. That effort at home serves as a foundation for our leadership around the world. Because of the actions we're taking we came here to Copenhagen with an ambitious target to reduce our emissions. We agreed to join an international effort to provide financing to help developing countries, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, adapt to climate change. And we reaffirmed the necessity of listing our national actions and commitments in a transparent way. These three components -- transparency, mitigation and finance -- form the basis of the common approach that the United States and our partners embraced here in Copenhagen. Throughout the day we worked with many countries to establish a new consensus around these three points, a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action to confront the threat of climate change for years to come. This success would have not been possible without the hard work of many countries and many leaders -- and I have to add that because of weather constraints in Washington I am leaving before the final vote, but we feel confident that we are moving in the direction of a significant accord. In addition to our close allies who did so much to advance this effort, I worked throughout the day with Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia, who was representing Africa, as well as Premier Wen of China, Prime Minister Singh of India, President Lula of Brazil, and President Zuma of South Africa, to achieve what I believe will be an important milestone. Earlier this evening I had a meeting with the last four leaders I mentioned -- from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. And that's where we agreed to list our national actions and commitments, to provide information on the implementation of these actions through national communications, with international consultations and analysis under clearly defined guidelines. We agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius, and importantly, to take action to meet this objective consistent with science. Taken together these actions will help us begin to meet our responsibilities to leave our children and our grandchildren a cleaner and safer planet. Now, this progress did not come easily, and we know that this progress alone is not enough. Going forward, we're going to have to build on the momentum that we've established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We've come a long way, but we have much further to go. To continue moving forward we must draw on the effort that allowed us to succeed here today -- engagement among nations that represent a baseline of mutual interest and mutual respect. Climate change threatens us all; therefore, we must bridge old divides and build new partnerships to meet this great challenge of our time. That's what we've begun to do here today. For energy holds out not just the perils of a warming climate, but also the promise of a more peaceful and prosperous tomorrow. If America leads in developing clean energy, we will lead in growing our economy, in putting our people back to work, and in leaving a stronger and more secure country to our children. And around the world, energy is an issue that demands our leadership. The time has come for us to get off the sidelines and to shape the future that we seek. That's why I came to Copenhagen today, and that's why I'm committed to working in common effort with countries from around the globe. That's also why I believe what we have achieved in Copenhagen will not be the end but rather the beginning, the beginning of a new era of international action. He then proceeded to take questions, read the rest of the transcript for more details.	President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a morning plenary session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. President of the United States Barack Obama has announced that wealthy and developing nations have reached what he called a "meaningful agreement" at the UN Climate Change Conference. The announcement came in the final hours of two weeks of tough negotiations, but fell far short of what some had hoped for. Agreement came late in the evening and after a day of intense negotiations. President Obama announced what he called a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough. "For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change," he said. Negotiations stalled amid differences over mitigation efforts by cutting greenhouse gas emissions; verification; and funding. That formed the core of discussions, said Mr. Obama. "Throughout the day we worked with many countries to establish a new consensus around these three points, a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action to confront the threat of climate change for years to come," he said. Obama sat down with the leaders of developing countries at a multilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and South African President Jacob Zuma. The agreement requires countries to list actions they will take to cut gas emissions by specific amounts and allows for verification. Obama noted in his speech, "And that's where we agreed to list our national actions and commitments, to provide information on the implementation of these actions through national communications, with international consultations and analysis under clearly defined guidelines." Obama also added that the leaders "agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius, and importantly, to take action to meet this objective consistent with science." Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a Sudanese diplomat who acted on behalf of the Group of 77 of developing nations blasted the agreement and the 2 degree mark stating to reporters, "The developed countries have decided that damage to developing countries is acceptable." On the 2-degree mark he stated the mark would "result in massive devastation to Africa and small island states." Mr. Di-Aping and various representatives of the most most vulnerable countries wanted a target of 1.5 degrees. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it a good first step, but said a binding treaty must follow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called it a first step and urged more action. President Obama acknowledged that as well, saying this progress had not come easily, and alone is not enough. "Going forward we're going to have to build on the momentum that we've established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We've come a long way but we have much further to go," he said. The agreement is a far cry from what environmentalists and developing nations had called for. They wanted a legally binding treaty with much more specific commitments. Some environmental groups criticized the agreement. Kim Carstensen of the World Wildlife Fund spoke of a non-deal that is not fair and does not meet the demands of the developing world. "It's been cooked up by a number of big countries in a closed room, without any transparency, without any civil society engagement in this building (the conference), without much engagement of the vulnerable countries," she said. Climate talks are to continue. Germany is to call a meeting on the issue in the coming months and a climate change summit is also expected to be held in Mexico within the coming year.
By Major Garrett FOXNews.com WASHINGTON -- President Obama, in laying out the plan for Chrysler's Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday, showed no love for the hedge funds that, he said, tried to hold out for a bigger payoff in the government's rescue of the ailing automaker. The hedge funds, which hold some of the company's debt, had refused to accept the government's offer of about 29 cents on the dollar for about $6.9 billion that Chrysler owed, and this reluctance forced the White House to push Chrysler toward bankruptcy in the hopes that a judge will allow Chrysler to shed this debt at prices even lower than the hedge funds were asked to accept. "A group of investment firms and hedge funds decided to hold out for the prospect of an unjustified taxpayer-funded bailout," Obama said, flanked by his economic, energy and environmental teams. "They were hoping that everybody else would make sacrifices, and they would have to make none. Some demanded twice the return that other lenders were getting. I don't stand with them." Instead, the president now stands behind one of the most hybridized company known to the automobile industry. The new Chrysler is a four-headed mutant partially owned by two governments, the United States (8 percent) and Canada (2 percent). It will be run by an Italian automaker, Fiat Group SpA. Fiat will pour its fuel-efficient technology into U.S. factories owned by fuel-hogging Chrysler to pump out vehicles whose sales will be financed by GMAC. Chrysler's CEO Robert Nardelli announced he would leave the firm when bankruptcy proceedings are complete. Chrysler also announced it will idle all auto manufacturing as part of the bankruptcy-planned restructuring. The tumult, Obama said, has and will cause pain for many of the auto company's employees, bond holders and dealers. But, he said at the White House, "the necessary steps have been taken to give one of America's most storied automakers, Chrysler, a new lease on life." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at the daily briefing that the hedge funds and investment firms were playing games. "They tried to, in a sense, play chicken with the government for a better deal, and nobody blinked," Gibb said. Later, Gibbs said the hedge funds and investment firms were within their rights to reject the deal, but that didn't diminish Obama's frustration or anger. "I'm not sure the president's problem with them is based on their rights," Gibbs said. "I think the president's problem with them is based on the notion that, as he said, and as many members of the team have said, and as many members involved in this agreement have done, which is make sacrifices in order for a company to move forward." The Associated Press reported that a group of funds identifying themselves as 20 of Chrysler's "non-TARP lenders" released a statement saying they had been sidelined during negotiations between lenders and the government. The group, which said it holds $1 billion in Chrysler debt, complained that the four banks were "obviously conflicted" because they had accepted money from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program while the funds had not gotten TARP money. The group said its offer to the Treasury Department to reduce its claim to 40 percent was "flatly rejected or ignored." According to its bankruptcy filing, Chrysler owes more than $10 million apiece to 20 of its unsecured creditors, many of whom are vendors and suppliers. A top administration official said the goal was a "surgical, short" bankruptcy that could be wrapped up in within two months. "We expect this to be a very short, 30-to-60-day bankruptcy process, during which the company will function normally," the official said. "People will be able to buy cars, they will have their warranties honored, and everything should go on normally." Auto industry experts warned that Chrysler bond holders and dealers could fight bankruptcy proceedings, delaying the restructuring for months and possibly years. "This is just nuts," said William Holstein, author of "Why GM Matters: Inside the Race to Transform and American Icon." "They don't know what they're talking about." Gibbs waved off questions about a bankruptcy process that could last longer than the 60-day target. "Let's not get 61 days into the equation," Gibbs said. "We'll have any number of opportunities to do that as we get closer." The new Obama "lease" on Chrysler's future will cost U.S. taxpayers $3.3 billion in up-front bankruptcy bridge financing and another $4.5 billion in exit financing. That up-front financing may not last if bankruptcy proceedings drag out. Under the deal, Chrysler won't begin selling Fiat-designed cars until 2011. The company will have to muddle through until then with a new board of directors and new CEO and with the United Auto Workers holding a 55 percent stake in the firm. Also, the government would appoint four of the members of a new six-member board of directors. Fiat would start with a 20 percent share and would be unable to acquire majority ownership until all outstanding U.S. loans were repaid. But with Nardelli soon to be gone, the UAW with majority ownership and Fiat starting with such a small company stake, analysts wondered how Chrysler would function in the short-run. "We've never done this in America -- to have a union having majority control," Holstein said. "If (current CEO) Nardelli is out and Fiat's not in management control, who is running the company? The U.S. government? The Canadians? Is it a labor and government coalition? I mean this is brand new territory, and historically governments and unions don't do well managing companies." The Obama White House set three benchmarks for Fiat to expand its ownership of the new company. -- Provide Chrysler with European distribution of its current product line -- Transfer its fuel-efficient technology to Chrysler's U.S. factories -- Manufacture a 40-mpg vehicle under the new Chrysler brand name \|\|\|\|\| DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC filed for bankruptcy on Thursday and announced an industry-changing deal with Fiat, after being pummeled by sliding auto sales and unable to reach agreement on restructuring its debt. The Chrysler logo is reflected in the rear view mirror of a vehicle on the lot at Clark Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in Methuen, Massachusetts April 30, 2009. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Despite weeks of intense negotiations, Chrysler failed to gain full support from its lenders to avoid the first-ever bankruptcy filing by a major U.S. automaker. The move was hailed by President Barack Obama as a critical step in saving 30,000 jobs at Chrysler, majority-owned by Cerberus Capital Group, and hundreds of thousands more jobs at affiliated suppliers and dealers. At the same time, Chrysler entered an expected alliance with Fiat SpA, in which the Italian carmaker was given an initial stake of 20 percent. The deal will allow Fiat to own up to 35 percent as it makes investments in U.S. operations and small-car technology for Chrysler. Over time, Fiat could eventually own 51 percent after Chrysler has repaid its loans to the U.S. Treasury. Chrysler has struggled in recent years to compete, hurt by its near total reliance on the U.S. market, poor quality and a truck and SUV-dominated vehicle line-up with the lowest combined fuel economy of any major automaker. Founded in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, three years later the company laid the cornerstone for the Chrysler Building, briefly the world’s tallest building and still a landmark on the Manhattan skyline. The Chapter 11 filing, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, has implications for the entire industry — including Chrysler’s rivals and suppliers. As part of the filing, the U.S. government will provide up to $3.5 billion in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and up to $4.5 billion in exit financing. Obama said he hopes the entire process will take only 30 to 60 days. Some of Chrysler’s 3,600 U.S. dealers are expected to close, and Chrysler Financial will stop providing loans for new cars and trucks. Instead, General Motors Corp’s financing arm, GMAC, will provide loans to Chrysler dealers and customers. The legal proceedings will be overseen by Judge Arthur Gonzalez, the same jurist who oversaw the Enron and WorldCom bankruptcies. In addition to Fiat’s ownership stake, U.S. officials expect Chrysler to be 55 percent owned by the United Auto Workers’ healthcare trust fund while the U.S. and Canadian governments hold a combined stake of 10 percent. Chrysler has three manufacturing plants in Canada and had to reach agreements with its unions there and the Canadian government under the restructuring. The automaker is not filing for bankruptcy in Canada, but the Canadian government, along with the province of Ontario, said they will provide $2.42 billion in financing to help the company restructure. FIGHTING WORDS The bankruptcy signals that Obama is prepared to play hardball with holdout lenders rather than knuckle under to their demands and will likely set the tone for similar discussions with bondholders of General Motors — which is now on the clock to restructure its operations by the end of May. While Obama voiced his support for Chrysler and the deal with Fiat, he was pointed in his criticism of the investors who did not agree to this deal. “I don’t stand with them. I stand with Chrysler’s employees and their families and communities,” the president said. “I don’t stand with those who held out when everybody else is making sacrifices. That’s why I’m supporting Chrysler’s plans to use our bankruptcy laws to clear away its remaining obligations.” This is not the first major government action with Chrysler. In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill providing Chrysler with more than $1 billion in loan guarantees. “Bankruptcy is what they have been headed for in the past several months,” said Mirko Mikelic, portfolio manager at Fifth Third Bank. “The biggest concern now is that the different stakeholders will be able to make the tough decisions they need to make.” Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli will leave the automaker following the emergence from bankruptcy. The U.S. government will place six members on the new company’s board and Fiat will appoint three. Shares of Chrysler’s U.S. rivals reacted positively to the news. GM shares ended 6.1 percent higher and Ford Motor Co ended up 9.7 percent, both on the New York Stock Exchange. FIAT: A DONE DEAL The bankruptcy filing did not stall the Fiat deal. Chrysler has been seeking a rescue deal from the Italian automaker while also trying to finalize its debt agreement. “It’s a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive, but to thrive in a global auto industry,” Obama said. “Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry.” In court documents on Thursday, Chrysler detailed its lengthy search for a partner over the last year and a half, including talks with General Motors and Nissan. Those talks did not pan out and Chrysler eventually found its way to Fiat. Slideshow (15 Images) The government’s debt-restructuring talks have been spearheaded by the Obama administration’s autos task force and former investment banker Steve Rattner. In a bid to win over three fund firms that had spurned an offer to accept $2 billion in cash in exchange for writing off all of Chrysler’s $6.9 billion in secured debt, U.S. officials sweetened the terms by throwing in another $250 million, people familiar with those discussions said. Chrysler’s plight reflects a slump in demand facing a global industry whose $2.6 trillion annual revenue is equivalent to the GDP of France and which employs more than 9 million people. \|\|\|\|\| Chrysler files for bankruptcy By Michael Rowland for AM Posted Updated Carmaker Chrysler has declared itself bankrupt after failing to secure a deal with its growing army of creditors, but the US Government is confident the company will rise from the ashes. The Obama administration had given the company until later today to come up with a viable business plan and rid itself of nearly $10 billion of debt. But it was not to be and Chrysler has become the first big US carmaker to go into bankruptcy. President Barack Obama paid tribute to Chrysler's rich history and its role in helping build and transport America's middle class. But he also said the Government could not afford to waste any more money trying to keep the company afloat. "It's been a pillar of our industrial economy, but frankly a pillar that's been weakened by papering over tough problems, and avoiding hard choices," he said. "For too long Chrysler moved too slowly to adapt to the future, designing and building cars that were less popular, less reliable, and less fuel efficient than foreign competitors." Bankruptcy does not necessarily spell the end for Chrysler. It will still be able to make and sell cars while working to consolidate a new alliance with Italian automaker Fiat. Importantly, bankruptcy will protect Chrysler from creditors, including many large hedge funds, who have been refusing to sign up to a restructuring deal. Mr Obama hopes a Chrysler-Fiat partnership will ensure the American car giant's future, but automotive analyst Erich Merkle is not so sure. "History would show that alliances really don't work that well, even though, no matter how good they may look on paper," he said. "Paper's one thing, implementing in the real world becomes a much more difficult task." Chrysler is one of America's oldest car companies, but has always been its most troubled. Since being founded more than 80 years ago the company has had a number of near-death experiences. It had its first brush with bankruptcy in the late 1970s, and has always struggled to compete with its larger rivals. David Hyde is an automotive historian who has written a book on Chrysler called Riding the Rollercoaster. "When Chrysler has a new line of cars fail, it may send the company right to the brink of bankruptcy," he said. "When that happens with Ford or General Motors, yes it's uncomfortable, but they get through it." With Chrysler now bankrupt, attention is turning to the fate of General Motors. Its restructuring deadline falls at the end of the month.	The American auto company Chrysler filed for bankruptcy Thursday, however a deal with European auto maker Fiat went through. The emerging Chrysler will be owned 55 percent by the United Auto Workers, eight percent by the United States Government, two percent by the Canadian Government and Fiat would begin with a 20 percent share. US president Barack Obama Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli will step down when the bankruptcy proceedings are finalized. Initially, the Italian company, Fiat, will appoint three members on the emerging Chrysler's new board, and the United States government will appoint six. Fiat can assume the majority of the ownership upon repayment of American loans. Chrysler administrators expect that the bankruptcy should take a couple of months. "We expect this to be a very short, 30-to-60-day bankruptcy process, during which the company will function normally," a top administration official said, "People will be able to buy cars, they will have their warranties honored, and everything should go on normally." The bankruptcy filing indicated that Chrysler was in debt to 20 creditors to a tune of more than $10 million each. Meanwhile, the deal with Fiat did go through, and Chrysler should have cars designed by Fiat out on the market by 2011. "It's a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive, but to thrive in a global auto industry," said American president Obama, "Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry." However, automotive analyst Erich Merkle has hesitations. "History would show that alliances really don't work that well," Merkle said, "even though, no matter how good they may look on paper." The restructuring has been managed by Steve Rattner, a former investment banker, and the U.S. Government auto task force. Obama has set three ultimatums before Fiat. Fiat should produce a 40 mile per gallon vehicle while managing the new Chrysler, transfer fuel efficient Fiat technology to Chrysler factories in the United States, and produce cars in Chrysler factories and distribute them in Europe.
Box > Bring on the Rockies Red Sox heading back to World Series after downing Tribe And thus, Boston completed its dramatic comeback from 3-1 down in this series, becoming the first team in Major League history to pull off that feat three times. Just like the Red Sox of 1986 and 2004, the '07 team is going to the World Series, where they will face the sizzling Colorado Rockies, beginning Wednesday night at Fenway Park. In all, 66 teams have faced a 3-1 deficit in the postseason and the Red Sox became just the 11th to crawl out of it. "We were down, 3-1, and still felt that we could win," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, whose two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning was arguably the biggest hit of the night. "There's obviously those three nights you go to bed and you don't sleep. All you think about is trying to win and trying to figure out how we're going to turn this around. We figured it out." Only then was the battle between two teams, who both went 96-66 during the regular season, settled. It all ended in a hard-fought Game 7 that was by no means indicative of the final score. The Red Sox broke it open with Pedroia's two-run blast in the seventh, and then a big six-spot in the eighth. Before that, it was a night full of anxious moments. "It was a real close game, just like the whole series," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "There were a lot of wide margins [in the scores], but it seemed like a real close series the whole way." The Red Sox, their season on the brink after Game 4, didn't trail once in the final three games, a span in which they outscored the Indians, 30-5. But by the seventh inning of Game 7, it was anybody's series. In fact, it was far too close for comfort for the Red Sox. Clinging to a 3-2 lead with one out in the seventh and Kenny Lofton standing on second, Franklin Gutierrez struck a 1-2 pitch from Hideki Okajima down the third-base line and just fair, hitting a camera well and taking a strange bounce. It appeared Lofton could have scored, but he was held by third-base coach Joel Skinner, leaving the Fenway crowd shocked in a happy sort of way. Then again, it was a play that looked easier on replays and in hindsight than in real time. "Sometimes that ball caroms right to the shortstop," said third baseman Mike Lowell. "I don't know, that's a tough angle. I had a tough angle at it. After the fact, maybe you say he has a chance. But I don't think you can second-guess that play." Like clockwork, the momentum of the game shifted thereafter. Casey Blake hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning, eliciting a deafening roar from the Fenway crowd. It would only get louder in the bottom of the seventh. With Rafael Betancourt on for the Indians, Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a grounder to third. But Blake bobbled it, turning it into a two-base error. Julio Lugo bunted Ellsbury to third, and then Pedroia hit that rocket of a two-run homer to left-center, giving the Sox some breathing room at 5-2. "I hit it good and the wind was kind of blowing it out to center, and it kind of pushed it," said Pedroia. "So I was like, 'Geez, don't hit the top of the fence.' Once it went out, I was so excited and had so much adrenaline going on, I don't even remember running around the bases, to tell you the truth. I just got around there. It was the biggest at-bat of my life, and I'll never forget it." And, without question, one of the biggest hits the Red Sox had all year. "We felt like we had a cushion," said Lowell. An inning later, Pedroia roped a three-run double to put the game on ice. With two on and nobody out in the eighth, Jonathan Papelbon came on and put out the fire, sending down three in a row. Papelbon finished off the ninth and clinched the AL pennant for the Red Sox, the 12th in the history of the club. After going 86 years without a World Series championship, Boston now has a chance of winning its second in the past four seasons. And just like in '04, they got there the hard way. "It's unbelievable. It's a great feeling just to go out there and play so well," said first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who merely hit .500 (14-for-28) in the series, with three homers and seven RBIs. "Just to win here at home, it was unbelievable. A lot of people doubted us, but we didn't doubt ourselves." Comeback Sox Of 66 teams in postseason history to find themselves in a 3-1 hole in a best-of-seven series, the Red Sox became just the 11th club to battle back and win the series. Series Team up 3-1 Series winner 2007 ALCS Cleveland Boston 2004 ALCS New York Boston 2003 NLCS Chicago Florida 1996 NLCS St. Louis Atlanta 1986 ALCS California Boston 1985 World Series St. Louis Kansas City 1985 ALCS Toronto Kansas City 1979 World Series Baltimore Pittsburgh 1968 World Series St. Louis Detroit 1958 World Series Milwaukee New York (AL) 1925 World Series Washington Pittsburgh Daisuke Matsuzaka started strong for Boston, limiting Cleveland to one run over the first four innings. He wound up getting the win by giving up six hits and two runs over five innings, walking none and striking out three. It was sweet redemption for Matsuzaka, who was bitter about the way he pitched in his Game 3 loss. "After our three straight losses, the team kept telling me to get ready to pitch in Game 7," Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino. "And I think everybody on the team worked very well together to bring us into Game 7, and I just wanted to respond as best as I could for my teammates today." Okajima, Boston's other rookie from Japan, got six big outs, leaving Papelbon to get the last six. The Red Sox never did use dominant ace Josh Beckett -- who was named MVP of the series -- seemingly making him available for Game 1 against the Rockies. For the third straight game, the Red Sox made some early noise against the opposing starter. This time, Pedroia and Youkilis led off the first with singles against Jake Westbrook, who wound up producing a gritty performance. After David Ortiz struck out, Manny Ramirez hit a hard liner that took a vicious hop over shortstop Jhonny Peralta and into left for an RBI single. If Peralta had fielded the ball, it would have been a sure double play. The Red Sox again got something started in the second. Jason Varitek led off with a double off the Green Monster and Ellsbury's single made it runners at the corners with nobody out. Westbrook got Lugo on a 6-4-3 double play, on which Varitek scored to make it 2-0. A similar theme developed in the third when the red-hot Youkilis led off with a double down the third-base line. After an Ortiz grounder moved him to third, Indians manager Eric Wedge opted for an intentional walk to Ramirez. Lowell got a run home, hitting a sac fly to right to make it 3-0. After that, Westbrook was nasty and the Red Sox had to wonder if they had wasted an opportunity. "It seems like we wasted some opportunities with all those double plays, but after Dustin's big hit, we were able to pour it on in the eighth," said Lowell. The pennant was finally Boston's when Coco Crisp made a spectacular catch in the triangle area of right-center for the final out. The Red Sox mobbed each other before going through the obligatory champagne celebration in the clubhouse and interacting with their rabid fans on the field. "We all believed in ourselves," said Papelbon. "This team has been through this situation before and we knew coming back home was going to be a different story." Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. \|\|\|\|\| Red Sox Win Their Way To World Series BOSTON (AP) ― Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia and these Boston Red Sox are taking a sweet streak into the World Series, too.Boston charged to its third straight win, completing yet another October comeback by overpowering the Cleveland Indians 11-2 Sunday night in Game 7 of the AL championship series.A pair of rookie Red Sox helped finish off their rally from a 3-1 deficit and reach the Series for the second time in four years. Matsuzaka pitched five solid innings, Pedroia drove in five runs and Boston got some help by a key blunder by an Indians base coach."The season is almost over we were down 3-1, you get that sense of urgency," said Pedroia, who hit his first postseason homer and doubled with the bases loaded. "Nobody wanted to go home, nobody wanted to say goodbye to each other. Once we got that win in Cleveland, we started to believe."Having ended their 86-year title drought in 2004 after digging out of a 3-0 hole against the Yankees in the ALCS, the Red Sox earned a chance to play Colorado in the World Series. The Rockies, who have won 10 in a row and 21 of 22, will come back from a record eight days off for Game 1 at Fenway Park on Wednesday night."The Rockies are on a magical run and we are going to have our hands full. We're going to try and represent the American League the best we can," general manager Theo Epstein said. "We haven't grown up any since '04. That's part of what keeps these guys so good. It keeps us all loose and we never stop believing."Colorado outscored Boston 20-5 in winning two of three during an interleague series at Fenway in June. The Red Sox did even better in winning the last three games against Indians, outscoring them 30-5 in that span.While Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and ALCS MVP Josh Beckett helped the Red Sox win their 12th pennant, the Indians only added more misery to a city that hasn't celebrated a World Series championship since 1948.The Indians were a double-play grounder from winning the crown at Florida in 1997. They appeared to take control of this series with three consecutive victories, but aces C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona couldn't win a single game between them."We won three games in a row and they won three in a row," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "I'm disappointed, obviously, we weren't able to finish it off."Jake Westbrook settled down to offer a solid outing in Game 7, and still the Indians came up short. They had a chance to tie it at 3 in the seventh inning, but third-base coach Joel Skinner mistakenly held up speedy Kenny Lofton as he rounded the bag.With runners at the corners, Casey Blake grounded into an inning-ending double play.Then, the Red Sox blew it open. Pedroia, who homered earlier, hit a three-run double and Kevin Youkilis launched a bottle rocket, a two-run drive off the giant Coke bottle above the Green Monster.Jonathan Papelbon pitched two innings for the save, finishing things off when center fielder Coco Crisp raced back into the center-field triangle, crashing into the wall to catch Blake's drive.Crisp was still on the ground when Papelbon chucked his glove into the air and then waited, crouching, for catcher Jason Varitek to leap into his arms.The Red Sox poured out of the dugout for their first playoff clinching celebration at home since the first round in 2004."The champagne tastes sweeter at home," they chanted in the clubhouse later.Boston kept the bases busy early against Westbrook, but three double plays in the first four innings kept the Indians in the game while their starter settled down. The Red Sox scored once in each of the first three innings, and Matsuzaka retired the first eight batters he faced.Cleveland cut the deficit to 3-2 through five, then had a chance to tie it in the seventh when Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo dropped Lofton's seemingly harmless popup in shallow left. Lugo drifted back, tracking the ball with his glove in the air and holding off incoming left fielder Ramirez with his right hand.But the shortstop let the ball bounce off his glove, and Lofton was safe on second.Franklin Gutierrez hit a sharp grounder over third base that bounced off the photographer's box in front of the grandstand and into shallow left. But Skinner held up both hands for the speedy Lofton, and the 40-year-old outfielder skidded to a stop.Lofton looked back for the ball and, seeing it in no man's land in shallow left, snapped his head back to stare at Skinner.A star in big games throughout his career in Japan, Matsuzaka followed two sub-par playoff outings with his first American postseason victory. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking none."I thought he pitched his heart out," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Those were some tough innings. He gave us what we needed."Fellow Japanese rookie Hideki Okajima pitched two innings of shutout ball. Papelbon closed, sending the sold-out Fenway into a frenzy.Westbrook settled down after spotting Boston a 3-0 lead, retiring seven consecutive batters before Jacoby Ellsbury -- another rookie -- bounced a chopper through third baseman Blake for an error. After Lugo's sacrifice bunt, Pedroia was up.The diminutive second baseman, with eight major league homers to his credit, hit an 0-1 pitch into the first row of the Monster Seats to make it 5-2. He also doubled to clear the bases after Boston loaded them in the eighth against Rafael Betancourt.Youkilis, who was a rookie when Boston won it all in '04, followed with a two-run homer to make it 11-2.Cleveland's Game 4 starter, Paul Byrd, was forced to defend himself before the finale when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from 2002-05. Byrd said he took HGH under a doctor's prescription."I do not want the fans of Cleveland or honest, caring people to think that I cheated," Byrd told a throng of reporters before the game. "Because I didn't."Notes:@ Boston is 5-5 all-time in decisive Game 7s. ... The Red Sox were already the only team to have rallied twice from a 3-1 deficit to win the LCS, in 1986 and '04. It was the first winner-take-all in the baseball postseason since the 2006 NLCS. ... Boston Game 4 starter Tim Wakefield was unavailable to come out of the bullpen. (© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) \|\|\|\|\| Boston advances to World Series with 11-2 win over Cleveland BOSTON -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima stood on the Fenway Park mound, posing for pictures with Boston general manager Theo Epstein, a Japanese flag and the American League championship trophy. This is what these Red Sox rookies came halfway around the world for: the World Series. Three years after ending its 86-year title drought, Boston completed another October comeback by overpowering the Cleveland Indians 11-2 Sunday night in Game 7 of the AL championship series. Having rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Cleveland, the Red Sox now play the streaking Colorado Rockies starting Wednesday night in Boston. This time, the Red Sox are bringing a bunch of guys who weren't around for the fun when they won it all in 2004. "We've never been through this. This is on the biggest stage," said rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who hit his first postseason homer and drove in five runs. "We worked too hard all year long to have our season get cut short. Nobody wanted to go home, nobody wanted to say goodbye to everybody. So once we got that win in Cleveland, brought us back here, we started to believe." Matsuzaka pitched five solid innings, and Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon each threw two scoreless innings in relief. Boston also got some help by a key blunder by an Indians base coach when Cleveland trailed just 3-2 with a chance to tie the game. "We won three games in a row and they won three in a row," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "I'm disappointed, obviously, we weren't able to finish it off." After digging out of a 3-0 hole against the Yankees in the '04 ALCS, the Red Sox needed three straight wins to advance this time. The Rockies, who have won 10 in a row and 21 of 22, will come back from a record eight days off. "The Rockies are on a magical run and we are going to have our hands full. We're going to try and represent the American League the best we can," Epstein said. "We haven't grown up any since '04. That's part of what keeps these guys so good. It keeps us all loose and we never stop believing." Colorado outscored Boston 20-5 in winning two of three during an interleague series at Fenway in June. The Red Sox did even better in winning the last three games against Indians, outscoring them 30-5 in that span. While Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and ALCS MVP Josh Beckett helped the Red Sox win their 12th pennant, the Indians only added more misery to a city that hasn't celebrated a World Series championship since 1948. Cleveland was a double-play grounder from winning the crown at Florida in 1997. They appeared to take control of this series with three consecutive victories, but aces C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona couldn't win a single game between them. Jake Westbrook settled down to offer a solid outing in Game 7, and still the Indians came up short. They had a chance to tie it at 3 in the seventh inning, but third-base coach Joel Skinner mistakenly held up speedy Kenny Lofton as he rounded the bag. With runners at the corners, Casey Blake grounded into an inning-ending double play. Then, the Red Sox blew it open. Pedroia, who homered earlier, hit a three-run double and Kevin Youkilis launched a bottle rocket, a two-run drive off the giant Coke bottle above the Green Monster. Jonathan Papelbon pitched two innings for the save, finishing things off when center fielder Coco Crisp raced back into the center-field triangle, crashing into the wall to catch Blake's drive. Crisp was still on the ground when Papelbon chucked his glove into the air and then waited, crouching, for catcher Jason Varitek to leap into his arms. The Red Sox poured out of the dugout for their first playoff clinching celebration at home since the first round in 2004. "The champagne tastes sweeter at home," they chanted in the clubhouse later. Twenty minutes after the last out, the ballpark still full, slugger David Ortiz walked onto the field carrying the AL trophy. He walked to the mound, held the prize up in the air for the crowd to see and then planted it on the ground like an explorer claiming new territory. The ballpark hushed when Ortiz picked up a microphone to address the crowd, but bedlam returned when Papelbon reprised his Irish step dance from the regular-season clincher. Players took their turns posing for pictures with the trophy while their kids ran the bases. "When things were not going well, we just took a deep breath. Young guys like Pedroia played a big part in this series," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "It's not over. We deserve a little bit tonight to celebrate. This is a special time and a special place, but it's not over." Boston kept the bases busy early against Westbrook, but three double plays in the first four innings kept the Indians in the game while their starter settled down. The Red Sox scored once in each of the first three innings, and Matsuzaka retired the first eight batters he faced. Cleveland cut the deficit to 3-2 through five, then had a chance to tie it in the seventh when Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo dropped Lofton's seemingly harmless popup in shallow left. Lugo drifted back, tracking the ball with his glove in the air and holding off incoming left fielder Ramirez with his right hand. But the shortstop let the ball bounce off his glove, and Lofton was safe on second. Franklin Gutierrez hit a sharp grounder over third base that bounced off the photographer's box in front of the grandstand and into shallow left. But Skinner held up both hands for the speedy Lofton, and the 40-year-old outfielder skidded to a stop. Lofton looked back for the ball and, seeing it in no man's land in shallow left, snapped his head back to stare at Skinner. "The ball was behind me. It's not my job. My job is to pick up the third base coach. He stopped me. I just got to do what he says. He's the third base coach," Lofton said. Said Skinner: "The ball kicked off hard there and it's hard to tell exactly where it is." "I've seen it bounce right back to the shortstop. When you have to make a decision and that's what I did. The ball ended up a little deeper than I thought. But it was one out, runners at first and third. We were OK," he said. A star in big games throughout his career in Japan, Matsuzaka followed two sub-par playoff outings with his first American postseason victory. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking none. "I thought he pitched his heart out," Francona said. "Those were some tough innings. He gave us what we needed." Fellow Japanese rookie Hideki Okajima pitched two innings of shutout ball. Papelbon closed, sending the sold-out Fenway into a frenzy. Westbrook settled down after spotting Boston a 3-0 lead, retiring seven consecutive batters before Jacoby Ellsbury -- another rookie -- bounced a chopper through third baseman Blake for an error. After Lugo's sacrifice bunt, Pedroia was up. The diminutive second baseman, with eight major league homers to his credit, hit an 0-1 pitch into the first row of the Monster Seats to make it 5-2. He also doubled to clear the bases after Boston loaded them in the eighth against Rafael Betancourt. Youkilis, who was a rookie when Boston won it all in '04, followed with a two-run homer to make it 11-2. Cleveland's Game 4 starter, Paul Byrd, was forced to defend himself before the finale when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from 2002-05. Byrd said he took HGH under a doctor's prescription. "I do not want the fans of Cleveland or honest, caring people to think that I cheated," Byrd told a throng of reporters before the game. "Because I didn't." Notes: Boston is 5-5 all-time in decisive Game 7s. ... The Red Sox were already the only team to have rallied twice from a 3-1 deficit to win the LCS, in 1986 and '04. It was the first winner-take-all in the baseball postseason since the 2006 NLCS. ... Boston Game 4 starter Tim Wakefield was unavailable to come out of the bullpen. (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)	Dustin Pedroia hit his first ever postseason home run in Game 7 which helped the Sox win the ALCS. The Boston Red Sox are once again headed to the World Series after being down three games to one. The Red Sox were most recently in the 2004 World Series, which they won. Last night's game ended with the Red Sox winning 11-2 over the Cleveland Indians. The $103 million rookie import from Japan, Daisuke Matsuzaka (nicknamed "Dice-K"), pitched five innings for Boston, allowing two runs on six hits. Cleveland's Jake Westbrook started and took the loss. This proved to be a much better showing for Boston's "Dice-K" than his previous outing, which Boston lost. The Sox jumped out to a quick lead, scoring a run in each of the first three innings on a single by Manny Ramirez, a sacrifice ground-out by Julio Lugo, and a sacrifice fly by Mike Lowell. The Indians scored their first run on a Ryan Garko double in the fourth inning, and a Grady Sizemore sacrifice fly in the fifth made the score 3-2 in favor of the Sox. In the sixth inning, Hideki Okajima came in to relieve "Dice-K" and pitched two scoreless innings before Jonathan Papelbon came in to close in the eighth. He entered the game with runners on first and second and no outs, but quickly retired the side and in the ninth managed to maintain the nine run lead, once again giving fans a performance of his Riverdance style victory dance. In the seventh inning, Red Sox rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run off of Rafael Betancourt that drove Boston's Fenway Park wild. Boston scored a total of 6 runs in a crazy eighth inning, on a single by J.D. Drew, a three-run double by Pedroia, and a two-run Kevin Youkilis home run which bounced off a large Coke bottle advertisement. Betancourt gave up the first four runs, with the home run allowed by Jenson Lewis. Youkilis was the first batter he faced in relief of Betancourt. The Sox will go on to face the Colorado Rockies, the surging National League Champions. The series will begin October 24th, with the first game at Fenway Park.
Call for inquiry into Murdoch payments to Coulson ANDREW SPARROW, and POLLY CURTIS in London THE UK Electoral Commission is being asked to investigate whether Rupert Murdoch’s News International payments to Andy Coulson after he started working for the UK Conservative party may have broken the law. Tom Watson, a Labour MP and a member of the House of Commons culture committee, said he wanted the Electoral Commission to investigate whether the payments and benefits – which reportedly included private health insurance and a company car – should have been declared because they amounted to a political donation. MPs on the committee are also angry because the reports appear to contradict evidence given to it by Mr Coulson himself. The former News of the World editor, who worked as the UK Conservative prime minister David Cameron’s communications chief from July 2007 until January this year (Mr Cameron became prime minister in May 2010), is expected to face further questioning from the committee about the payments. On Monday night, the BBC’s Robert Peston said Mr Coulson had received several hundred thousand pounds from News International after he started working for Conservative party. Mr Coulson was known to have received a payoff after he resigned from the News of the World in January 2007 following the conviction of journalist Clive Goodman and investigator Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking. But Mr Peston said Mr Coulson received his severance pay in instalments, and that he continued receiving money from News International until the end of 2007. Mr Peston also said Mr Coulson continued to receive his News International work benefits, such as healthcare, for three years and that he kept his company car. The report casts doubt on the reliability of the evidence that Mr Coulson gave to the culture committee in 2009. Mr Coulson, who at the time was working for the Conservative party on a reported salary of £275,000 – roughly half what he was thought to have been earning at the News of the World – said he did not have any “secondary income”. Mr Watson asked: “So your sole income was News International and then your sole income was the Conservative party?” Mr Coulson replied: “Yes.” Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive, appeared to confirm this when she gave evidence to the committee in July. Asked if the company had “subsidised” Mr Coulson’s salary after he left the News of the World , she said: “That’s not true.” Yesterday, John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP who chairs the culture committee, said Mr Coulson and News International should have been more open with the committee about the nature of this arrangement. “As I understand it, these were staggered payments from a severance package. So, arguably, that’s just delayed pay,” Mr Whittingdale said. “But if it is also true that Coulson was provided with a car and health insurance, then I would have expected him to have made that clear. And I would have expected News International to have made that clear when we asked them about it.” The committee is not meeting until September, but Mr Whittingdale said it may decide to seek further clarification on these matters from Mr Coulson and News International. Mr Watson said yesterday the committee would have to establish whether it had been “misled”. But he said that the Electoral Commission also had to establish whether the payments and benefits constituted donations to the Conservative party that should have been declared. In July, the Conservatives denied Mr Coulson was paid by News International while he was working for the party or the government. – (Guardian service) \|\|\|\|\| Andy Coulson faces the prospect of another public grilling by MPs in the next two months if the police do not charge him with illegal phone hacking. Members of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee are angry about the replies they received when they asked whether Mr Coulson still had a financial link with Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire after he began working for David Cameron. One member of the committee, the Labour MP Paul Farrelly, accused him yesterday of acting "like a spiv". The committee's Conservative chairman, John Whittingdale, complained that Mr Coulson should have been more "clear" in his answers. Other MPs were astonished that he should have been appointed to such a sensitive political post as David Cameron's media strategist without anyone apparently making inquiries into his continuing financial links to the Murdoch empire. Jack Straw, the former home secretary, said: "This shows a degree of carelessness by David Cameron in not scrutinising the appointment before it was made. It's pretty rum that a major political party placeman should have been receiving almost as much from a newspaper group as from his employer." When Mr Coulson was giving evidence at a public session of the committee, he claimed he had no "secondary income" when he took up his post as director of communications for the Conservative Party in July 2007. It has since emerged that he received hundreds of thousands of pounds in severance pay from his job as editor of the News of the World, paid in instalments to the end of 2007. Other perks from that job, such as free health insurance, were extended for three years and he was allowed to keep his company car. A Conservative Party spokesman said last night that the party was "not aware" of Mr Coulson's severance package until it was reported in the press. The spokesman added: "Severance payments are a private matter. It is not part of the HR process to discuss severance payments from previous jobs with potential employees." Tom Watson, a Labour member of the committee who has campaigned relentlessly to expose the phone-hacking scandal, is trying to uncover whether Mr Coulson declared the payments when he applied for a pass to give him access to Parliament. Passholders are required to tell the Commons authorities who is paying them. Mr Whittingdale said the committee would meet early in September to decide whether to recall Mr Coulson for more questioning, as the position was "complicated" by the police investigation into phone hacking. Mr Coulson was arrested in July and has not been charged. Mr Whittingdale added: "If it is true that Coulson was provided with a car and health insurance, then I would have expected him to have made that clear. And I would have expected News International to have made that clear when we asked them about it." \|\|\|\|\| Andy Coulson appears to have broken House of Commons rules by failing to declare payments and benefits he received from News International while holding a parliamentary pass sponsored by David Cameron. Registers held in the Commons archive, seen by the Guardian, reveal that in September 2007 – three months after Coulson was employed by Cameron's office – the former News of the World editor failed to declare the health insurance, company car and severance payments he was receiving from his old employers. The records also show that for at least two months after he resigned from his position as No 10's head of communications in January this year, Coulson continued to hold a parliamentary pass, sponsored by Downing Street, which allowed him access to parliament as a No 10 employee. That will raise new questions about whether Coulson – who Cameron has admitted seeing on a social basis since his resignation – continued to perform an unofficial role for the Tories after he had left. The Labour MP Tom Watson called for the parliamentary commissioner for standards to investigate. Commons rules say all holders of parliamentary passes sponsored by MPs, which allow unfettered access to most of the parliamentary estate, must register any paid employment, gifts or benefits worth more than £329 they receive within that calender year from sources that could "in any way" relate to their work in parliament. The Guardian also understands that News International continued to pay Coulson's legal bills after he stepped down as the editor of the News of the World in January 2007. The company is considering ending the arrangement after this week's revelations that Coulson had continued to receive payments after becoming Cameron's director of communications. Coulson is understood to have consulted lawyers frequently since leaving News International after several public figures brought civil cases against the News of the World, alleging that their voicemail messages had been hacked. News International paid his legal bills last December when he was a witness in the perjury trial of the former Scottish MP Tommy Sheridan. The company declined to comment. Cameron and George Osborne first employed Coulson when the Conservatives were in opposition in July 2007. He appeared on the next register for MP-sponsored passes, published in September, declaring no other employment, gifts or benefits in that calendar year. It is now known that he received hundreds of thousands of pounds in "several" instalments from News International after leaving the company. He also failed to register the health insurance and company car he received from the company under gifts or benefits. Coulson's pass was personally sponsored by Cameron, not the Conservative party. His register entry noted only that he was director of communications and planning for the Conservative party, making no mention of any other income. From October, his pass switched to a journalist's pass, sponsored by the Conservatives, which operated with a separate declaration register. Declarations are only required of an "occupation or employment", earning more than £657 in that calendar year, that could be benefited from access to parliament. For his entire period working for Cameron at Conservative campaign headquarters, and subsequently in Downing Street, Coulson declared nothing on the registers. A Conservative spokesman said: "It is the individual's responsibility to declare relevant financial interests to the parliamentary pass office. "We were not aware until Monday night of allegations that Andy Coulson's severance package, agreed with News International before he was employed by the Conservative party, was paid in instalments that continued into the time he was employed by the Conservative party." Watson, a member of the culture select committee who has campaigned on the phone hacking debate, is writing to the parliamentary commission for standards to complain about the apparent breach. "We now know that, in September 2007, Andy Coulson was receiving staggered payments, free private healthcare and apparently a motor car from News International," Watson said. "When he applied for his House of Commons pass, Mr Coulson was expected to declare these hidden payments under parliament's transparency rules. He failed to do so. "Moreover, instead of being allocated a political party press pass, he was placed on David Cameron's personal allocation of passes. This meant David Cameron had to personally vouch for his application, so presumably they had a discussion about it. I'm writing to the standards commissioner to request he investigates the matter." Commons officials confirmed that it could take up to a month for people who hand their passes in to be removed from the register of journalists' interests. Coulson resigned on 21 January and appears on the next two registers, published in March and April, but not from June. That suggests he could have continued to hold his Downing Street-sponsored pass up until May, four months after his resignation. He resigned from News International after the jailing of two private investigators who worked for the News of the World, during his time as the paper's editor, for phone hacking. \|\|\|\|\| Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.	Labour MP Tom Watson is calling for an investigation into payments by News International to Andy Coulson. The United Kingdom electoral commission has been asked to investigate whether payments made by to amidst the recent phone hacking scandal were illegal. Labor MP , who has been a driving force in the phone hacking scandal, called for the investigation after he believed that payments and benefits made to Coulson, including private health benefits and a company car, should have been declared as a political donation. Mr Watson has reportedly been trying to uncover whether Coulson declared these payments to the cultures committee upon applying for access to parliament. MPs are bewildered by Prime Minister David Cameron's hiring of Coulson without anyone looking into his financial history, and many have expressed outrage as the reports contradict evidence given by the former editor to the culture committee in 2009. He allegedly told the committee that he had received a salary of £275,000 and that he did not have a second income. Coulson is expected to face further questioning from the committee about the payments after he is cleared from the phone hacking scandal. , a journalist for the BBC, claimed that Mr Coulson had received several hundred thousand pounds from News International after he began working for the Conservative Party. Despite his ousting in 2007, Mr Coulson received his severance pay in installments from News International until the end of that year. Coulson was known to have received a payoff after his resignation from News of the World in 2007. The resignation came after the conviction of journalist for phone hacking. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has stated that both Coulson and should have informed the committee about the payments. The investigation will decide whether or not the electoral committee has been misled by Coulson, and whether the payments should be considered as a political donation. The committee is expected to meet in early September to decide on a plan of action.
ROME, March 3 (Reuters Life!) - Italian tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano, to whom Luciano Pavarotti owed his launch to stardom, died in Milan Monday. He was 86. Di Stefano died after a long coma caused by an attack during a robbery at his Kenyan holiday home in late 2004. Fellow Italian tenor Pavarotti, who died last year, had his big break when Di Stefano dropped out of a performance of "La Boheme" at London's Covent Garden in 1963. Pavarotti performed as the stand-in and a star was born. Local media said Di Stefano had never fully recovered from the savage beating he received from unknown assailants at his villa near the eastern Kenyan resort of Mombasa. Treated for serious head injuries, he was moved to a hospital in Milan where he slipped into a coma last December. Born in Sicily, Di Stefano made his operatic debut in 1946 and his debut at La Scala in Milan the following year. He made many recordings with Maria Callas and Pavarotti. (Editing by Charles Dick) \|\|\|\|\| Norm O'Neill, the dashing Test batsmen of the 1950s and 60s, has died after a long illness. "Norm O'Neill was one of NSW's and Australia's best ever cricketers," said Cricket NSW Chief Executive, David Gilbert. "He will be remembered as a dashing stroke maker who was a crowd favourite. He will be sadly missed." O'Neill OAM, who played 70 First Class matches for NSW between 1955/56 and 1966/67, scored 5419 runs at an average of 52.61. His entire first class career spanned 188 matches for 13,859 runs at 50.95. In his 42 Test matches O'Neill scored 2779 runs at 45.55. He made six centuries and 15 half-centuries with his high score of 181 coming in the first innings of the Tied Test against the West Indies in 1960. But O'Neill was something more than his statistics, said Warren Saunders, who played with O'Neill at his club St George and for NSW. "I've got beautiful memories of Norm O'Neill he was a sensational cricketer. He was a sensational sportsman, actually he was also a top-class baseballer as well as a cricketer," he said. "He was a wonderful fellow to play with in every respect, a great team man, a chamption batsman. He's got a great Test record but that doesn't really tell the story it was the way he got his runs that excited everybody. "He was a beautiful thrower with a very strong arm and a handy change bowler: he was the complete package.'' \|\|\|\|\| By Al Campbell Interview: Jack Fichter, Slideshow: Rick Racela STONE HARBOR — Joseph R. “Joe” Zelnik, Herald editor for 25 years, died March 3, 2008 at his home here surrounded by family. He was responsible for guiding the weekly newspaper from a 20-page print edition in December 1982 into the 60-plus page weekly with Internet presence that it grew to be by the time of his retirement, when he assumed the title "Editor Emeritus." A seasoned journalist who could write humorous columns and detail-oriented budget stories, Zelnik had been employed by the Delaware County Times from 1966 to 1976, then by the Philadelphia Daily News as an editorial writer for about a year and a half. From the Daily News, he went the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in the Delaware County Bureau in Media, Pa., where he spent five years. The newspaper ceased publication and Zelnik went to work for Buffalo (N.Y.) Courier-Express as an editorial writer, which went out of business six months later. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Buffalo in 1954 and a Masters Degree in 1959. His first journalism job was with one of his hometown’s two weekly newspapers in Gowanda, N.Y. Zelnik was an editor who never lost the zeal for writing. He continued to regularly report on freeholder meetings, county Open Space Board and the county Municipal Utilities Authority. Through his years working those beats, he nurtured invaluable sources that provided him with the basis for stories that won readers’ attention. The opening of the Cape May County Campus of Atlantic Cape Community College was one of his proudest moments because he had worked tirelessly for decades to reveal the need for such a college campus here. Funeral service will be private. A public celebration of his life will be held March 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Church, 9910 Third Ave., Stone Harbor. The family, in keeping with Joe’s casual dress style, asks that those who attend sport their favorite T-shirt or baseball cap. They also ask that those with memories of him be written and placed in a “memory basket” that will in the church on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a namesake Atlantic Cape Community College scholarship fund that will be established. Arrangements are by Radzieta Funeral Home, Hand Avenue, Court House. Please post any memories you have of Joe below.	right The following deaths were reported yesterday - ===Giuseppe Di Stefano=== Giuseppe Di Stefano, Italian tenor died yesterday in Milan. He has been in a coma since he was the victim of an assault in 2004. He died at the age of 86. ===Norm O'Neill=== Norm O'Neill, former Australian cricketer died yesterday. The death was a result of an long term illness O'Neill has been suffering from. An cricketer who has played against O'Neill said "I've got beautiful memories of Norm O'Neill he was a sensational cricketer. He was a sensational sportsman, actually he was also a top-class baseballer as well as a cricketer." ===Annemarie Renger=== Annemarie Renger, German politician died yesterday at the age of 88. In 1972 she became the first woman to become President of the Bundestag. She was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. ===Joseph Zelnik=== Joseph Zelnik, editor of the Cape May County Herald and the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin died yesterday. A public service is due to be held on Sunday.
Is there a fee for using Google Secure Access? No, Google Secure Access is free. Where can I go to download Google Secure Access? The Google Secure Access client is available for users at a few "hotspots" near Google's headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Customers of Airborne Gymnastics in Santa Clara, CA, and Kapp's Pizza Bar and Grill in Mountain View, CA, can download the client. When I install Google Secure Access, why does it ask if I also want to install the Google Toolbar? We've included the option to install the Google Toolbar because it improves your browsing experience. Can I uninstall Google Secure Access? Yes. You can uninstall Google Secure Access by simply running the Uninstall program. This can be found by clicking on Start Menu, Programs, Google Secure Access, and then choosing Uninstall. How do I make my connection even more secure? You can make your connection even more secure by using a software firewall. Windows XP users with Service Pack 2 can find it by clicking on Start, Control Panel, and then choosing Windows Firewall. Will my corporate VPN still work? Yes. You can connect to your corporate VPN while running Google Secure Access. I have configured Google Secure Access to connect automatically, but it's not working. What's going on? Certain wireless LAN management utilities and older wireless LAN adapter drivers prevent Google Secure Access from detecting that you're connected to the Google WiFi network. In this case it will not connect automatically, and you should connect manually to ensure the privacy and security of your network traffic. Will Google Secure Access work at other locations? No - the Google Secure Access client is only intended to provide secure web access for users at a few local Mountain View, CA "hotspots" that Google established as part of a community outreach program. Why is Google Secure Access a beta product? Google believes the best way to create products that meet the needs of our users is to make them available as early in the product development process as possible. We listen to user feedback and improve the product to suit their needs. We are excited about the widespread enthusiasm for this technology and are currently investigating ways to make it more broadly available in the future. How come Google Secure Access is no longer working on my computer? \|\|\|\|\| Is Google Readying Wi-Fi Service? FAQ page describes Google Secure Access, a client for wireless Net access. Nancy Gohring, IDG News Service Tuesday, September 20, 2005 Google may be close to launching a Wi-Fi service. Advertisement A FAQ page on the Google Web site instructs customers how to download Google Secure Access, a client application that is described on the site as a tool "to establish a more secure connection while using Google WiFi." A Google spokesperson declined to comment further on the company's Wi-Fi plans or strategy. Dabbling in Wi-Fi In April, Google began sponsoring a free hotspot in San Francisco's Union Square. In April, Google began sponsoring a free hotspot in San Francisco's Union Square. Also, Google has been exploring wireless access to its services with a local flavor. The company has been promoting local business listings that pop up on browser-equipped mobile devices, and driving directions to be obtained via SMS-enabled devices. Quiet Rollout The Google Secure Access FAQ page states that the Secure Access program can be downloaded at certain Google Wi-Fi locations in the San Francisco Bay area. However, the client can in fact be downloaded to any computer that is connected to the Internet. The page also says that while Google Secure Access should work at any Wi-Fi location, Google hasn't tested it elsewhere. The page states that Google Secure Access is a beta product. Google has taken this "public beta" approach with a number of its products, notably its e-mail service Gmail. It was widely available by invitation before it was "officially" launched. Related Topics: Wireless Printer Friendly Version \|\|\|\|\| Industries Google Readies for Wi-Fi Google’s web site describes a beta Wi-Fi service called Google Secure Access. Notices on Google’s web site on Tuesday offer a downloadable Wi-Fi client application known as Google Secure Access, suggesting that Google may be close to launching a Wi-Fi service. “Google Secure Access is a downloadable client application that allows users to establish a more secure Wi-Fi connection,” said the notice on the company’s FAQ page. Another page offers a download of the application and states, “Your wireless connection is almost ready to use.” The service is currently only available at “certain locations in the San Francisco Bay Area,” according to the FAQ. Google set up a hotspot in April in San Francisco ’s Union Square . Google acquired the wireless technology company Android in July and has reportedly been buying up dark fiber-optic wiring in different locations around the country for broadband access. The company’s second stock offering earlier this month raised considerable funds that could enable the Mountain View , California , search giant to expand into becoming an infrastructure provider (see Google’s $7B Question). Google shares were up $5.09 at $308.88 in recent trading. VPN Service The Secure Access service connects users to a virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts the traffic and sends it through Google servers to the Internet. Google said it wanted to make Wi-Fi access more secure with its new service. Despite Google’s prior moves into the Wi-Fi industry, the FAQ page describes the project as the result of a Google engineer’s own maverick ingenuity on his downtime. Google provides time for its engineers to work on independent research projects. “One of our engineers recognized that secure Wi-Fi was virtually nonexistent at most locations,” said the FAQ. “As a result, he used his 20 percent project time to begin an initiative to offer users more secure Wi-Fi access. Google Secure Access is the result of this endeavor.” On a privacy policy page, Google describes how the service will help protect users’ privacy. “Using insecure networks, such as public wireless networks, can leave your Internet traffic open to snooping by others in the vicinity of the wireless network,” said the page. “Google Secure Access helps address this problem by encrypting all traffic to and from your machine and passing it from the insecure network through a trusted gateway.”	right According to several pages on Google’s website, Google is launching a free WiFi service. This program, called '''''Google Secure Access''''', creates a Virtual Private Network allowing secure access to the Internet. ''Google Secure Access'' encrypts all traffic to and from a user’s machine while the user is connected to the wireless access point. Google provides its engineers with time to work on independent research projects. ''Google Secure Access'' was created as an independent research project by a Google engineer after he discovered that WiFi was insecure at most locations. According to the ''Google Secure Access FAQ'', the service is only available at "certain Google WiFi locations in the San Francisco Bay Area". According to some reports, the service is working from some independent (non-Google) WiFi locations in NYC. Like many of Google’s other popular services such as Gmail, ''Google Secure Access'' is still in the beta testing stage.
Dan Brown stars in High Court tale of treachery Dan Brown would have struggled to come up with a tale more filled with pseudo-historical intrigue and claims of treachery than the one revealed in Court 61 of the High Court yesterday. In the ornate setting of the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, the author of The Da Vinci Code, who made £45m in 2004 alone, finds himself being sued for allegedly ripping off the work of two biblical sleuths bent on rewriting Christian history, in order to provide the basis for his bestseller. Article Length: 765 words (approx.) \|\|\|\|\| Mon 27 Feb 2006 Dan Brown faces 'copying' challenge Dan Brown sat at the opposite end of a court bench from two writers who claim he copied their work for his blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code, in the Chancery Division of the High Court. Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh are suing their own publishers, Random House, claiming the internationally successful novel lifts from their 1982 book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, itself a best seller. This non-fiction work deals with theories that Jesus and Mary Magdalene married, had a child, and the blood line continues to this day - with the Catholic Church trying to suppress the discovery. It is similar to the theme explored in the Dan Brown novel which won best book at last year's British Book Awards and has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, earning the author £45 million in one year. If the two writers are successful and opt to take injunctions stopping use of their material, it could threaten the British release of the film adaptation of the novel, starring Tom Hanks and Sir Ian McKellen, which is scheduled to open on May 19. The case, expected to last up to two weeks, is also likely to clarify existing copyright laws over the extent to which an author can use other people's research. Dan Brown, whose earnings are estimated at more than £200 million, acknowledges the theories of The Holy Blood in his novel and names the villain in his story Sir Leigh Teabing, which, it has been suggested, was a deliberate part anagram of the surnames of the authors of the earlier work. The two books - which deal with parallel versions of the fate of Jesus Christ - have ended up in the High Court before Mr Justice Peter Smith. He was told by Jonathan James QC, representing the Holy Blood authors, that The Da Vinci Code is an infringement of his clients' copyright. © Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved. Related topic \|\|\|\|\| Sun 5 Feb 2006 Is Yale the key to new Brown blockbuster? YOU can criticise his prose style and question his devotion to historical fact. But there is no doubt the author of the Da Vinci Code is fast becoming the biggest publishing sensation on the planet. Dan Brown's new work, The Solomon Key, is as much as a year away but it has created an industry of its own with no fewer than three books already published which promise to reveal the secrets of the novel. Another two will come out before The Solomon Key itself. Without Brown or his publishers even officially confirming the title of the novel, numerous claims have been made about its contents, including the suggestion that President George Bush and a Yale University society will feature. The books speculate that having dealt with the Catholic Church and The Pope in The Da Vinci Code, Brown has now turned his attention to the heart of American power. They point to the "clues" Brown left on the dust jacket of The Da Vinci Code, which include longitude and latitude coordinates which lead to the CIA headquarters in Virginia. In Secrets of the Widow's Son, £10.99, Connecticut-based Da Vinci codologist David Shugarts offers the reader an explorer's guide to understanding the most important themes, ideas, symbols and historical events that Brown will use in The Solomon Key. Greg Taylor's The Solomon Key, £11.99, argues that the novel will be based around the Masonic views prevalent among the founding fathers of the United States. He claims the treasure hunt aspect of the book will involve the Kryptos statue at CIA headquarters. Frederick Zimmerman's The Solomon Key and Beyond - Unauthorised Dan Brown Update, £5.95, is believed to explore the supposed link between Washington, the CIA and hidden treasure buried in the capital in an area called Rosslyn. A further two books, Unlocking the Solomon Key by British author Simon Cox, and Beyond the Solomon Key by Shelley Klein, will be published later this year. Unlocking the Solomon Key promises an A to Z guide to the new novel and explaining Dan Brown's sources. The Da Vinci Code, for the few people who haven't read it, follows Professor Robert Langdon as he investigates the murder of an elderly member of an ancient society that guards dark secrets about the quest for the Holy Grail and the story of Christ. Its mix of code-breaking, art history, religion and mystical lore has helped it sell more than 40 million copies worldwide, four million of them in the UK. Despite a number of high profile publishing phenomena in recent years, not least Harry Potter, publishers say the hype generated by the new Dan Brown novel has never been seen before. Morris Paton, managing director of the Scottish Literary Trust, said: "It's unprecedented. Sure we have had spin-offs in the past but for books to come out before the original is unheard of. It's crazy." Mathew Perrin of Ottakars said that retailers had not yet decided on their launch plans for the new Brown book but midnight openings, as were seen for Harry Potter, have not been ruled out. "It is quite frankly astonishing," he said. "It's one thing to stand on the shoulders of giants but this is hanging off the coat tails of giants. Undoubtedly it will be huge. Will we open at midnight? We might do." According to Brown scholars, the plot of The Solomon Key will involve the deaths of politicians in Washington, the CIA, the Founding Fathers of America and the Masonic-like "Skull and Bones" society at Yale University of which both George Bush and John Kerry were members. Cox said that his contacts in America tell him there is a broad consensus on its content. He added: "It is going to be huge. The publishers are looking for as big a hit, if not bigger, than The Da Vinci Code." American writer Taylor added: "Based on Brown's modus operandi in previous novels it seems likely that a Masonic group will be framed for the murder of politicians in Washington." But last night some publishers warned that the rise in blockbuster books is indicative of the insecurity of the publishing industry, the retraction of titles and the reliance on a few best sellers. One prominent Edinburgh publisher who asked not to be named said: "This whole thing makes me sick. It's a piece of commercial nonsense. Is it reader led or publisher led? If you take Harry Potter that was reader led. In the first instance that book became a success not because of marketing but because of word of mouth amongst children in the playgrounds." THIS ONE WILL RUN AND RUN AMERICA is planning one of its largest print runs in publishing history in anticipation of the Da Vinci Code film. Random House has confirmed that it will print more than five million copies of the novel in three paperback versions beginning in March. The paperback editions of the book will hit the shelves in the US in March seven weeks before the movie, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, premieres in May. The same day, two versions of an illustrated screenplay including the film's full shooting script and still photographs from its production will be published. The book, by Dan Brown, follows Robert Langdon, a Harvard specialist in religious symbols, as he unravels the mystery behind the murder of a curator at the Louvre. Along with the curator's granddaughter, Sophie, Langdon uncovers a trail of clues that leads through the works of Leonardo da Vinci and into the catacombs of early Christian history. Related topic	The Da Vinci Code cover (U.K.) and , who jointly wrote together with a third author, a 1982 Non-Fiction book '''' have taken '''' publisher , to court claiming that The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail storyline has been stolen by . The third author of ''The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail'' , is not involved in the case. Random House is the of publisher of both ''The Da Vinci Code'' and ''The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail''. The central theme of the two books is that the bloodline from a marriage between and survives today. Random House has denied the claim and, Random House chief executive Gail Rebuck says in a statement that she believed the lawsuit was without merit. "As publisher of both ''The Da Vinci Code'' and ''The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail'', we are genuinely saddened that two of the three authors of HBHG have chosen to bring this litigation against us...Random House takes no pleasure in defending a legal action that it believes is without merit and we are confident that we will prevail." If this case is successful it could threaten the film; starring and from opening. ''The Da Vinci Code'' is a fiction book and has over 36 million copies in print worldwide. The dust jacket for the novel apparently includes longitude and latitude coordinates which lead to the headquarters near , . Brown's next book, ''The Solomon Key'', is rumoured to be about the Yale society. Notable alumni of the society include current United States President George W. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, and Massachusettes Senator John Kerry.
Sports Jamaica to host regional Under-17 football champs THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) received a huge boost yesterday when the sport's regional governing body, CONCACAF, revealed the country's successful bid to host next February's regional Under-17 Championships. The Championships will facilitate the qualification of four teams from the region for the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be staged in Mexico from June 18-July 10. Last night, JFF president Captain Horace Burrell expressed pleasure with CONCACAF's decision and said he was expecting the tournament to push the development of football in the western parishes. "A short while ago (yesterday) CONCACAF confirmed that Jamaica is selected as the host country for the CONCACAF Under-17 Football qualifiers which will take place between February 12 and 28 next year. I am extremely pleased with this decision as it will certainly help to give a fillip to western football development which, in recent times, has been facing numerous challenges," he said. In early August, CONCACAF's general secretary Ted Howard toured and inspected the newly built Catherine Hall facility, the Jarrett Park ground and the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium. Burrell said that the regional federation will shortly announce the two venues which will be used during the tournament. Burrell insisted that the JFF will be trying its utmost best to prepare youngsters for this tournament to ensure Jamaica's first qualification for an Under-17 World Cup since 1999 in New Zealand. "We intend to go all out in preparing our Under-17 players for this very important tournament and will be giving our youngsters much needed international exposure which I'm sure will put them in good stead to qualify," he said. "Hosting of this 12-nation tournament in Jamaica means a lot, not only to the football fraternity but certainly to the tourism industry. The hotel, transportation and hospitality industries will benefit from this. We expect inflow from hosting this tournament of between J$70-100 million," he added. Participating countries for the qualifiers will include the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago. The JFF has also announced the experienced Wendell Downswell as head coach of the team, while Omar Edwards will be his assistant. Downswell is currently coach of Digicel Premier League outfit Reno, while Edwards is the assistant at Boys' Town. \|\|\|\|\| Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter It has been officially confirmed that Jamaica will host the 12-nation Confederation of North, Central American Associations of Football (CONCACAF) Under-17 World Cup Qualifying Finals, after having a successful bid accepted by the regional body. The tournament will be hosted in western Jamaica from February 12-28, with two of three facilities inspected by the federation's general secretary, Ted Howard, earlier this month expected to be used. A decision on which of the grounds to be used, Jarrett Park, the New Catherine Hall Sporting Complex and the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, will be made at a later date. "I am understandably elated because the current administration is serious about youth development. We are determined to do more than just speak about it, hence our determination and persistence in securing this very important decision to host the qualifiers," president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, told The Gleaner last night, shortly after he got confirmation. The last and only time the country qualified for the Under-17 Youth World Cup Finals, which was held in 1999 in New Zealand, Jamaica hosted the tournament in western Jamaica. According to Burrell, the JFF is determined to see history repeat itself. "We intend to pull out all the stops to ensure that our team is well prepared for next February, which means that we will be looking to assemble them immediately," Burrell said. "Even with our current financial plight, the JFF intends to do all within our power to expose this unit to international football - both at home and overseas. I will be hitting the phone lines immediately, to see if we can secure camps and possible practice games for these youngsters, which they will certainly need if they are to vie for a place in the World Cup." Wendell Downswell has been appointed as head coach of the youth outfit, with Boys' Town assistant coach, Omar Edwards, expected to serve as his deputy. Downswell, a former national coach, was head of the Under-20 youth team that won a silver medal at the Pan Am Games in 2007. Edwards was voted as the top student at the series of coaching clinics held at the University of Technology over the last couple of months. The last time Jamaica hosted the final round of the Under-17 tournament at the National Stadium, the team, then led by the now-deceased David Hunt, fell just short of qualification in 2006. "It will not be easy," said Burrell. "We will be up against teams that have many of their players in professional outfits, but we will be looking to give it our best shot."	The logo of the Jamaican Football Federation Jamaica has been selected to to host the 2011 . The tournament will be hosted in western Jamaica from the 12th of February to the 28th. The tournament will decide what four teams will qualify for the . President of the , Captain released a statement about the decision. He said "A short while ago (yesterday) CONCACAF confirmed that Jamaica is selected as the host country for the CONCACAF Under-17 Football qualifiers which will take place between February 12 and 28 next year. I am extremely pleased with this decision as it will certainly help to give a fillip to western football development which, in recent times, has been facing numerous challenges." CONCACAF's general secretary toured the islands facilities in August. Burrell said that he will announce the two locations used for the tournament shortly.
Tidligt i går morges blev tre mænd fra Århus-området anholdt under mistanke om at planlægge og have til hensigt at udføre et terrorrelateret drab på den ene af de 12 tegnere bag Jyllands-Postens Muhammed-tegninger. Det kan ikke udelukkes, at de tre mistænkte har handlet efter ordre fra en terrorbevægelse i udlandet. Efter angiveligt flere måneders overvågning slog folk fra Østjyllands Politi og Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) tidligt i går morges en jernring om tre mænd i Århus-området. Lige omkring kl. 4.30 blev de anholdt under alvorlig mistanke om at have til hensigt at udføre et terrorrelateret mord på Jyllands-Postens 73-årige bladtegner Kurt Westergaard manden bag den stærkt omdiskuterede tegning af profeten Muhammed med en bombe i turbanen. »Jeg kan bekræfte, at formålet med PETs indsats i Århus natten mellem den 11. og 12. februar har været at forhindre et planlagt drab på en af tegnerne bag de Muhammed-tegninger, som Jyllands-Posten offentliggjorde den 30. september 2005,« siger politimester Jakob Scharf, PET. Den ene anholdte, en 40-årig dansk statsborger af marokkansk oprindelse, blev sigtet for forsøg på overtrædelse af straffelovens paragraf 114 om terrorisme. I aftes var det imidlertid PETs forventning, at han ville blive løsladt efter endt afhøring. Efterretningstjenesten valgte nemlig af hensyn til Kurt Westergaards sikkerhed at skride til anholdelse på så tidligt et tidspunkt, at der ikke var tilstrækkeligt med indicier til at søge at få manden varetægtsfængslet ved et grundlovsforhør. Men den pågældende danske statsborger vil, som Jakob Scharf siger, »fortsat være genstand for PETs interesse«. De øvrige anholdte, to tunesiske statsborgere på henholdsvis 25 og 36 år, står imidlertid til udvisning til Tunesien, idet de ifølge PET anses for at udgøre en fare for statens sikkerhed. PET har således anmodet regeringen om, at de to mænd på baggrund af en særlig bestemmelse i Udlændingeloven bør udvises af Danmark. Ifølge Berlingske Tidendes oplysninger har såvel justitsminister Lene Espersen (K) som integrationsminister Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) tilsluttet sig PETs ønske. Bekymret statsminister Både PET og Østjyllands Politi er yderst sparsomme med yderligere oplysninger om de tre anholdte og om den efterforskning, der førte frem til gårsdagens anholdelser. Men det står klart, at de to tunesere har været bosat og haft lovlig opholdstilladelse i Danmark i en kortere årrække, og at mindst en af de tre mænd blev anholdt i indvandrerbydelen Gellerup i Århus. De tre mænd skal endvidere være præget af markante og ortodokse religiøse holdninger. Der foreligger ingen oplysninger om, hvorvidt de tre har været styret af islamistiske terrorgrupperinger eller lignende i udlandet, eller om de har handlet på egen hånd. Men det er en kendt sag, at der har været fremsat adskillige dødstrusler mod de 12 Muhammed-tegnere, ikke mindst Kurt Westergaard, efter at Muhammed-krisen for alvor brød ud i lys lue begyndelsen af 2006. Som et af flere eksempler har den forbudte islamistiske gruppe i Storbritannien, Al Ghurabaa, offentliggjort en artikel med budskabet: »Dræb dem der fornærmer profeten Muhammed«. Men det har angiveligt ikke været PETs primære sigte at få de tre mænd varetægtsfængslet og senere dømt. Hovedformålet har været at forhindre, at en alvorlig terrorhandling en regulær henrettelse af mand, der er lagt for had i visse dele af den muslimske verden blev gennemført. Statsminister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (V) gav udtryk for dyb bekymring efter gårsdagens terrorrelaterede anholdelser. »Sagen viser desværre, at der også i Danmark er grupper af ekstremister, som ikke anerkender og respekterer de grundprincipper, det danske folkestyre bygger på,« udtalte han bl.a. \|\|\|\|\| På en og samme dag blev en 40-årig mand anholdt og løsladt for at planlægge gennemførelsen af et drab mod bladtegneren Kurt Westergaard - manden, der tilbage i september 2005 tegnede profeten Muhammed med en bombe i sin turban. Den 40-årige, der er dansk statsborger med marokkansk baggrund, blev anholdt i Århus i nat sammen med to tunesere, der begge har bopæl og opholdstilladelse i Danmark. Tirsdag var dansk-marokkaneren atter løsladt efter afhøringen. Det indikerer, at politiets beviser ikke har været stærke nok til, at man kunne gå i retten og kræve manden fængslet. Dermed har der efter alt at dømme været tale om en politiaktion, der alene havde til formål at forhindre et drab - og ikke at opklare en kriminalsag. Tunesere udvises De to tunesere bliver nu udvist. De er i øjeblikket frihedsberøvet efter udlændingelovens bestemmelser, men vil - sandsynligvis torsdag - blive fremstillet for en dommer. Dommeren skal dog ikke tage stilling til grundlaget for udvisning. Fremstillingen omhandler alene spørgsmålet om, hvorvidt det er hensigtssmæssigt fortsat at frihedsberøve de to tunesere frem til det tidspunkt, hvor selve udvisningen kan eksekveres. \|\|\|\|\| De tre store danske aviser Jyllands-Posten, Politiken og Berlingske Tidende vil alle trykke Kurt Westergaards omstridte Muhammed-tegning igen onsdag Både Jyllands-Posten, Politiken og Berlingske Tidende vil onsdag bringe Kurt Westergaards omstridte tegning af Muhammed med en bombe i turbanen. Det er første gang, at Berlingske bringer tegningen. Chefredaktørerne på Politiken og Berlingske er rystede over planerne om at myrde Kurt Westergaard og erklærer sig klar til at kæmpe for den frie debat. - Vi må i de danske medier sende et klart og utvetydigt signal til alle, der måtte få samme vanvittige tanke som dem, der ville angribe Kurt Westergaard, siger Berlingske Tidendes chefredaktør Lisbeth Knudsen til jp.dk. Da Muhammed-tegningerne blev offentliggjort i november 2005, valgte Berlingske Tidendes daværende chefredaktion ikke at bringe dem. Dengang var der ifølge Lisbeth Knudsen ikke tilstrækkelig journalistisk begrundelse for at bringe tegningerne. /ritzau/ \|\|\|\|\| Ingenting. Så kort kan man opsummere den viden, som forsvareren for én af de anholdte i bladtegner-sagen har om sagens videre forløb. Forsvareren, Henning Lyngsbo, er indkaldt som beskikket advokat i sagen, og han mødtes tirsdag eftermiddag med sin klient for første gang. - Jeg vil ikke oplyse, hvem min klient er. Men jeg har set ham, jeg har været sammen med ham, og jeg kan sige, at han har det udmærket, siger Henning Lyngsbo, der dog ikke ønsker at uddybe yderligere. - Jeg har ingen idé om, hvad der nu skal ske. Bolden ligger hos Politiets Efterretningstjeneste, og det er dem, der må lukke munden op og fortælle, hvad meningen er med alt dét her. Jeg aner ikke, hvad næste skridt bliver, siger forsvareren. /ritzau/ \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| The row saw Danish flags being burnt in Muslim states Intelligence agents said two Tunisians and a Dane of Moroccan origin had been arrested in Aarhus at 0330 GMT "to prevent a murder linked to terrorism". The editor of the newspaper that first published the caricatures said he had been deeply shaken by news of the plot. The pictures printed by Jyllands-Posten sparked violent protests two years ago. Danish embassies were attacked around the world and dozens died in riots. 'Concrete plans' In a statement, the head of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), Jakob Sharf, said its operatives had carried out pre-dawn raids in the Aarhus region. The detentions of the three suspects had been made "after lengthy surveillance", he added. The Danish citizen will be released pending further investigation, while the Tunisians will be held until they are expelled from the country. I have turned fear into anger and resentment Kurt Westergaard Cartoonist The PET did not identify the target of the alleged plot, but the online edition of Jyllands-Posten said its cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard, was the focus. The newspaper, based in Aarhus, said Mr Westergaard, 73, and his 66-year-old wife, Gitte, had been under police protection for the past three months. In a statement on Jyllands-Posten's website, Mr Westergaard said: "Of course I fear for my life when the police intelligence service say that some people have concrete plans to kill me. "But I have turned fear into anger and resentment." The editor of Jyllands-Posten, Carsten Juste, said he and his staff had been "deeply shaken" by the news. "We'd become more or less used to death threats and bomb threats since the cartoons, but it's the first time that we've heard about actual murder plans - that's new," he said. Muslim anger The BBC's Thomas Buch-Andersen in Copenhagen says the arrests have stunned people in Denmark, where the furore over the cartoons was thought to have passed. Mr Westergaard was one of 12 artists behind the drawings but he was responsible for what was considered the most controversial of the pictures. The caricature featured the head of Islam's holiest prophet with a turban depicting a bomb with a lit fuse. The cartoons were later reprinted by more than 50 newspapers, triggering a wave of protests in parts of the Muslim world. The demonstrations culminated a year ago with the torching of Danish diplomatic offices in Damascus and Beirut and dozens of deaths in Nigeria, Libya and Pakistan.	Scan of the cartoons as printed on page 3 of the "KulturWeekend" section of ''Jyllands-Posten'''s September 30, 2005, edition. In the early hours of Tuesday, Denmark's Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) (Danish Security Intelligence Service), arrested three people for their connection to an alleged plot to murder one of the cartoonists from the ''Jyllands-Posten'' Muhammad cartoons controversy. On September 30, 2005, ''Jyllands-Posten'' a Danish newspaper, published twelve cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. The paper solicited the cartoons for an article that explored "self-censorship" with regards to criticism of Islam. One of the cartoonists that responded was Kurt Westergaard, who contributed an image of Muhammed with a turban that looks like a bomb. PET says that Westergaard was the target of an alleged plot to murder him. At 4:30 a.m. CET (UTC+1), in a pre-dawn raid, they arrested three men in Aarhus, Denmark. The men, two Tunisians and one Danish citizen of Moroccan origin, are suspected of planning to kill Westergaard. PET commissioner Jakob Scharf said, "The purpose of the clampdown was to prevent a terror- related homicide. The clampdown occurred after a long period of surveillance." The Danish citizen has been released. It is thought that this means that the evidence against him is not very strong. However, the 40-year-old man "will continue to be of interest for the PET" says Scharf. The two other men, said to be 25 and 36 years of age, and who by all accounts were in Denmark legally, face deportation back to Tunisia. They are due to remain in custody until a judge can review their case on Thursday. "I have no idea about what is going to happen next. The ball is in the court of PET, and they are they ones who need to start talking and explain the meaning of all this. I have no idea what the next step is," said the public defender assigned to the Tunisians. The government and the PET has yet to present their case in court. As a result, it is unknown what evidence there is of a plot. Also, it is unknown if the men were under orders from groups outside of Denmark, as has been speculated by media. However, Scharf says that the pre-emptive police action "was to prevent a planned killing of one of the cartoonists behind the Muhammed-drawings." The primary objective was not to jail or deport anyone, but to prevent a murder. The Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, commented: "Unfortunately, this case shows, that in Denmark, too, there are groups of extremists, who do not recognize and respect the founding principles upon which the Danish people's government is built." Meanwhile, the editors-in-chief at the three biggest newspapers in Denmark have seen the alleged plot as a threat to their freedom of speech. These papers are ''Jyllands-Posten'', ''Politiken'' og ''Berlingske Tidende. '' To reassert their rights they all plan to republish the controversial Muhammad drawings on Wednesday. "We must in Danish media send a clear and unambiguous message to all, that might get the same insane thoughts, as those who would attack Kurt Westergaard," says ''Berlingske Tidende'' chief-editor Lisbeth Knudsen. Westergaard, who is 73 years old, has been under police protection since he received death-threats shortly after the original publication of the cartoons. "I fear for my life, when the police tell me there are certain people who are working with concrete plans to kill me," he says.
ABC News Process Begins for John Paul's Sainthood Pope Benedict XVI Opens the Process for the Sainthood of Pope John Paul II Pope Benedict XVI addresses clergy at the Basilica St John Lateran in the Vatican City, in this image taken from TV Friday May 13, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said Friday while speaking to the clergy that he had authorized the start of the possible sainthood process for Pope John Paul II, overriding the usual five-year waiting period following the death of a candidate before beatification procedures can begin. (AP Photo/Vatican TV via APTN) By DANIELA PETROFF Associated Press Writer The Associated Press VATICAN CITY May 13, 2005 Pope Benedict XVI put his predecessor on the fast track for sainthood Friday and appointed San Francisco Archbishop William Levada as his successor as guardian of church doctrine, the highest Vatican office ever held by an American. The pope's decision to authorize the start of the process for sainthood for Pope John Paul II overrode the usual five-year waiting period following the death of a candidate before beatification procedures can begin. The only other time the waiting period was waived was for Mother Teresa. The process was begun a year after her death. Benedict made the announcement in Latin during a meeting at the Basilica of St. John Lateran with the Roman clergy. Friday is the anniversary of an 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul in St. Peter's Square at the hands of a Turkish gunman. Also Friday, Benedict named the 68-year-old Levada as his successor the Vatican's chief watchdog of church doctrine. Levada helped draft the Catechism of the Catholic Church essentially the handbook on everything you need to believe to be a Catholic, and one of the major accomplishments of Pope John Paul II's papacy. Benedict and Levada are old friends, and Levada met with the pope on May 3, fueling speculation that he was on the short list for the job of leading the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In anticipation of the appointment, the Rev. Jim Bretzke, co-chair of the University of San Francisco's theology department, described Levada as intelligent, careful and fair. "He has all the right credentials," Bretzke said. "The conservatives respect him and even the liberals respect him." Levada has spoken out on some pressing doctrinal concerns, voicing opposition to same-sex marriages and saying priests should ask bishops for guidance on whether to refuse a Catholic politician communion if the politician supports abortion rights. He also has been involved in efforts aimed at Episcopal-Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States. Levada joined the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1976 and served for six years, leaving shortly after when then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took over as prefect in 1981. He returned as one of the five bishops on the congregation in 2000. \|\|\|\|\| Pilgrims at the Pope's funeral called for his immediate sainthood "The cause for the beatification of John Paul II is open," the new Roman Catholic leader told priests meeting at Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran. The Pope waived the usual rules which require a five-year wait before the Church begins to make someone a saint. John Paul II died on 2 April, leading to widespread calls from Catholics worldwide for him to be made a saint. Standing ovation BEATIFICATION PROCESS Beatification requires that a miracle has occurred Group approaches local bishop After Rome's approval an investigation is launched Findings are sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Case is presented to the Pope Blessed may be accorded a feast day Relics of the candidate may be venerated Canonisation (actual sainthood) requires proof of a second miracle Reasons for the fast track "And now I have a very joyous piece of news for you," Pope Benedict XVI said in Italian before making the announcement in Latin. The Pope read out a letter from Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the official in charge of sainthood, in which it said that Benedict XVI himself had authorised the start of the beatification process. The news was met with a standing ovation from the priests attending the meeting. It comes on the anniversary of an assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981, when he was shot in St Peter's Square by a Turkish gunman. Life examined Information will now be gathered on the former pope's life and teachings, including all private writings from the period before he became pope, and checked for orthodoxy to ensure that he expressed no heretical views. Pope John Paul II abandoned the five-year rule when he beatified Mother Teresa A commission of historians will be appointed to gather all of the documents together, which will then be examined by panels of theologians, and cardinals and bishops. If a two-thirds majority agree with John Paul II's beatification Pope Benedict XVI will then be called upon to give his own approval. But Vatican expert Michael Walsh told the BBC that for the process to be complete the Vatican authorities will then have to establish that a miracle has been ascribed to Pope John Paul II. "They have to prove someone has been miraculously healed... by his intercession, by praying to John Paul II, he or she has recovered from cancer or something of that sort," he said. Miracle needed In the days following his death Italian media carried a number of reports of alleged miracles attributed to Pope John Paul II, including one claim that an American man suffering from a brain tumour was cured after receiving communion from the late pontiff. But the alleged miracles occurred during the Pope's lifetime, and the beatification process studies those occurring after the candidate's death. Beatification allows public veneration of the person and for the person to be known as "Blessed". For actual sainthood, proof of at least two miracles is required. Beatification allows public veneration of the blessed person In normal circumstances five years must pass between the death of the person proposed for beatification and the start of the procedure, to avoid emotion playing a part. However, John Paul II dispensed with this rule himself when in 2003 he beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The entire process was completed just six years after her death. On Friday Pope Benedict XVI also announced who would succeed him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Sixty-eight-year-old William Levada, Archbishop of San Francisco, is the first American to hold the post as the Vatican's chief watchdog of orthodoxy. \|\|\|\|\| The pontiff said he was dispensing with rules ordering a five-year wait following the death of a candidate. The five-year rule is intended to allow time for emotions to calm after a person's death. He made the announcement in Latin during a meeting with the Roman clergy at the Basilica of St John Lateran. It is the first step to the canonisation of John Paul II, who died last month. At his funeral Mass, pilgrims chanted "Santo, Santo!" and held up banners saying "Santo Subito" - meaning "immediate sainthood". A commission is now expected to be appointed to examine John Paul II's life and gather his teachings to ensure orthodoxy and that he expressed no heretical views. It will also have to confirm that the former pope performed miracles. One miracle is required for John Paul II to be beatified, and a second for him to be declared a saint. After John Paul II died, Italian newspapers carried reports of alleged miracles that had been attributed to him. However, the reports stemmed from inexplicable cures that had occurred while the former pontiff was still alive. Vatican rules say a miracle has to have occurred after death for it to be considered in the sanctifying process. Pope Benedict's surprise announcement came on the anniversary of an assassination attempt on John Paul II, who was shot in St Peter's Square by a Turkish gunman in 1981. John Paul II himself lifted the five-year waiting period for the beatification procedures to begin for Mother Teresa, the nun who dedicated her life to caring for India's poorest people, when he launched the beatification process a year after her death in 1997. She was beatified in October 2003. Pope Benedict also named the archbishop of San Francisco, William Levada, to replace him as the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, once known as the holy inquisition. Archbishop Levada, a 68-year-old theologian, is the first American to hold the post. He joined the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1976 and served for six years. He returned as one of the five bishops on the congregation in 2000.	'''Background''' Wikipedia Wikipedia, Wikinews' sibling project, has in-depth background articles on: * beatification * intercession of saints * canonization * beatified people Today Pope Benedict XVI announced, in a meeting with the Roman clergy at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, that the process for beatification of Pope John Paul II can be started soon. The process of beatification is the first step in the Catholic Church towards the proclamation of santification (canonization) of a person. Usually there is a five year waiting period after the death of a candidate for beatification before the procedures may begin. Pope Benedict XVI waived this period on May 9. The only other case where the waiting period has been waived was Mother Teresa, whose beatification was begun in 1998, a year after her death, and completed in 2003. John Paul II can not be styled a saint until he has been both formally beatified and canonized, processes that have no timetables and may take several years. Since the process of beatification should be started in the diocese where the person died, the process should be started by the Cardinal Vicar, Camillo Ruini, who should instruct the process under the competent Court.
LONDON (Reuters) - The Church of England rejected an attempt by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to accommodate opponents of women bishops, dealing a blow to his authority and increasing the likelihood some traditionalists who favour an all-male clergy will leave the Anglican Communion. Williams, spiritual head of the world Anglican communion, had tabled an amendment at the church’s General Synod, or parliament, which would have strengthened the legal position of male bishops ministering in dioceses where parishes objected to women bishops. It would have provided for a so-called nominated bishop, working alongside the female bishop, taking his power from the church rather than the diocesan bishop. But although the amendment, jointly put forward by Archbishop of York John Sentamu, the church’s second most senior cleric, secured a majority of votes across all three houses of synod, it failed because one, the house of clergy, narrowly voted against. It is rare for archbishops to propose an amendment, and although there was a good chance it would fail, it still shocked many in the chamber. Calls for calm and for the synod to “hold its nerve” were made as clergy asked for time to seek guidance. “The archbishops left the door open...I am now gutted,” said one member of the synod, which met in York, northern England. The archbishops’ loss does not alter the principle of female ordination but it does make further compromise more difficult and increases the prospect of some traditionalists taking up Pope Benedict’s offer made last October which made it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Roman Catholicism. It could lead evangelicals to seek guidance elsewhere, taking their growing, often young congregations, with them, as well as their large funds. The ordination of women, along with homosexual bishops and same-sex marriages, is among the most divisive issues facing the Anglican Communion, which has 77 million members worldwide. The CoE began the process of consecrating women bishops five years ago, and other Anglican provinces have them, including the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. APOSTLES ALL MEN But the CoE has struggled to find a way of keeping traditionalist Anglo Catholics and conservative evangelicals within the same broad church as liberals who are in favour of female bishops. Conservatives say as Jesus Christ’s apostles were all men, there is nothing in the Bible or church history to support women bishops. Liberals say it is insulting not to admit women to positions of power, especially as nearly a third of the CoE’s working priests are female. The archbishops during the debate had reaffirmed their support of women bishops, but said they were looking for a way to keep the church together. But some of those in favour of women bishops said they had reacted with “sadness and dismay” at the proposal, saying a system that created two categories of bishop could not work and would lead to inevitable conflict. “I do not believe this is good news,” Christine Allsopp, archdeacon of Northampton, said. “I don’t believe this will deliver, and it certainly doesn’t feel good news for women clergy.” While traditionalists had threatened to leave if their call for further safeguards were not met, some women had likewise suggested they would not be able to work under the archbishops’ proposal. The synod has about 10 more hours over the next few days to discuss the Revision Committee’s draft legislation which recommends women should be consecrated as bishops on the same basis as men. It proposes a statutory code of practice which would allow traditional parishes to request that a male bishop perform blessings and ordinations to safeguard their interests. It has a number of hurdles still to get over before England could see its first woman bishop, possibly in 2014. The synod earlier in the session rejected two amendments which proposed more extreme measures. \|\|\|\|\| A bid by two of the Church of England's most senior clerics to avert a split over women bishops has narrowly failed. A general synod vote went against compromise proposals, offering safeguards for objectors, put by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. They were backed by a majority of the houses of bishops and laity, but not of the House of Clergy, meaning they fell. The Archbishop of York earlier urged an end to the "spin and propaganda" against the Archbishop of Canterbury. The two clerics are trying to stop a split over the women bishops issue which divides liberals and traditionalists. Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams had earlier insisted that the concessions did not represent a "loyalty" test to himself and Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. Continue reading the main story We recognise their good intentions in trying to help us all to hold together but I do not believe that this is good news The Venerable Christine Allsopp Archdeacon of Northampton Send us your comments "We should both be very disappointed if this was seen as some kind of covert loyalty test. Synod must scrutinise our suggestion in the way it would scrutinise any other," he said. Before the vote Dr Sentamu told the general synod of the Church of England "enough is enough" over the "general disregard for truth" about Dr Williams. Dr Sentamu said he was "deeply saddened" that there was not only a "general disregard for the truth, but a rapacious appetite for 'carelessness'." He said this was "compounded by spin, propaganda and the resort to misleading opinions paraded as fact, regarding a remarkable, gifted and much-maligned Christian leader I call a dear friend and trusted colleague - one Rowan Williams". Impassioned speeches The two most senior figures in the Church were urging synod members to support a last-ditch compromise deal aimed at avoiding a split over the introduction of women bishops. They proposed that a female bishop would have full authority in her diocese but "in practice refrain from exercising" certain functions in a parish which objected to her. A "complementary bishop" would have independent powers, and the powers of the two bishops would be "co-ordinate". Some 216 members voted in favour of the archbishops' proposals, and 191 against. But the result in the House of Clergy was 90 against and 85 in favour, with five abstentions. Under the rules, the proposals were lost as they failed to achieve a majority in each of the houses. Impassioned speeches were made both in favour and against the proposals. Gay bishop pressure The concession would have strengthened the legal position of male bishops ministering in dioceses where parishes objected to women bishops. But pro-women's ordination campaigners had claimed they could lead to a "two-track episcopacy". The Venerable Christine Allsopp, Archdeacon of Northampton, told the synod she was "dismayed" by the compromise being put. "We recognise their good intentions in trying to help us all to hold together but I do not believe that this is good news, I do not believe that this will deliver and it is certainly not good news for women clergy," she said. The general synod also voted against an amendment that proposed three new dioceses to cater for objectors to women bishops. Also proposed in the rejected amendment was the idea that male bishops appointed to minister in these dioceses would declare that they would not participate in the consecration of a woman bishop or priest. Dr Williams is also under pressure after the Crown Nominations Commission blocked the appointment of the openly gay Dean of St Albans, the Very Rev Jeffrey John, as the new Bishop of Southwark. \|\|\|\|\| By Emily Dugan The Archbishop of Canterbury was struggling yesterday to prevent warring factions within the Church of England from splitting over the ordaining of female bishops. When the 484 members of the church's General Synod reconvene in York tomorrow, the church's unity will be precariously balanced. Dr Rowan Williams won an early boost when members voted to "take note" of draft legislation on creating female bishops, but later suffered a setback when his amendment to appease traditionalists was voted down. Although the Synod has voted in favour of female bishops, it is now hoping to appease traditionalist factions who are threatening to abandon the church over the issue. This threat was made more urgent following the offer from Pope Benedict last year that the disaffected would be welcome in the Catholic Church. The move to appease traditionalists, put forward jointly with the Archbishop of York, Dr john Sentamu, proposed three new dioceses run by male bishops to cater for those objecting to change. The move was rejected by 258 votes to 134, with eight abstentions. Faced with the almost impossible task of balancing the wishes of traditionalists, who want to be protected from female bishops, and supporters of women's ordination, a compromise is proving tricky. The debate is expected to continue until Tuesday. Dr Williams insisted earlier that the concessions did not represent a "loyalty" test to himself and Dr Sentamu. "We should be very disappointed if this was seen as some kind of covert loyalty test. Synod must scrutinise our suggestion in the way it would scrutinise any other," he said The divisions have prompted speculation that Dr Williams might step down. Downing Street and the Church of England both denied reports that No 10 has ordered a briefing paper on how the Prime Minister should respond in the event that Dr Williams suddenly resigned.	Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in 2007 The Church of England's ruling body, the General Synod, yesterday rejected a compromise deal on the divisive issue of women bishops. An amendment to satisfy traditionalists was jointly proposed by its two most senior clerics, the Archbishop of Canterbury, , and the Archbishop of York, . Despite getting a majority of support across the Synod as a whole, it was rejected after narrowly being defeated in the vote of the House of Clergy. The amendment would have allowed male "complementary bishops" to cater to parishes, which objected to having a female bishop in their diocese. The bishops would supposedly have "co-ordinate" powers, but some campaigners supporting women bishops said the plans would result in an unfair "two-track" system. "I do not believe this will deliver, and it is certainly not good news for women clergy," said Christine Allsopp, Archdeacon of , of the proposed amendment. Many traditionalists have strongly opposed the ordination of female bishops, and threatened to leave the Church over the issue. The situation has been worsened by offers from Pope Benedict for disaffected Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church instead. Earlier Dr Sentamu had claimed that Dr Williams was facing "spin and propaganda", and called for it to end. Dr Williams insisted that the vote should not be considered a test of the Synod's "loyalty" to the two Archbishops, but the rejection is widely seen as a blow to their authority. The Synod is due to continue its debate on women bishops over the next few days.
A vote to decide King Gyanendra's future is due next year The pact formally ended a 10-year insurgency that killed 13,000 people. Under the landmark deal, the rebels will join a transitional government. King Gyanendra took over power in February 2005, but was forced to step down by a popular uprising last April. On Monday a panel held him responsible for excesses against pro-democracy protesters in the uprising. Prayer for peace In a statement, the monarch expressed his pleasure that "a peace agreement has been concluded in keeping with the nation's need and people's aspirations". The king expressed the hope that "by ensuring sustainable peace, a prosperous Nepal can now be built with the collective efforts of all Nepalese people through multi-party democracy". The monarch also prayed for "the eternal peace of the souls of all Nepalese who lost their precious lives". The country's multi-party government and the Maoist rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than six months since they co-ordinated mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament and end direct rule. The king has subsequently been stripped of all executive powers including the control over the 90,000-strong army. There has been a persistent call for the abolition of the monarchy since then. A constituent assembly election is due to be held early next year to decide its future. \|\|\|\|\| PM Koirala and rebel leader Prachanda celebrate the signing Under the deal, the rebels will join a transitional government and their weapons will be under UN monitoring. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses in fighting that has left more than 13,000 people dead. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist rebel leader Prachanda signed the deal in Kathmandu. End to conflict "This ends the more than one decade of civil war in the country," Prachanda said after the deal was signed. This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system Maoist leader Prachanda Viewpoints: Historic peace Should the king be punished? The country's multi-party government and the Maoist rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than six months since they co-ordinated mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament and end direct rule. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that the agreement brings an end to years of bloody conflict. The Maoists are now due to move into parliament and government, abandoning their guerrilla status. Our correspondent says that the agreement has been expected for several days, but is nonetheless historic. "The war is over," declared the chief government negotiator, Krishna Sitaula, as he read out the agreement reached after tortuous negotiations. He said the ceasefire declared by both sides six months ago had become permanent. Arms belonging to the rebels will be monitored by the UN Anyone committing violent acts from now on would be punished, Mr Sitaula added. In a celebratory atmosphere, the peace agreement was made public at a large gathering of politicians, diplomats and civil society leaders in Kathmandu. "This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system," 52-year-old Prachanda declared. "Our party will work with new responsibility and new vigour to make a new Nepal." Mr Koirala was equally ecstatic. "The agreement has ended the politics of killings, violence and terror and started the politics of cooperation," he said. "I would like to thank Prachanda as well for finding a peaceful solution. Nepal has entered into a new era and it has opened the door for peace. "Now we need to meet together in cooperation and understanding to make sure this agreement is fully implemented," the 85-year-old PM said. The UN has welcomed the deal, describing it as "another key step forward in the peace process". \|\|\|\|\| By Alastair Lawson BBC News Online South Asia The rebels control large swathes of rural Nepal It is estimated that they now have between 10,000 to 15,000 fighters, and are active across the country, with many parts completely under their control. So how did the rebels transform themselves from a small group of shotgun-wielding insurgents in 1996 to the formidable fighting force they are today? The disillusionment of the Maoists with the Nepalese political system began after democracy was re-introduced in 1990. Shining Path Many who are key figures in the rebel movement today played a role alongside mainstream political parties in over-throwing Nepal's absolute monarchy. Although they participated in the country's first parliamentary elections, their disenchantment with ceaseless political squabbling - and their anger at the plight of the rural poor - prompted them to take up arms. In doing so, there is little doubt that the two key rebel leaders, Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai, derived their inspiration from Peru's Shining Path rebels. The Maoists military strength has increased considerably in recent years Both men wanted to emulate the Shining Path's stated objective of destroying government institutions and replacing them with a revolutionary peasant regime. As with the Shining Path, Nepal's Maoists deal with dissent ruthlessly. Human rights groups say that like the security forces, they are guilty of numerous summary executions and cases of torture. The Nepalese Maoists have also made some "homegrown" modifications to Maoist ideology. Caste resentment They argue that what makes them different from other communist parties in the country is that they want a complete revamp of the multiparty democratic system as part of a programme aimed at turning the country into a Marxist republic. But on this issue there is some ambiguity, because in the past Maoist negotiators have hinted that they will abandon this demand so that the peace process can be kick-started. So powerful have the Maoists become that few dare defy their call for a general strike in Kathmandu In fact the only area where they have stayed consistent is in their demand for an end to Nepal's constitutional monarchy. Another key grievance of the rebels was the resentment felt by lower caste people against the authority wielded by the higher castes. The Maoists say that the reason they have so much support is because most of their supporters have traditionally been treated as second-class citizens or worse. Many analysts that this is the real explanation as to why such a seemingly anachronistic movement has made such dramatic headway. The rebels can now threaten Kathmandu itself Unquestionably there is a substantial number of people in Nepal who see the Maoists as the only genuine alternative to the old, repressive social order. The first Maoist attack is believed to have taken place in 1996, when six government and police outposts were attacked simultaneously in mid-western Nepal. Similar attacks took place on a regular basis in the same area over the next few years. Initially the rebels were not taken seriously at all by the government, diplomats, journalists or the all-pervasive aid agencies that dominate Nepal's economy. They were lightly armed and not considered a genuine military threat. Rebel abductions But since then they have become one of South Asia's most potent rebel groups, rivalling the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka. Today the Maoists are well organised, and the firepower at their disposal greater than ever. Rifles and explosives have been stolen from captured police outposts and it is believed that the country's open border with India has made it easier to smuggle arms and money. While many support the Maoists, others are fearful of them So powerful have the Maoists become that few dare defy them when they call a general strike in Kathmandu. The rebels' threat to cut off the city from the rest of the country can no longer be considered an idle threat. Only a few weeks ago, the rebels abducted hundreds of school children for a week long "re-education" course on Maoist ideology right under the noses of the security forces on the outskirts of Kathmandu. The Maoists may not yet have the strength to win their "People's War" but they are too strong to lose it. As one analyst put it, the government appears to be caught in a classic catch-22 situation. Until there is substantial social and economic development in the areas of the countryside where the Maoists hold sway, the insurgency will continue. But development cannot happen until the government gains even limited access to these areas, and access can only be achieved by using highly unpopular and potentially counterproductive military means against a well-organised guerrilla army.	Flag of Nepal Nepal's 10-year civil war has come to a peaceful conclusion with the signing of a historic accord between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Prachanda, leader of the Maoist rebel faction that had been fighting for political change. The deal was signed in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The deal would allow the Maoists into the Nepalese government, and place both Maoist and government weapons under UN scrutiny. The Maoists had been observing a ceasefire since its declaration more than six months previously. Prachanda said that the peace agreement would end the 238-year old feudal system. He added that his party would work with new responsibility and make new strong Nepal. Meanwhile, Koirala said that the deal ended the politics of terron and violence and started the politics of co-operation. He thanked Prachanda to find out a peaceful solution in the country. The government and the Maoist rebels were accused of human rights abuses in fighting that killed more than 13,000 people. Nepalese king Gyanendra Singh has welcomed Tuesday's peace deal between the government and the Maoist rebels.
Protests were launched against Faure Gnassingbe's appointment. They say the 24 April poll is being held too soon to be fully free. Supporters of the ruling RPT (Rally of the Togolese People) also held a rally in favour of the polling date. Togo was plunged into crisis earlier in February after the army installed Faure Gnassingbe as president hours after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema. Although he promised elections within 60 days, as stipulated by the constitution, this did little to quell protests from African neighbours and beyond. Organisation Around 2,000 people attended each demonstration, witnesses said. Opposition leaders say the 24 April deadline does not give them enough time to mount a proper campaign. "We will continue to fight for better organisation of the 24 April vote, but we will go to the polls and we ask opposition supporters to go and register on electoral lists," said Leopold Gnininvi of the CDPA opposition party. Supporters of the government insisted that the elections should take place on the scheduled date. "We say elections should take place on 24 April - only elections can decide between us," said Robert Assidi, a member of the youth wing of the RPT. Interior Minister Francois Boko said on Wednesday that a special 3,500 strong special security force would be deployed to ensure candidates would be able move freely in the run-up to the election. Emmanuel Bob-Akitani, vice president of the Union Forces for Change party, will stand as the main opposition candidate against Faure Gnassingbe. \|\|\|\|\| By EBOW GODWIN Associated Press Writer LOME, Togo (AP) - Opposition parties rallied on Saturday to call for presidential elections to be delayed, but supporters of Togo's deceased military ruler insisted the vote must go ahead as planned. Some militants attacked two plainclothes policemen on duty, causing them to be hospitalized with bruises and one with a fractured elbow, Security Minister Akila Esso Boko said. ``Ablode! Ablode!'' opposition supporters said, screaming their demand for ``freedom'' after 38 years under the dictatorial rule of Gnassingbe Eyadema, who died of a heart attack Feb. 5. The demonstrations came hours before the midnight deadline for presidential candidates to register for the April 24 vote. Faure Gnassingbe, the son of Eyadema whom the military briefly installed as Togo's leader within hours of death, was first to file on Friday, according to the Electoral Commission. He was followed by Nicolas Lawson, whose Party for Renewal and Redemption is small, but whose preacher-style speeches and frequent quoting from the Bible has won a strong following. Lawson's candidature threatens to split the opposition vote and imperil the chances Emmanuel Bob Akitani, chosen by a six-party opposition coalition of more radical parties that had appealed for opponents to military rule to back one candidate. Hundreds of opposition supporters marched through the capital Saturday and cheered Akitani as he demanded better representation on the nation's electoral bodies and urged them to be vigilant against repeats of previous, fraudulent elections. ``We can foresee another electoral holdup being planned by the Togo government,'' Akitani's coalition said in a statement calling on the Community of West African States to exert pressure on Togo's government to postpone the elections. A rally of the youth wing of Gnassingbe's military-backed party also drew hundreds of supporters Saturday, who yelled ``No'' to any election postponement. ``This will lead to an uncertain tomorrow,'' the youth wing's spokesman, Robert Assedi, said. The security minister, who is also in charge of territorial administration, has denied opposition charges that the government refused it representation on electoral bodies and said the three main opposition parties have not submitted names of representatives to serve on them despite several reminders. He also said the policemen who were attacked did not fight back. ``Togolese security agents have strict orders not to react even in the face of extreme provocation during protest marches,'' Boko told The Associated Press. ``But this should not be taken as a sign of weakness.'' Togolese security forces killed four protesters in February demonstrations against the military's installation of Gnassingbe.	Togo The opposition parties in Togo held a demonstration on Saturday to demand a delay in the upcoming elections. The elections to replace the deceased ruler, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, are scheduled to be held on April 24, 2005. The elections were scheduled after an outpouring of international criticism about the army's installment of the late president's son as the country's new leader. The son, Faure Gnassingbé, initially circumvented the constitutional process for new elections 60 days after the death of a current president, but announced elections after African and European leaders strongly criticized the move. The opposition is demanding a delay for the election, because they fear they will not be able to carry out a sufficient campaign. The candidates from the two prominent opposition parties, Emmanuel Bob Akitani and Nicolas Lawson, both registered with the election officials despite the view that elections should be delayed. In a demonstration in the nation's capital, Akitani's supporters cheered as the candidate called for better representation on elected bodies — something the government denies is a problem. The supporters of the current government also held a rally in the city, shouting "No" to the prospect of delaying elections.
Mugabe rules - again 01/04/2005 21:52 - (SA) Related Articles Mugabe's party wins elections Mugabe's party takes the lead Mass fraud in poll - Tsvangirai 10 000 votes 'out of nowhere' Gallery: Zim election Harare - President Robert Mugabe's party won enough seats to clinch a parliamentary majority, according to results announced on Friday in an election the opposition and rights groups said was skewed from the start. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai accused the government of stealing the poll and urged Zimbabweans to defend their votes. Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) won 55 of parliament's 120 elected seats, compared to 34 for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the national election commission announced. Mugabe appoints another 30 seats, ensuring his party a majority. Tsvangirai told reporters at an earlier news briefing: "The government has fraudulently, once again, betrayed the people. "We believe the people of Zimbabwe must defend their vote and their right to free and fair elections." Mugabe nephew declared winner Tsvangirai said inconsistencies in the results pointed to rigging. He cited the example of Manyame, 40km southwest of Harare, where Mugabe's nephew, ruling party candidate Patrick Zhawao, was declared the winner. Election officials announced on Thursday night that 14 812 people voted in that constituency. But early on Friday, they changed the total to 24 000 and said Zhawao got more than 15 000 votes. Election commission officials refused to comment on the discrepancy, but said they doubted there was any rigging. Tsvangirai's party has shied away from confrontation with Mugabe's increasingly repressive regime after street protests were violently crushed. His party has preferred to fight its battles in the courts - now packed with judges sympathetic to Mugabe. Tsvangirai said his party would do more this time than begin another round of appeals. Party leaders were meeting on Saturday to decide their next step. Independent Zimbabwean rights groups and the United States, whose diplomats observed the campaign and voting, agreed with Tsvangirai that the polls were seriously flawed. Lost six seats in by-elections Although this campaign had been relatively peaceful, they said bloodletting and intimidation in previous years had already skewed the poll in favour of Mugabe's party. The MDC won 57 of the 120 elected seats in the last legislative poll in 2000, but lost six of them in subsequent by-elections. In 2002, Tsvangirai was narrowly declared loser of the presidential poll. The independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which deployed 6 000 observers nationwide, said as many as a quarter of those who tried to vote before 15:15 (13:15 GMT) on Thursday were turned away because their names did not appear on the voters roll, or they failed to present proper identification. George Chiweshe, a former army officer who headed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, conceded some were turned away, but said the problem was not as big as the independent group estimated. He said 116 198 of the 1.4 million people who tried to vote before 14:00 (12:00 GMT) - less than 10% - were not allowed. Discussion Forums \| Newsletters \| Photo Galleries \| Earlier stories \|\|\|\|\| > HARARE, Zimbabwe, April 1 - Nearly complete results in Zimbabwe's national parliamentary elections pointed today to a victory for President Robert G. Mugabe's long-ruling party and a drubbing for his political opposition, which had predicted a strong showing for itself. The lopsided outcome cast new doubts on the strength and strategy of the democratic opposition, which lost elections in 2000 and 2002 that were widely condemned as fraudulent. Mr. Mugabe's opponents accused his party of fraud again today. Some called for mass protests against the Mugabe government, saying this week's vote proved that a fair election was currently impossible. Mr. Mugabe's supporters said the nation's first peaceful election in five years showed that he rules not by force or the threat of it, but with overwhelming popular support. With roughly three in four districts reporting, election analysts said the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front had captured 60 of the 120 seats at stake, and appeared poised to capture a two-thirds majority of the parliament, as Mr. Mugabe had hoped. That would further marginalize the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, which had claimed only 33 seats. That would seem to strengthen Mr. Mugabe's hand as the nation confronts a long series of economic and social problems that critics contend are a direct result of disastrous government policies. \|\|\|\|\| Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, April 2, 2005; Page A15 HARARE, Zimbabwe, April 1 -- The party of President Robert Mugabe tightened its 25-year grip on power Friday, gaining control of at least two-thirds of the country's parliament after elections that his political opponents, human rights groups and many Western governments denounced as rigged and a betrayal of the national will. A day after a nationwide vote, results that trickled in throughout Friday showed Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) with 74 seats compared with 40 for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Before Thursday's election, the opposition controlled 51 seats. In overall votes cast, ZANU-PF received 59 percent to 40 percent for MDC. One seat went to an independent candidate, Jonathan Moyo, the information minister who was fired by Mugabe in February after years in which he oversaw a sweeping crackdown on the nation's independent journalists. The results from 14 more districts were to be announced Saturday morning, officials said. But with Mugabe appointing 30 seats in addition to the 120 contested on Thursday, it was clear his party would control at least two-thirds of parliament, the margin required for ZANU-PF to be able to rewrite the constitution to further entrench its power. After an initial surge of opposition victories in its urban strongholds, a succession of rural precincts reported overwhelming victories for Mugabe's party, even in places where journalists and other independent observers reported few voters and little enthusiasm for the ruling party. "There's just absolute brazen rigging going on," said David Coltart, an opposition member of parliament from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. "I don't expect us to win a single rural seat." Observers from neighboring countries said in preliminary remarks that the election was open and transparent, but the U.S. State Department called it "seriously tainted." "Given everything that's gone on during [the] whole election process, including some of the reports we're getting now, it would be very hard to say that these are free and fair," said Richard A. Boucher, the department's spokesman. Alleged examples of rigging came in myriad forms, from the names of deceased people on voter rolls to extreme gerrymandering of districts to the intentional miscounting of ballots in rural areas beyond the reach of independent monitors. The supposedly indelible purple ink painted on the pinkies of voters to prevent them from casting multiple ballots was easily washed off. In Manyame district, the election commission announced that 14,812 people voted and that the ruling party's candidate received 15,448 votes. Election results also showed that about 10 percent of voters nationwide were turned away at the polls, fueling suspicion that some opposition supporters were purged from voter rolls. As the ruling party's victory became apparent, attention turned increasingly to whether opposition leaders would call for demonstrations to protest results. In a morning news conference, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, called on Zimbabweans to "defend their vote." "We do not accept that this represents the national sentiment," he said of the election. "This government has fraudulently, once again, denied the people."	Amid claims of rigging by the opposition party, news reports today from the Zimbabwe capital city of Harare, say current President Robert Mugabe has again clinched a party victory in this round of national elections. This national election bears similarity to the 2000 election when allegations that Mugabe's dominant political party, the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), used its position in power to steal the election were widespread. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who after that election appealed to the nation's courts for justice, appears ready this time to take the argument to the street, possibly sparking violent protests and unrest. The leader urged, "Zimbabweans must defend their right to vote and they must defend their vote." Past MDC street protests were met violently by Mugabe's regime, and the court system in Zimbabwe is seen as largely supportive of the Zanu-PF agenda. The Zanu-PF took 55 of the 120 seats in the Zimbabwe Parliament. The MDC took 34 seats. The MDC had received strong support during pre-election rallies and had hoped to gain enough new seats to gain a legislative majority in the parliament. Mugabe, now 81, will appoint another 30 seats, which will ensure his party a majority. Tsvangirai cites the area of Manyame located near the capital as an example of election rigging. Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhawao, the ruling party candidate was declared winner. On Thursday night election officials reported 14,812 votes were counted. Then early Friday morning, the total vote count was reported at 24,000, with Zhawao getting more than 15,000 of the vote. The over-night voting count inconsistency led him to charge, "The government has fraudulently, once again, betrayed the people," he told reporters at a news briefing.
Nelson Mandela was South Africa's first post-apartheid-era president US President George W Bush has signed a bill removing Nelson Mandela and South African leaders from the US terror watch list, officials say. Mr Mandela and ANC party members will now be able to visit the US without a waiver from the secretary of state. The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa's old apartheid regime. A US senator said the new legislation was a step towards removing the "shame of dishonouring this great leader". 'Rather embarrassing' Under the legislation, members of the ANC could travel to the United Nations headquarters in New York but not to Washington DC or other parts of the United States. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called the restrictions a "rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader Nelson Mandela." South Africa's apartheid government banned the ANC in 1960, imprisoning or forcing into exile its leaders. Mr Mandela, who turns 90 this month, was released in 1990 after spending 27 years in prison. He then became the country's first post-apartheid-era president, before retiring after serving one term in office. \|\|\|\|\| US embarrassment over Mandela terrorist 'threat' Posted Last weekend he was the guest of honour at a huge concert in London to mark his 90th birthday. More than 64,000 people packed Hyde Park and millions watched the concert on television around the world. But last weekend when former South African president Nelson Mandela was soaking in the musical tributes, he was still on the US Government's terrorism watch list. The internationally revered former South African president was officially regarded as a threat to US national security because of his long association with the African National Congress. Even the North Korean Government managed to get itself dropped from the list before Mr Mandela. In April this year US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had expressed her embarrassment at having to wave in people like the foreign minister of South Africa and former leaders like Nelson Mandela. That was an embarrassment shared by Amir Woods from the Institute of Policy Studies when she spoke to National Public Radio in the US. "It is absolutely a travesty that Mandela, that really all of the leaders of South Africa have to get a special pass to be able to travel to the US because of these travel restrictions," Ms Woods said. "So the Bush administration has quite rightly moved on North Korea to remove North Korea from that list of terrorists." "But all these decades, since the end of the Apartheid era we still have South Africa on, especially the African National Congress including Nelson Mandela, on that list of terrorists." "I think we need to really applaud the Black Congressional Caucus who, they took up this mantle and they have pushed just as they did in the anti-Apartheid struggle." "They have pushed to say look, we need to really recognise an error here in US policy and move swiftly to change it." "So it is their leadership that has brought congressional action, it is also the leadership of the South Africans who have said enough is enough." Dr Michael McKinley, a senior lecturer in international relations and strategy at the ANU, says the process of being included or dropped from Washington's terror watch list is complicated. "The definition of what goes on it is quite elastic," Dr McKinley said. "It goes back to his [Mandela's] days as an active member of the African National Congress, the ANC. "Because the United States was interested in conducting various arrangements with that Apartheid government it was thought necessary to put the ANC on there. "And also the ANC were thought to be and were left of centre." But how does North Korea qualify to be taken off the infamous list before a Nobel Peace Prize winner in Nelson Mandela? "This is one of the more curious developments because what prompted Washington to remove North Korea from the list was North Korea began behaving in a way which suggested they were going to meet, if not halfway at least part of the way, US demands with regard to their nuclear program," Dr McKinley said. "The nuclear program and their association with international terrorism are not necessarily connected. They can be, but they're not necessarily connected. "So the United States seems to have responded in one area because of a favourable development in another, which is not entirely logical in the circumstances." Adapted from a report by Paula Kruger for The World Today \|\|\|\|\| LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nelson Mandela, the indomitable anti-apartheid campaigner who emerged from decades of imprisonment to lead his country into a new era, will this week be joined audience of thousands and a star-studded guest list to mark his 90th birthday. Statesmen, royalty, major figures from the worlds of business, sport and entertainment will gather in London to honor the achievements of Mandela, who despite retiring from public life five years ago, has never left the public eye. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, film stars Robert de Niro, Will Smith and Forest Whittaker and TV presenter Oprah Winfrey are among those attending celebrations that will climax with the three-hour concert on June 27. To mark the occasion, CNN has produced a package of feaures looking at the man behind the legend. Exclusive interviews with his wife Graca Machel, his grandchildren and those who shared his journey through prison and presidency are accompanied by photo galleries, profiles and interactive features on CNN.com. CNN will also have behind the scenes coverage of the Hyde Park concert, featuring some of the biggest names in music -- among them Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Queen, Leona Lewis and the Soweto Gospel Choir. Friday's event also marks the 20 year anniversary of the Free Mandela concert -- featuring some of the same artists -- that was held in London to demand his release from prison. Proceeds from Friday's concert will go to the 46664 charity, the AIDS campaign named after the number Mandela wore while imprisoned by South Africa's apartheid authorities. He was released in 1990 after 27 years behind bars, and was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994. According to 46664, Friday's concert will see Mandela officially bow out of campaigning for the charitable causes that he has championed since he left public office. "You all know that I am supposed to be retired, but my friends and the charitable organizations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so of course I want to help them," Mandela said in a statement released by 46664. "So we have a bargain -- I am going to London and they will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds." \|\|\|\|\| Mr Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday later this year US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has asked for "embarrassing" travel restrictions on Nelson Mandela and South African leaders to be lifted. A bill has been introduced in the US Congress to remove from databases any reference to South Africa's governing party and its leaders as terrorists. The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa's old apartheid regime. At present a waiver is needed for any ANC leaders to enter the country. "It is frankly a rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterparts - the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader, Nelson Mandela," Ms Rice told lawmakers in Washington. Last week, Howard Berman, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, who introduced the bill said it was "shameful" that the United States still treated the ANC this way. "Amazingly, Nelson Mandela still needs to get a special waiver to enter the United States based on his courageous leadership of the ANC. What an indignity. This legislation will wipe it away," he said. South Africa's apartheid government banned the ANC in 1960, imprisoning or forcing into exile its leaders. Mr Mandela, who turns 90 this year, was released in 1990 after spending 27 years in prison. He then became the country's first post-apartheid-era president, before retiring after serving one term in office. He appears to be in reasonable health, but now makes far fewer public appearances.	Nelson Mandela has been classified as a terrorist since the time of Apartheid in South Africa Nelson Mandela has officially been taken off the US list of terrorists by the United States government. This comes after a statement by Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, who said that it was a "rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in ... the great leader Nelson Mandela," back in April. The ruling, which also applied to all members of the African National Congress means that Mandela can travel to the United States without being approved by the Secretary of State. Nelson Mandela has recently been in the media due to his upcoming 90th birthday. As part of the celebrations, a concert was held in Hyde Park, attended by many influential politicians, including Bill Clinton, former US president. Nelson Mandela was a campaigner against apartheid who served one term as president of South Africa. Last week the government of North Korea was removed from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. This announcement was made as a reward to North Korea for turning over all documents related to its controversial nuclear program. Pyongyang turned over to China documents related to its plutonium core and waste activities.

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Template:H:h A diff is the difference between two versions of a page. It can be viewed from the page history: for every version there are potentially two radio buttons: the left column is for selecting the older version, the right column for selecting the newer one. Clicking "Compare selected versions" gives the difference between the two versions. For special cases (the diff for a single edit or between an old and the current version) other possibilities are clicking cur or last in the page history or on the Recent Changes page. The diff is also shown during an edit conflict so you can see exactly what you need to reintegrate. From MediaWiki 1.5 diff works also in preview, showing the difference between the currently stored version and the current version in the edit box How it looks This example shows the top of the diff page (some of the links are dummies). The two versions are shown side-by-side. In left-to-right languages, the old version is on the left. This is reversed in right-to-left scripts. The links "Revision as of date" link to each version (from MediaWiki 1.4). If the newer version is the latest one, the link will be to the usual page and the wording will be "Current revision (date)" instead. The (edit) link will take you to the page for editing that version. You may be warned that you are editing an out-of-date revision, and if you ignore it and continue, you will revert all the edits done after that revision. The (undo) link on the newer revision's side will revert that specific edit. When you click the link you can check the diff page of the edit you are going to make, and the edit summary will be automatically filled in with the phrase of MediaWiki:undo-summary (Undid revision $1 by $2 (talk)). This summary can be edited before you submit your edit. When you are undoing several edits at once, the auto-summary may not work. Though the link exists on all diff pages, it does not function when the revisions conflict. Often versions older than the current one can not be undone in this way. If it does not work, you will be told that the edit could not be undone and end up in the regular editing page of the current version. Below that are links to the user page and talk page of the each user who edited the older or the newer versions. Links to the users' contribution lists are also shown. For sysops, a rollback button is also shown, allowing them to revert all of the edits done by that user. Note however that this is even shown when viewing the diff related to a version older than the latest, and when there is a newer edit done by another user, the rollback would not undo the change that is displayed. Then the edit summaries are shown in a parenthesis. If the user has used links in their edit summary, these act as links on the diff page as well. If the editor marked the edit as an minor edit, m appears before the summary. Previous diff and Next diff links make it possible to check earlier or later versions. When you are checking the differences between two versions in apart, you will be told that "(x intermediate revisions not shown.)". On the old version side, paragraphs which differ from the new version are highlighted with yellow, and on the new version with green. Text removed within a paragraph is shown in red on the old version. New text within a paragraph is shown in red on the new version. If a whole paragraph was removed or added, the text is not red but just black, while the other side is blank (white). Unchanged text is black on grey, only parts before and after changed text is shown. After the table of differences, the latest of the two compared versions is shown fully, unless one specifies in the preferences that this is not done. Simple way to make a diff link Find the page which contains the edit you want to refer to. Click on its history tab. Find the edit in the history list. (If that's a problem, clicking on the word "last" in the list will let you read the edit.) Right-click on its "last" button and select "Copy link location" (or however your browser expresses it). The diff you want is now in your clipboard. (Or, click on "last" and you are viewing the diff. Copy the url of the page you are then viewing.) Paste it into your text where you want it to appear. Include the whole of it, http:// and all. Put single square brackets "[]" around it. URL Any two versions, even of two different pages, can be compared using URLs. Open the revision of one page that you wish to compare to another, for example http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Help:Diff&oldid=78722 , and the revision of the other page that you wish to compare, for example http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=98420 . Copy the oldid number of one page ( &oldid=78722 in the first example) and replace the text oldid with diff : &diff=78722 . Paste this string into the URL of the other page between that page's title and its oldid ( &oldid=98420 in the second example), so you have something like this: http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=78722&oldid=98420 You may remove the page title ( title=Main_Page in the example above) from the URL if you wish, but this is not necessary. The resulting diff will compare the given versions of the two pages [1]. To compare the current version of the page and a given oldid, you can put "current" after "diff=" instead of an oldid. For example, http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Help:Diff&diff=current&oldid=124558 would compare the current version of this page with the version that has oldid 124558. Deleted revisions A sysop can see deleted revisions, but not directly apply a diff. For this purpose the page has to be (temporarily) restored (at least the two revisions between which the diff is desired). Redirect A diff is also used to render a redirect page as an ordinary page, showing also content after the redirect itself. The alternative is using preview. Miscellaneous When moving or copying a piece of text within a page or from another page, and also making other edits, it is useful to separate these edits. This way the diff function can be usefully applied for checking these other edits. The diff shows differences per line. Some editors find that adding manual line breaks improves the diff function. If searching the edit summaries does not help, to search for the edit between two revisions in which a particular change from some text A to text B was made (to find the user, the edit summary, and the context is which the change was made), take the diff between 1/3 and 2/3 of the "search space". From the diff and/or the "2/3" version one can conclude in which of the three parts the change was made (if there is A at 2/3, the change was made later; if there is B at 1/3 the change was made before; if the diff shows the change it was made between 1/3 and 2/3). This process can be repeated, every time reducing the search space by a factor 3. For changes in the wikitext which do not affect the rendered page, such as substitution of a template or editing HTML comments, take the diff between 1/2 and the end of the "search space" (if the diff shows the change it was made between 1/2 and the end, otherwise between the start and 1/2). If the change from A to B was made in steps (one finds a time interval where part of the change was made) one can continue the search for that part or the other part, or do the rest of the search for each of the two parts of the change. One can either search for a deleted phrase or for an added phrase. It is easiest to use a search phrase that applies both for wikitext and for rendered text. For example, to search for the addition of the piped link [[p\|q]], search for q. Copying the search phrase to your clipboard is on most browsers accomplished by highlighting the text and choosing "copy" from edit menu options, or clicking control+c. Searching is done by opening your browser's find option ("find" or control+f), pasting the text saved to your clipboard ("paste" or control+v), and searching for it. In the case of the Classic skin with quickbar, the diff page does not have the quickbar, to provide more space. Therefore the diff page is also useful for viewing the page on full screen width, without changing the preferences. With the Monobook skin the panels on the left are also on the diff page. On a diff page sometimes the display may be wider than the screen, because there are two columns, but also because URLs (especially long ones) are not hidden. In such cases, you must then use the horizontal scrollbar of the browser to see all the display. Template:H:fok \|\|\|\|\| Cary Bass, is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Wikimedia Foundation, joining in April 2007 . Cary Bass 2007 . He can be reached as Bastique on Commons or Bastique on Meta. \|\|\|\|\| Within Wikipedia, OTRS refers to the people and software that organize, handle, and respond to e-mails sent to the Wikimedia Foundation. The WMF utilises Open-source Ticket Request System software to process the e-mail that it receives. This provides an organized way for multiple people to categorize and respond to email. Quick facts about OTRS About half of all requests that OTRS members handle are written in the English language. The contents of e-mails handled by OTRS members are confidential. OTRS is a cross-wiki project For more information about OTRS, please see our page on Meta, and for more information about how OTRS handles e-mail relating to the English Wikipedia, please see info-en mission. Dispute resolution If you disagree with a change made to an article where an OTRS ticket number is used as the only reason, please e-mail the OTRS volunteer that made the change. Please do not undo the change until discussion has concluded. The OTRS volunteer is likely in possession of confidential information that should not be published on a public site. OTRS volunteers may edit articles in the course of replying to emails. Such edits usually involve the removal of vandalism or unsourced derogatory assertions. Less frequently, OTRS volunteers handle copyright infringement complaints using one of the standard processes, or delete personal information from article histories. The confidential nature of such emails makes normal wiki-based dispute resolution processes difficult, and often impracticable in many cases. This doesn't mean that OTRS volunteers can take arbitrary actions. The cautionary note at the top of this section ensures that disputed OTRS edits are subject to review. OTRS volunteers are ultimately subject to the communications committee and, as Wikipedia editors, to the Arbitration Committee through the normal processes of dispute resolution. OTRS access is "not a badge". To facilitate peer review, OTRS volunteers should reference the ticket number and this policy when citing OTRS as a reason for an action. If you would like to contact our OTRS members, please see list of OTRS volunteers.[1] If you would like to volunteer for OTRS, please see the volunteering page on meta. Note that volunteers must be willing to identify themselves to the Wikimedia Foundation; see the Foundation's Access to nonpublic data policy. Notes \|\|\|\|\| Hearing in threat case continues POMONA - A Hacienda Heights teenager remains in custody after a court arraignment on felony charges of making criminal threats was continued until Thursday at the Pomona Juvenile Court. The 15-year-old boy, who is not being named because of his age, is being charged with seven felony counts of making criminal threats against several students at Glen A. Wilson High School, according to the District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege that on April 16 the boy posted two messages on a Web site threatening to shoot six designated people and members of a school sports team. The threats prompted officials to search all students before school Thursday and cancel all after-school activities. The school was closed on Friday and resumed regular schedule Monday. Police seeking ID of body found in brush AZUSA - Police are trying to identify the body of a man that was found Monday in brush about 40 yards from San Gabriel Canyon Road in an unincorporated county area between Azusa and Glendora. Police believe the body has been in the brush since Friday but are unsure of how it got there. "It is a mystery as to why he was there and how he got there," said Detective Frank Salerno, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The detective said the man does not appear to be homeless, there is no obvious trauma to his body and he did not appear Advertisement to be a hiker. He had no identification on him. The male appears to be Latino and between the ages of 18 and 50, according to Salerno. His face had begun to decompose, making it difficult to estimate how old the man is, Salerno added. Officials hope to have the results of an autopsy by today. Victorian Fair planned in Industry INDUSTRY - The Homestead Museum will hold its Victorian Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. May 4. Visitors will be treated to music, living history performances, crafts, games and historic house tours. Victorian costumes are encouraged. Admission is free. For more information, call (626) 968-8492 or visit homesteadmuseum.org. Reading group to host benefit Monrovia Reads invites the public to a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta fundraiser for literacy programs in Monrovia from 5 to 7 p.m. May 5 at the Krikorian Theater, 410 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. The fundraiser includes a Mexican appetizer buffet and no-host Margaritas/beer for $25 per person. The event also will include an opportunity drawing for prizes, including a four-course wine pairing dinner for eight at the Doubletree Hotel valued at $1,500. Tickets for the drawing are $10 each. For more information, call Diane Delmatoff at (626) 303-6600 or ddelmatoff@ci.monrovia.ca.us. Spring tea set May 10 on museum grounds ROSEMEAD - The Dinsmoor Heritage Cultural Museum at 9632 E. Steele St. in Rosemead will have its annual Spring Tea Under the Oaks on May 10. Tickets are on sale at the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, 3953 Muscatel Ave. For more information, call (626) 288-0811. To submit briefs, e-mail news.tribune@sgvn.com \|\|\|\|\| POMONA - A Hacienda Heights teenager remains in custody after a court arraignment on felony charges of making criminal threats was continued until Thursday, April 24 at the Pomona Juvenile Court. The 15-year-old teen who is not being named due to his age is being charged with seven felony counts of making criminal threats against several students at Glen A. Wilson High School, according to the District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege that on April 16 the boy posted two messages a on a Web site threatening to shoot six designated people and members of a school sports team. The threats prompted officials to search all students prior to school Thursday and cancel all after-school activities. School was closed on Friday and resumed regular schedule Monday. \|\|\|\|\| POMONA, Calif. - Prosecutors have charged a Hacienda Heights teenager with seven felony counts of making criminal threats against students at Glen A. Wilson High School. In charges filed Monday, prosecutors say the boy posted two messages on a Web site and threatened six people by name plus the school's badminton team. Prosecutors will not reveal the identity of the 15-year-old, who was arrested Friday, because he is a minor. He will be arraigned Tuesday in Pomona Juvenile Court.	Incorporated areas in Los Angeles County, California. City of Pomona highlighted in red. A 15-year-old boy, arrested last Friday in conjunction with criminal threats made on Wikipedia, was charged Thursday with seven felonies in Pomona Juvenile Court in Pomona, California. Prosecutors stated that the teen posted two threats on Wikipedia, saying that six named students as well as members of his school's badminton team would be shot. The court arraignment had initially been set for Tuesday, but was continued until Thursday. ''Wikinews'' interviewed the Wikipedia administrator who contacted police after the threats had been made on the site. Though officials had said the boy made a full confession that he had made threats to other students via the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, he denied the charges at the Thursday court petition. The court ordered that he remain detained pending a May 9 scheduled appearance before Pomona Juvenile Court. He has remained in custody since his arrest. The threats were made via two separate edits to the Wikipedia article about Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, California on April 16. Wikipedia administrators were made aware of the threats in a post to the "Administrators' noticeboard" on April 16 by Wikipedia admin Dreadstar. Another Wikipedia administrator, John Reaves, contacted the police in Los Angeles, California, and helped them work with the Internet service provider to find more information on the IP address that made the threat. A third Wikipedia administrator, Persian Poet Gal, removed the threats from the edit history of the article after finding out that the student had been arrested. Students' backpacks were searched prior to entering Glen A. Wilson High School on April 17 and all after-school activities were canceled that day. All classes were canceled April 18, and classes resumed on Monday.
The Egyptian government says the court trying Nour is neutral Nour, who came second in a presidential poll in September, was first held in January this year accused of falsifying signatures to register his party, Ghad. Egypt denies Nour's claim that the charges are politically motivated. And the US has voiced concern at the trial. Hundreds of Nour's supporters at the court shouted slogans against President Hosni Mubarak as the verdict was given. "Hosni Mubarak's rule is illegal! The trial is illegal!" they chanted. According to the BBC's Bethany Bell in Cairo, the streets near the court were full of riot police and Ghad party supporters. Nour has been in hospital after starting a hunger strike earlier this month in protest at his detention. US concern His lawyer, Amir Salim, is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying the decision against him will "go into the dustbin of history". "This is a political verdict that will be annulled by the appeal court," he said. A co-defendant in the trial, Ayman Ismail, had admitted forging documents for Nour - but later withdrew his testimony, saying the confession was forced out of him with threats against his family. Despite the charges against him, Nour was allowed to compete in presidential polls, where his party finished second to Mr Mubarak's. He lost his assembly seat to a candidate from the ruling party in November. The has US earlier said it was watching Nour's trial, which it regards as a test of Cairo's tolerance of dissent. State department spokesman Adam Ereli said this month that the US was calling on Egypt "to make every effort to ensure that this trial conforms to international standards". \|\|\|\|\| The suspect in the fatal shooting of eight people at day spas in and around Atlanta indicated he had issues with sexual addiction and the shootings may have not been motivated by racial hatred, law enforcement officials said.	Egyptian opposition leader and former candidate in presidential election Ayman Nour has been sentenced today for 5 years imprisonment, as it was reported by both officials and Nour's lawyer. According to the court, he and his liberal democratic party, Ghad, falsified signatures required to register a political party in January 2005. Both Nour's punishment and his imprisonment have been condemned by the international community. Nour, who stood as a candidate in the recent presidential election, held on September 7 2005, claims that there was political pressure on the judgement and he'll take it to the court of cassation. The leader's lawyer, Amir Salim, said that the verdict would be annulled by the appeal court, as Associated Press reports. Groups of Nour's supporters, organized mainly by his wife Gameela Ismail, protested against the decision and the style of government of current president Hosni Mubarak, shouting "Down with Mubarak, Down with the regime." Ayman Nour was arrested in January, 2005 and then imprisoned. He was released when the presidential campaign started.
Oct 19, 2006 9:43 pm US/Pacific (CBS 5) SACRAMENTO It was a simple meal -- a beef and bean burrito. But the deep fried dish is giving one Sacramento woman deep thoughts after she claimed to see an image of Jesus' face burned onto its tortilla wrapping. Valencia Phillips said she's not crazy, not so religious either. But even though Phillips was quite hungry one evening, she didn't dare bite into what she calls the "holy burrito." "Right here, I see an emblazoned image of Jesus Christ on a burrito," Phillips said, pointing to the blackened image near the top right corner of the burrito she cooked for dinner. "It was amazing." Phillips was so excited after seeing the image that she ran to tell her neighbor about it and then told her kids. She prompty stored the burrito inside a plastic food container, resting on a bed of cotton balls. \|\|\|\|\| Oct 20, 2006 9:52 am US/Eastern (CBS) SACRAMENTO, CA It was a simple meal -- a beef and bean burrito. But the deep fried dish gave one Sacramento woman deep thoughts after she claimed to see an image of Jesus' face burned onto its tortilla wrapping. Valencia Phillips said she's not crazy, not so religious either. But even though Phillips was quite hungry one evening, she didn't dare bite into what she calls the "holy burrito." "Right here, I see an emblazoned image of Jesus Christ on a burrito," Phillips said, pointing to the blackened image near the top right corner of the burrito she cooked for dinner. "It was amazing." Phillips was so excited after seeing the image that she ran to tell her neighbor about it and then told her kids. She prompty stored the burrito inside a plastic food container, resting on a bed of cotton balls.	A woman in Sacramento, California claims to have spotted the holy figure of Jesus Christ in her burrito. Valencia Phillips said that, while she was very hungry and actually not very religious, she didn't dare bite into the chimichanga bearing the holy mark. "I've had an amazing, amazing experience. It's been something else," Phillips said. It is not currently known what will become of the burrito.
CONVICTED terrorism supporter David Hicks walked free from Yatala Prison yesterday, a man plagued by fears his life is in peril. Plump and sporting shoulder-length hair, he emerged at 8.20am (Adelaide time) and walked into the loving embrace of his father, Terry, who has waged an unrelenting battle to bring him home since his arrest in Afghanistan in 2001. An anticipated apology from the 32-year-old failed to eventuate. He was spirited away in a car under police escort - passing international and national media and 30 supporters waving placards - leaving his lawyer, David McLeod, to read a statement he penned in jail. The former al-Qaeda volunteer visited a police station to be fingerprinted and spent last night in an Adelaide safe house, having asked to be left alone after 5½ years of incarceration in Guantanamo Bay. He was expected to be reunited with his children - Bonnie, 14, and Terry jnr, 12 - and former partner Jodie Sparrow, who visited him several times in jail. Mr Hicks's family said that, despite his relief, he was crippled by fears that he would be a target for Muslim or far-right extremists, or inadvertently breach his plea bargain agreement and be sent back to Guantanamo Bay or be punished by the Australian or South Australian governments if he spoke out or be hounded by the media, exposing him to all these risks. Mr McLeod said his client had concerns for himself and his family because extremist groups believed that, by renouncing his Islamic faith in 2002, he had dropped his allegiance to Osama bin Laden. His al-Qaeda training and capture among Taliban forces in Afghanistan could also anger nationalist groups, he said. Mr McLeod declined to detail the nature of any threats that had been made and whether intelligence from police or the Federal Government had prompted these concerns. "David is concerned about the safety of his family from people who hold views he was purported to share," he said. "There are also a number of far-right nationalist groups in Australia who have spoken out about David." Mr McLeod read a statement written by Mr Hicks. "As part of my conditions of release from Guantanamo Bay, I agreed not to speak to the media on a range of issues before March 30, 2008," it read. "It is my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that may result in my return there. So, for now, I will limit what I have to say. I will say more at a later time." \|\|\|\|\| FORMER Taliban fighter and confessed terrorism supporter David Hicks walked free from jail yesterday six years after his capture in Afghanistan and seven months after he was brought home from Cuba's notorious Guantanamo Bay prison to serve out his sentence. His incarceration, which made headlines around the world, came to an end at 8.17am when he walked from Adelaide's Yatala Labour Prison to a waiting car. Hicks' release at the end of the nine-month prison term imposed on him in March by the US military commissions closed a chapter in the life of the military adventurer and one-time Muslim convert who was arrested trying to flee Afghanistan two months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Now 32 and no longer a Muslim, Hicks yesterday promised not to let down the Australian community he credited with helping to bring him home. "I will not forget, or let you down," Hicks said in a statement read by his lawyer, David McLeod. Mr McLeod, who began representing Hicks in 2005 and visited him at Guantanamo Bay prison at least six times, said Hicks had tearfully embraced his father, Terry, after pre-release papers were signed. "He was relieved, elated, (felt) great to be a free man for the first time in six years," Mr McLeod told reporters. As Hicks left the gatehouse, he looked in amazement at the group of up to 70 media people behind a police barrier, observing and photographing his every move with long-range lenses. Helicopters buzzed overhead as camera crews and photographers vied for the best view. Before his statement was read, Hicks was driven slowly through the prison gates in the back of a blue sedan with a member of his extended family, Terry Hicks' first wife and Fair Go For David support group organiser Bronwyn Mewett. Police escorted his car and prevented the media from trailing him. Hicks' location is being kept secret, at his request, so he can resume as normal a life as possible while dealing with the psychological fallout from prolonged detention, much of it spent in solitary confinement under a US military regime of deliberate psychological stress and deprivation. In his statement, which he was too unsettled to read, Hicks asked for space. "I ask that you respect my privacy as I will need time to readjust to society and to obtain medical care for the consequences of 5½ years at Guantanamo Bay," he said. "I have been told that my readjustment will be a slow process." \|\|\|\|\| David Hicks has been released from prison. Wearing jeans and a green polo shirt, the 32-year-old walked from Adelaide's Yatala Prison at 8.17am (CDT) and was escorted to a waiting car, bypassing the waiting media pack that had been keeping a round-the-clock vigil. A small crowd of mostly elderly supporters were outside the prison as Hicks left, many holding banners reading 'This could have been your son' and 'David Hicks is no threat'. The supporters surrounded the car in which Terry Hicks and lawyer David McLeod left the prison, cheering as the car left the prison grounds. Hicks glanced at waiting media as he was driven from the jail in a blue sedan, escorted by police. His lawyer, David McLeod, later read a statement of Hicks's behalf. In the statement read to the media by his lawyer, Hicks said he didn't want to risk breaking the gag order placed on him as he didn't want to risk going back to Guantanamo. He also said he didn't feel that he could face the media at this point. He thanked his lawyers, various politicians and organisations that had lobbied for his fair treatment. In the statement, Hicks, captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan in December 2001, did not apologise for his terrorist-related conduct. "I had hoped to be able to speak to the media but I am just not strong enough at the moment, it's as simple as that,'' Hicks said through his lawyer. "I am sorry for that. "As part of my conditions of release from Guantanamo Bay, I agreed not to speak to the media on a range of issues before March 30, 2008. "It's my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that might result in my return there. "So for now, I will limit what I have to say - I will say more at a later time.'' Hicks said he recognised "the huge debt of gratitude that I owe the Australian public for getting me home''. "I will not forget or let you down,'' he said. He also thanked his lawyers, various politicians and organisations that had lobbied for his fair treatment. "Right now I am looking forward to some quiet time with my wonderful Dad, my family and friends,'' Hicks said. "I ask that you will respect my privacy as I will need time to readjust to society and obtain medical care for the consequences of five and a half years at Guantanamo Bay. "I have been told that my readjustment will be a slow process and should involve a gentle transition away from the media spotlight.'' Hicks, a father of two, was driven from jail to a secret location in Adelaide. His father, Terry Hicks, said his son was "on a high''. "It's now up to him,'' Mr Hicks told reporters. "He now has got to get on with his life. "He's on a high, he seems alright but I suppose in the quiet times everything will come back.'' Hicks has been in custody since being captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan, in December 2001. The father of two has completed a jail sentence, after pleading guilty before a US military commission in March this year to a charge of providing material support for terrorism. Hicks will have to report to police within 24 hours. - with AAP	Back of Yatala Labour Prison, Northfield, South Australia. Australian David Hicks was released Saturday from Yatala Labour Prison in Adelaide, South Australia. Hicks, who until May 2007 had been held for five years at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, was serving out his remaining sentence in an Australian jail. At a U.S. war crimes tribunal, Hicks pleaded guilty to providing material support to a listed terrorist organisation and was sentenced to seven years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, all but nine months of the sentence was suspended and in May of 2007, Hicks was transferred to Yatala. A contentious part of his sentence was a ban placed on Hicks to prevent him from speaking with the media for a period of one year from the time he pleaded guilty, which was in March, 2007. On his release Saturday, Hicks indicated that he intended to comply with the suppression order. "It's my intention to honour this agreement as I don't want to do anything that might result in my return there," said Hicks in a written statement read by his lawyer, David McLeod. "So for now, I will limit what I have to say - I will say more at a later time." A small group of supporters waited outside of Yatala and cheered as his car drove away. In his statement, Hicks had thanked his supporters for "the huge debt of gratitude that I owe the Australian public for getting me home." He added, "I will not forget or let you down." At his trial, Hicks admitted he attended training camps in Afghanistan, conducted surveillance of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and revealed that he had met Osama bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda. He had participated in fighting against the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan in late 2001, and was caught while trying to flee the area. David Hicks leaving Yatala Labour Prison. On his release from prison Saturday, Hicks was driven to an undisclosed location in Adelaide. His lawyer said that Hicks fears for the safety of himself and his family. "David is concerned about the safety of his family from people who hold views he was purported to share," said David McLeod. "There are also a number of far-right nationalist groups in Australia who have spoken out about David." Terry Hicks, David's father, said his son was pleased to be free. "He's on a high, he seems alright but I suppose in the quiet times everything will come back." "It's now up to him," said Terry Hicks. "He now has got to get on with his life."
BARI (Italy), March 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to southern Italy and interstate consultations produced a joint communique, and a series of bilateral agreements in energy, transportation and banking. In their joint communique, Putin and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said they were satisfied with bilateral relations in all areas, including trade, energy and high technologies, and expressed a commitment to giving further impulse to interaction. "The president and the chairman of the Council of Ministers stressed the importance in the results of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the past year," said the document, which crowned Putin's two-day trip to the European Union nation. The joint communique also enumerated crucial economic agreements signed during the visit. Energy One of the crucial energy deals was a memorandum of intentions between Italy's ENEL power supplier and Russia's Federal Agency for Nuclear Power to develop the energy sector and generate nuclear power, and also an agreement on alternative energy generation. ENEL and Russian utility company ESN already manage Russia's North-West thermal power plant. ENEL has also said it wanted to be involved in the privatization of Russia's electric power sector. Energy cooperation between Russia and Italy saw a serious breakthrough last November when Russian energy giant, Gazprom [RTS: GAZP], and Italy's ENI, Europe's fourth largest oil company, signed a strategic partnership agreement. The deal granted the Russian company access to Italy's oil and gas market and allowed ENI to join the development of Russian mineral deposits. ENI is also a member of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which includes such Russian, Kazakh and global companies as Chevron, LUKoil, ExxonMobil, BP, Rosneft, Shell, BG and Gazmunaigaz. The pipeline pumps oil from western Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. Transportation The Russian Railways monopoly and Italy's electronics-making company Finmeccanica signed a cooperation deal to use satellite technologies on railway transport, manage security in trains, and build a high-speed electric train for the Russian giant. "It is important that the agreement with Finmeccanica is very specific and will make it possible to put into service the most advanced systems and technologies for railway transport in Russia," the Russian Railways president, Vladimir Yakunin, said. Finmeccanica will be involved in another transportation project in Russia. Its subsidiary, Alenia Aeronautica, signed a cooperation protocol with Russia's Sukhoi fighter jet maker on the production of Superjet-100. The new aircraft is designed to replace Russia's ageing Tu-154 and Tu-134 models, and will enter service after 2012. Banking Banking is another promising area of economic cooperation between Russia and Italy. Putin's visit yielded a 122-million-euro credit agreement between Russia's Vnesheconombank (VEB) and Italy's leading investment bank Mediobank to finance a logistics terminal project, Ramenskoye, near Moscow. The terminal is expected to become a hub for industrial cargo transportation in European Russia, the Urals, Siberia, and the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. Ramenskoye will also have Russia's first flower exchange similar to the flower auction in the Netherlands. Another state-run Russian bank, the Vneshtorgbank [RTS: VTBR] foreign trade bank, signed a 200-million-euro credit agreement with Mediobank for five years. It also secured a 100-million-euro credit deal with Italy's second leading bank Intesa Sanpaolo SpA for 11 years to finance Italian imports of household equipment and durable goods to Russia. \|\|\|\|\| Vladimir Putin has once again confirmed his point of view on the Iranian nuclear issue. He said that no other means other than diplomatic should be used to solve the conflict around the Iranian nuclear program. On the press-conference, where the President of Russia and Italy's Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, have concluded their official meeting, Putin stated that the same diplomatic means should be also used in resolving other conflicts, like the ones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and any other case. According to Mr. Putin the current meeting proved that the governments of the two countries share their views on solving conflicts, including an unacceptable use of force.. Romano Prodi has acknowledged everything said by Mr. Putin, and added that there should be various approaches towards international events. He added that such a multi-sided approach and the potentials of the UN could move, one way or another, the intense situation around Lebanon from its dead point. Mr. Prodi said that during the meeting they have touched upon the issues of Iran, Kosovo, Lebanon, as well as the problem of peace in the Middle East. The Prime Minister stated that the two countries will also closely cooperate in the UN Security Council, because many conflicts have not seen any solution yet. Mr. Prodi said that the current Russian-Italian summit in Bari was probably the best proof of strategic partnership between the two countries. The Italian Prime Miniter also added that there is a necessity to develop bilateral relationship between both EU and Russia. For this the partnership agreements should comprise as many issues as possible, including the energy problem.	Vladimir Putin Romano Prodi After having a meeting in Bari, Italy, on the 13th of March, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Romano Prodi, gave a press-conference, summarizing the results of their conversations. The main point the two leaders agreed on was that only diplomatic means should be used in solving such international conflicts as in Afghanistan, Iraq and, especially, Iran with its nuclear program issue. Mr. Putin confirmed once again his views on any use of armed forces in resolving such international conflicts. Mr. Prodi agreed with the Russian President on this point and also stated that such conflicts should be solved using a multi-lateral approach, where several nations would take part in discussions. In addition to this the potential of the UN authority should be used, added Mr. Prodi. The Prime Minister said that Italy is looking forward to a closer cooperation with Russia in the UN Security Council, as well as in the energy sector. All of this could be reached only through thoroughly developed partnership agreements, he added.
A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z Contains Starts with Select a sport Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Canoe Sprint Cycling BMX Cycling Mountain Bike Cycling Road Cycling Track Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Gymnastics Artistic Gymnastics Rhythmic Handball Hockey Judo Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Shooting Swimming Synchronized Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Trampoline Triathlon Volleyball Water Polo Weightlifting Wrestling \|\|\|\|\| LONDON (Reuters) - Yi Siling of China took the honour of claiming the first gold medal of the London Olympics when she won the women's 10 metre air rifle at the Royal Artillery Barracks on Saturday. Yi finished with a winning total of 502.9. Poland's Sylwia Bogacka, who led for the first half of the final, claimed silver with a total of 502.2 after a costly shot in the eighth round. Yu Dan of China won bronze with a total of 501.5. Yi, the world number one, smiled in delight as she scooped what is sure to be the first of many golds for China at the London Games. Bogacka finished top of the 56 competitors in qualifying with a 399 mark and started the eight-woman final well before a costly 9.7 shot in the eighth round saw her 0.3 point lead over Yi turn into a 0.7 deficit after the Chinese fired a 10.7. Yi then closed out with further shots of 10.3 and 10.5 to huge cheers from the near 2,000 spectators at the indoor range in south east London. Among those in attendance was International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who clapped from his seat when Yi was confirmed the winner as Chinese dignitaries around him leapt to their feet in delight. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Mark Meadows) \|\|\|\|\| Please sign in to access this article and other exclusive content. Register Now If you don't have a registered e-mail address with The Washington Post, create an account now. It's free and easy. Customize your browsing experience, sign up for e-mail newsletters and alerts, and manage your subscriptions. Create Account	, a Chinese shooting competitor nicknamed the "Shooting Beauty" in China, won the first awarded at the held in London. Teammate received the bronze medal, and Poland's earned the silver in Saturday's women's 10 metre air rifle final competition. Bogacka was the leader midway through the final, but shot a 9.7 in the eighth round. Yi shot 10.7 in that round, then fired solid 10.3 and 10.5 shots afterwards, and finished with a total of 502.9 points. Bogaka shot an almost perfect 10.8 in her final attempt, finishing second with 502.2 and besting Yu, third with 501.5. Yi, also the Asian Games champion, earned her quota spot by winning the 2010 world women’s 10-metre air rifle championship. The 23-year-old left-handed shooter from province has been competing for China since 2009. China's gold and bronze mark the first time in 24 years a team has won two medals in the event. == Sources == * * * fr:Jeux olympiques d'été 2012 : la première médaille d'or pour la Chine
Guns N' Roses fans have waited more than a decade for this album Guns N' Roses have finally launched their highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy in the US, their first album in 15 years. The record will go on sale in UK shops from Monday, but it is available to buy on the UK iTunes store now. The group's album has been on their MySpace page since last week. Before then most of the tracks had already been heard in various ways, with Shackler's Revenge appearing on video game Rock Band 2's soundtrack. Free soft drink A blogger, who is alleged to have leaked nine new songs from the album, pleaded not guilty to breaking copyright laws at a Los Angeles court in October. Kevin Cogill put the tracks on his website Antiquiet, federal authorities say. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted, and longer if found to have profited from the leaks. Meanwhile a soft drinks manufacturer is promising to honour a pledge it made about the album. Dr Pepper agreed to give a free soft drink to all Americans if Guns N' Roses released a new album in 2008. The drinks company made the offer after several release dates for the rock band's long-awaited album passed. \|\|\|\|\| View larger image Axl Rose and lead guitarist Robin Finck of Guns N' Roses performing in Denmark in 2006. View larger image Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performing in Denmark in 2006. Pigs do fly, 'Chinese Democracy' hits store shelves CTV.ca News Staff In a cultural event rivalling the discovery of a unicorn or Big Foot, Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" hit stores Sunday morning. "Chinese Democracy" was released 17 years after the band's last original studio albums landed. Music stores around the country are opening at midnight for the Sunday release. However, it won't be available everywhere in the world -- it has been banned in China. The reclusive Axl Rose is the sole remaining original member of the band that took the world by storm in late 1980s with their distinct gritty punk-metal sound, which was in sharp contrast to the pop-focused "hair metal" bands such as Poison or Warrant, which dominated the charts at the time. In the estimated 14 years spent working on the album, numerous personnel changes were made to the band, and producers such as Youth, Moby, Sean Beaven and the legendary Roy Thomas Baker (Queen) came and went. The album's release also means that soft drink maker Dr. Pepper has to pony up a free pop for every American (minus former guitarists Slash and Buckethead) after the company promised to do so if the album was released in 2008. Americans can log on to Dr. Pepper's website for 24 hours starting Sunday to download a coupon to get their free pop. It is estimated that the bet could cost the company as much as US$20 million, even more than the massive amount it cost to produce "Chinese Democracy." Is it any good? The album had become a punch line for artistic indulgence in the music community and was never expected to see the light of day by many after numerous delays. And as time passed, Rose was stuck more and more between a rock and a hard place, making the album's release even more unlikely. Expectations for the record have grown to such levels that anything other than the perfect album would be considered a letdown for many. Critics would have a field day with it saying, "17 years for this?" But "Chinese Democracy" has not been ruthlessly plundered in many of the early reviews of the album. Rolling Stone magazine called it "great, audacious, unhinged and uncompromising hard-rock record." The Los Angeles Times wrote of the album: "The end result is a cyborgian blend of pop expressiveness, traditional rock bravado and Brian Wilson-style beautiful weirdness." Spin magazine, the BBC, the National Post, and influential writer Chuck Klosterman also gave positive to glowing notices of the album. "There are a lot of Guns N' Roses fans . . . and the overall response is 'everyone loves it,'" David Caplan of People magazine told CTV Newsnet Saturday evening. "At People, we were listening to it and we all sort of agreed that it has a charged, high-octane energy. "Other reviews described it as a high-velocity, almost a guttural kind of sound. It is really great for Guns N' Roses fans because it's pure Guns N' Roses." Certainly, the album - with its wall of sound worthy of Phil Spector and wide-ranging musical influences, many far from the original Guns N' Roses sound - is not totally well-received. The New York Times said the album "sounds like a loud last gasp from the reign of the indulged pop star" and compared it to the Titanic (the sunken ship, not the movie.) Financial success? Considering the album is believed to have cost at least US$13 million, executives at Rose's record label Universal are no doubt watching with baited breath at how well the album sells. Early indications suggest there is still a massive fanbase for the band. "Chinese Democracy" is being streamed on MySpace and broke records on the website, with more than three million spins of the album's songs in one day. That's about 25 plays per second. The album is being released exclusively through Best Buy in the United States but is available at all record stores in other countries. The marketing ploy proved successful this fall when AC/DC scored the year's biggest selling debut after going exclusive with Wal-Mart in the U.S. "We're expecting it to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, albums of the year," HMV Canada president Humphrey Kadaner told CTV.ca in October. Still, Guns N' Roses will have some major competition from Kanye West, The Killers and Ludacris, who all have new albums coming out next week as well. The American Music Awards take place Sunday night and there are rumours that Guns N' Roses could make an appearance. However, Rose rarely makes public appearances, and is generally rumoured to be appearing at every single music awards show. Rose is joined on "Chinese Democracy" by some combination of bassist Tommy Stinson (The Replacements), keyboardist Dizzy Reed (who joined GNR in 1990), guitarists Robin Finck (currently in Nine Inch Nails), Buckethead (who left GNR in 2004), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Richard Fortus (Love Spit Love) and drummers Brian Mantia (Primus) and Frank Ferrer.	''Chinese Democracy'', the new album from hard rockers Guns N' Roses, has been released today, hitting store shelves in the United States and Canada after fifteen years. Many felt it would never happen, with several release dates passing and Dr Pepper making good on a promise of a free can to every US citizen if the album came out this year. Actually, Dr Pepper isn't giving quite everyone a free can. Former band members Slash and Buckethead are excluded from the promotion. Kevin Cogill pleaded not guilty to charges of copyright infringement in October after leaking nine tracks from the album onto his website, ''Antiquiet''. He could be jailed for three years, or longer if he made money by putting the songs online. Not everywhere is going to see the album, though - topically enough, China has banned the record.
ABC News Aid From 30 Nations Pours Into Pakistan Relief Supplies From 30 Countries Pour Into Pakistan; 5-Year-Old Girl Pulled From Rubble Food is distribute to women in the northern Pakistani town of Muzaffarabad, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005 after last Saturday's earthquake. The Pakistani government's official death toll was about 23,000 people, but a senior army official involved in the rescue operations said that "according to our assessment, the death toll is between 35,000 to 40,000 people." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) By SADAQAT JAN Associated Press Writer The Associated Press MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan Oct 12, 2005 Helicopters flying in clear skies delivered aid to earthquake survivors Wednesday, a day after rain and hail grounded efforts. Relief supplies poured into Pakistan from about 30 countries, including from longtime archrival India. Many bodies were still buried beneath leveled buildings, and the United Nations warned of the threat of measles, cholera and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is on a regional tour, arrived in Islamabad and was expected to discuss quake relief with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Also Wednesday, rescuers pulled a dust-covered 5-year-old from the rubble, a shot of good news as hopes faded of finding other earthquake survivors. "I want to drink," the girl whispered. Zarabe Shah's neighbors on Tuesday recovered the bodies of her father and two of her sisters. Her mother and another two sisters survived. The 7.6-magnitude quake on Saturday demolished whole communities, mostly in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. The U.N. estimated that some 4 million people have been affected, including 2 million who have lost their homes. U.S., Pakistani, German and Afghan helicopters resumed aid flights suspended because of stormy weather. They brought food, medicines and other supplies to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir, and then ferried out the injured to hospitals. Some 50,000 Pakistani troops joined the relief effort. Still, residents in Muzaffarabad were desperate, mobbing trucks with food and water and grabbing whatever they could. The weak were pushed aside. Jan Vandemoortele, U.N. Resident Coordinator for Pakistan, said key roads into the quake zone that were blocked earlier have been opened up. U.S. military spokesman Col. James Yonts said that with the resumption of flights, helicopters had been able to unplug any backlog of aid. About 30 countries including the United States, France, Japan, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, and Syria have sent relief equipment, doctors, paramedics, tents, blankets, medicines, disaster relief teams. Many have also pledged financial assistance. \|\|\|\|\| A girl waits while food is distributed to victims of the earthquake in Pakistan, Wednesday. Residents of the northern Pakistani town of Muzaffarabad, affected by last Saturday's earthquake, jump to get some food given as aid, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005. (AP Photo / Lefteris Pitarakis) Pakistani men carry a body after they retrieved it from the rubble of a collapsed apartment complex destroyed in last Saturday's earthquake in the northern Pakistani town of Muzaffarabad, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005.(AP Photo / Lefteris Pitarakis) India helps Pakistan in earthquake effort CTV.ca News Staff The devastation caused by last week's earthquake appears to be easing the traditional rivalry between Pakistan and India. Indian troops have crossed the line dividing the disputed Kashmir region to help their Pakistani neighbours rebuild destroyed bunkers. Both India and Pakistan have also relaxed travel restrictions, allowing some Kashmiri families to return home via the border in Punjab. Meanwhile, as relief efforts in the worst affected areas were being stepped up, a strong aftershock shook Pakistan Thursday morning, just five days after a massive earthquake killed tens of thousands and left millions homeless. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 5.6-magnitude aftershock was centered about 85 miles northeast of Islamabad. It was not immediately clear if it caused any damage. Meanwhile hope for finding any remaining survivors after Saturday's 7.6-magnitude quake began to fade as bitter winter weather set in. The Pakistani government has put the official death toll at about 23,000 with 47,000 injured, but some reports suggest the toll could be much higher. However there was one bright moment Wednesday when rescuers pulled a five-year-old girl out of the rubble, 100 hours after her home crumbled on her. "I want to drink," the dust-covered girl named Zarabe Shah whispered to rescuers. Zarabe's father and two sisters were killed in the quake, which killed up to 23,000, but her mother and another two sisters survived. A day after bad weather temporarily grounded efforts, rescue work resumed and aid began pouring into the affected regions. However reports from the scene indicate there are still concerns about a lack of co-ordination, with supplies yet to reach some far-flung areas in the mountainous Pakistani Kashmir. CTV's Murray Oliver, reporting from Islamabad, described the scene as "a kind of survival of the fittest." "It's crowded, cold and there's little here to eat or drink," he said. "There is little distribution of aid outside the cities." Many bodies are still buried beneath piles of concrete, steel and wood. "Our resources are very stretched," said army Colonel Y.P. Sayyaj in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. "Every time we rush to one place we hear of another place that is worse. The United Nations has appealed for $272 million for quake survivors. About 30 countries -- including the United States, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, and Syria -- have sent relief equipment, medical staff, tents, blankets, medicine, and disaster relief teams. Many have also pledged financial assistance. Canada is dispatching Afghanistan-based Canadian Forces aircraft loaded with blankets to the affected area. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Pakistan after saying Washington would likely add to the $50 million US it has committed to the quake recovery effort. As aid begins to trickle in, health experts are warning the Himalayan region could become a fertile breeding ground for disease. United Nations officials are warning of a growing threat of measles, cholera, and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. Regional sanitation systems are damaged, hospitals have been destroyed, and victims are left without clean drinking water, making them more vulnerable to outbreaks. Nighttime temperatures are already falling to as low as 6 degrees Celsius and will drop even further by the end of the week -- further compounding the misery. The UN estimates that some 4 million people have been affected by Saturday's quake, including 2 million who have been left homeless. In Indian-held Kashmir, authorities say at least 1,200 people are known to have died, but officials fear the number will rise.	While Aid starts to pour in to the worst hit areas of South Asia Earthquake that has killed more than 30,000 people, bad weather is hampering the relief efforts with snow falling on the peaks of the earthquake-devastated areas of Pakistan. The measure of human suffering can't just be measured in the death toll, which officially stands at 23,000, but also in the 4 million who have been made homeless, hungry, and cold with 1 million in acute need, facing certain death without outside assistance. In the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, authorities say at least 1,300 people are known to have died, but officials fear the number will rise. ABC Australia reports of a man in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, who has been cut from aid, saying "I find that we are alone now. We have nothing. We are finished." Choppers are the main lifeline of support; trucks are unable to deliver relief supplies due to looting and general mayhem on the ground. The more snow, the less able aid agencies are to make their way to those in the direst need. Jan Vandemoortele, U.N. Resident Coordinator for Pakistan, said key roads into the quake zone have been reopened, as 30 countries including Australia, France, Japan, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, Syria and the US provide assistance in the form of money, doctors, tents, blankets, and disaster relief teams. United Nations officials are warning of a growing threat of measles, cholera, and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. There have been no reports of epidemic outbreaks so far, but the area's health infrastructure has completely collapsed, Vandemoortele said.
Cheney has tapped Iranian expatriate, arms dealer to surveil discussions with Iran, officials say Larisa Alexandrovna Published: Thursday April 20, 2006 Print This \| Email This The Department of Defense and Vice President Dick Cheney have retained the services of Iran-Contra arms dealer and discredited intelligence asset Manucher Ghorbanifar as their “man on the ground,” in order to report on any interaction and attempts at negotiations between Iranian officials and US ambassador to Iraq, Zelmay Khalilzad, current and former intelligence officials say. Speaking on condition of anonymity, three intelligence sources identified the Iran-Contra middleman as having been put back on the payroll, acting as a human intelligence asset and monitoring any movement in discussions about Iran’s alleged burgeoning nuclear weapons program. “Khalilzad has been authorized to enter into discussions with the Iranians over the issue of stability inside Iraq,” one former intelligence source said. These discussions, however, are now on hold for unspecified reasons. Sources close to the UN Security Council and a former high ranking intelligence official say that this latest failed attempt to bring Iran to the table is part of an ongoing attempt by Cheney and Rumsfeld to squash diplomatic activities. Another intelligence source confirmed the spiking of diplomatic action on Cheney’s behalf, explaining that the Bush administration sees such talks as a “sign of weakness.” Asked if Ghorbanifar was essentially being employed as a spy, one former senior counterintelligence official said, "You could put it that way." A former high ranking state department official, however, doubted that the Office of the Vice President would employ Ghorbanifar directly. “In my experience it would be highly unusual and even extraordinary if the Office of the Vice President would have such activities,” the ex-State Department official said. Yet the source added that the current Vice Presidency is in itself “unusual” and “extraordinary.” Cheney’s office did not return calls seeking comment for this article. As reported by RAW STORY last Thursday, the Defense Department has created a special operations arm of various Iranian dissidents, using terror group Mujahedeen-e Khalq to conduct operations on the ground in Iran. According to current and former intelligence officials, the latest revelations of Ghorbanifar’s involvement again illustrate that Cheney and the Pentagon continue to work on the periphery of protocol in order to bypass US intelligence agencies and resources. Reports of the Bush administration’s interest in meeting with Iranian officials continue to suggest that it is Iran that is pushing back against diplomatic talks. Yet all three intelligence sources and sources close to the UN Security Council say it is the US that is squashing attempts at talks between the two nations. Earlier this month, for example, the New York Times reported that Iran’s UN Ambassador, Javad Zarif, wanted discussions. In a New York Times op-ed, Zarif contended that Iran is committed to nuclear nonproliferation and eager for talks. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) approved using Ghorbanifar as an intermediary, intelligence sources say. Hoekstra attended at least one meeting in Paris with Curt Weldon and Harold Rhode to meet with Ghorbanifar. “Hoekstra okayed these channels,” one intelligence source said. “He gave his blessing.” In response to an email from RAW STORY , the House Intelligence Committee’s Republican spokesman Jamal Ware said he was out of the office and unable to discuss this issue with Congressman Hoekstra, adding: it was “doubtful we would have a comment either way.” Iran Contra middleman If these allegations are true, Ghorbanifar’s recruitment reinstates him to a position he held during the Iran Contra affair, when he was implicated in the scandal of selling arms to Iran in order to fund a right wing terrorist group, the Contras, who were battling the democratically-elected Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Ghorbanifar was also present at discussions in Rome in 2001 – talks which have received much attention because they were attended by Pentagon and Iranian officials. According to neoconservative Michael Ledeen, who participated in the talks, the topic was Iran. A second set of meetings later took place in Paris. “The Rome meetings had nothing whatsoever to do with Iraq, but with Iran and Afghanistan," Ledeen told RAW STORY . In an exclusive interview with Newsweek late last year, Ghorbanifar stated that the meetings in Rome and Paris were about regime change in Iran. The meetings included Larry Franklin, a Pentagon Iran analyst who has been convicted for passing secrets to an Israeli lobby, and Harold Rhode, a Defense Department consultant also under investigation in the case. “Ghorbanifar, a former Iranian spy who helped launch the Iran-contra affair, says one of the things he discussed with Defense officials Harold Rhode and Larry Franklin at meetings in Rome in December 2001 (and in Paris last June with only Rhode) was regime change in Iran,” Newsweek wrote. Ledeen says that Ghorbanifar’s role in the Rome meeting he attended was that of “occasional translator” and “organizer”. “Please note, once again, that Ghorbanifar was not an active participant in the December, 2001, meetings in Rome,” says Ledeen. “In all the discussions I attended, there was no discussion of Iraq; we talked about Iran, and particularly about Iran's activities in Afghanistan, aimed at American forces there,” he added. “Ghorbanifar has never made a secret of his desire to rid his country of the mullahs' tyranny,” Ledeen continued. “He has said that constantly since the first day I met him, in 1985. It shouldn't surprise anyone to hear that he may have spoken about that with US Government officials, in Rome and elsewhere. But if that happened, it was outside the meetings I attended.” As previously reported by RAW STORY , the Paris meetings, which were also attended by Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) on at least two occasions in the spring of 2003, involved attempts by Ghorbanifar to advance false intelligence in order to implicate Iran in a bizarre uranium theft claim. The assertions were debunked by the CIA and by other US intelligence and military experts. According to two of the three intelligence sources, the arms dealer was brought in to observe attempts by Khalilzad or Iranian officials at diplomatic activities and report back to Rumsfeld and/or Cheney through whomever is “holding” Ghorbanifar, sources say. \|\|\|\|\| IRAN : Defiant but Ready to Deal Praful Bidwai TEHRAN, Apr 27 (IPS) - As the deadline set by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to halt uranium enrichment descends upon Iran, the already narrow window of opportunity to resolve the crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme diplomatically may soon slam shut. If the Western powers, led by the United States, adopt a tough posture and demand that sanctions be imposed on Iran, or worse, launch a military attack on its nuclear facilities, they will strengthen the hands of the nuclear hawks who at present constitute a minority in the Tehran regime. A military attack on Iran could have catastrophic consequences for the entire Middle East, the world's most volatile region. The effects will be even more disastrous if the U.S. uses tactical nuclear weapons, which reports say, it is considering. If the West explores the route of diplomacy and negotiation, it could be rewarded with rich dividends, including effective oversight over Iran's nuclear activities and improvement in relations with its government, which is keen on being accepted as a "normal", "responsible" and a status quoist power. At this extraordinarily delicate make-or-break moment, Iran has fashioned a three-pronged approach to deal with the nuclear crisis which has steadily escalated since the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors passed two resolutions against it in September and February, and sent its case to the UNSC. First, Tehran remains defiant that it will not sacrifice its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to engage in peaceful activities, including uranium enrichment for power generation. It has threatened to "hide" its atomic programme, transfer nuclear technology to other countries, and cease cooperation with the IAEA, if the West takes "harsh measures". (The IAEA is due to submit a report on Iran's nuclear activities on Apr. 28.) These threats have emanated not just from cabinet ministers and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, often credited with harsh utterances, but from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who only rarely makes pronouncements on such issues. Second, the Iranian government is sending out signals that it is keen to reach a deal or compromise on the nuclear issue. Dr Hasan Rowhani, a member of the Supreme National Security Council, and Khamenei's nominee on it, has said that Iran is prepared to suspend its uranium enrichment for a short time. Iranian officials are also working diplomatic channels to let it be known that Tehran wants talks which will lead to a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue. The third prong of Iran's strategy is to reach out to its neighbours, including some pro-American states in the Persian Gulf, and to try to persuade them not to support a US military attack on Iran. Recently, former President Rafsanjani and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani were in Kuwait and Bahrain respectively. ''Iran's current position is based on a strong domestic consensus in favour of a civilian nuclear programme and of acquiring a degree of mastery over nuclear technology, not in favour of developing nuclear weapons or even a weapons capability,'' Prof. Nasser Hadian-Jazy, an international relations and security affairs specialist at the University of Tehran told IPS. "Most Iranian policy-makers believe that the gap between what Tehran wants and what pragmatists in the West will concede on the nuclear issue is not very wide, certainly not unbridgeable. They would certainly like to avoid a confrontation. Both sides know that the costs of a confrontation would be unaffordably high. Therefore, they can be realistically expected to try to negotiate a compromise. One can only hope the negotiations succeed", added Hadian-Jazy. A likely compromise, say insiders who insist on anonymity, would involve temporary suspension of uranium enrichment by Iran and a possible joint venture with Russia (and some other states like South Africa) to take Iran's uranium hexafluoride gas out of the country and enrich it elsewhere. Iranian scientists would have access to the relevant facilities and technologies in the joint effort. Iran would stick to its NPT commitments and ratify the tough IAEA ‘additional protocol'. In return, the West would recognise Iran as a ‘normal' state, and give it security guarantees and a ‘package' of economic incentives, including access to enhanced gas and oil production technologies. Numerous governmental and non-governmental experts, told IPS that there is fairly broad agreement that such a compromise proposal could be negotiated. It is however hard to verify this through public statements. Media debate on the nuclear issue is banned.. There seems to be very little support for the idea that Iran should become a nuclear weapons-state like India or Pakistan. The much-publicised picture of some young Iranians dancing with joy following the official Apr. 11 announcement that Iran has successfully enriched uranium to 3.5 percent is ''highly misleading'', said a member of the board of editors of a dissident publication. "That sentiment is not widely shared. There was no significant jubilation over Iran's claimed nuclear prowess". Many Iranians are also sceptical of the claim that Iran has achieved technological sophistication as regards uranium enrichment. They believe that the Isfahan and Natanz facilities are rudimentary. But not much is independently known about them thanks to the media ban. No tension or apprehension is detectable in the streets of Iran on the eve of the UNSC deadline. People go about their business in bustling cities as if unaware of the huge nuclear crisis. Yet, Iranian policy-makers seem to be acutely conscious of what is at stake. "It would be fair to say that they think Iran has much to lose from an overt pursuit of nuclear weapons", says Ramin Jehanbegloo, a political theorist in Tehran. "Contrary to Western stereotypes, they are sober, hard-nosed pragmatists, not ideologically driven. They know that nuclear weapons will make Iran more vulnerable and insecure, not more secure". Among the factors that weigh with policy-makers is the likely loss of Iran's conventional superiority vis-à-vis potential adversaries, and the "rebound" effect. Iran's bomb will invite Israel's active hostility and push the neighbourhood's smaller states towards Washington. And it will increase the likelihood of nuclear proliferation to non-state actors like al-Qaeda, which views Iran with suspicion. Iranian policy-makers believe Iran has a strong hand, legally and politically, without nuclear weapons. It is not in breach of any international treaty or law. Iran hopes to win a measure of international public sympathy if it is unfairly targeted and cornered by the U.S. and its close allies. Therefore, Tehran is unlikely to alter the status quo radically. If Washington does so by exercising the military option, it will invite serious trouble in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and in the entire Muslim world. As the Iran situation is delicately poised, sobriety and wisdom are at a premium. (END/2006) Send your comments to the editor	Veteran anti-nuclear activist and journalist Praful Bidwai claims that while Iranian authorities "will not sacrifice rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to engage in peaceful activities, including uranium enrichment for power generation", they are also "keen to reach a deal or compromise on the nuclear issue" and "are also working diplomatic channels to let it be known that Tehran wants talks which will lead to a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue." The alternative news website Raw Story published a story on April 20 that alleged United States vice-president Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld have obstructed the progress of diplomatic discussions which could help solve the conflict between the United States and Iran. The conflict involves the alleged plan of attack on Iran led by the United States, and Iran's alleged intention to develop nuclear weapons. Diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran have remained suspended since 1980, following the Iranian hostage crisis. The website alleges that information from several different unnamed sources claim that expatriate arms dealer Manucher Ghorbanifar, a key figure in the Iran-Contra Affair, has been ordered by US authorities to monitor and report on "any interaction and attempts at negotiations between Iranian officials and US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad." Raw Story also claims that sources "close to the UN Security Council", a "high ranking intelligence official" and another "intelligence source" attributed the failure of the recent attempts at direct contacts between Khalilzad and Iranian officials as "part of an ongoing attempt by Cheney and Rumsfeld to squash diplomatic activities". The claims of the Internet publication's allegations have not yet been independently verified. In addition, the Raw Story also claims that US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) "approved using Ghorbanifar as an intermediary" and "attended at least one meeting in Paris with Curt Weldon (R-PA) and Harold Rhode to meet with Ghorbanifar." Bidwai states that Dr. Hasan Rowhani, a member of the Supreme National Security Council chosen by Iranian head of state Ayatollah Khamenei, as saying that Iran is prepared to suspend its uranium enrichment for a short time. On April 18, when asked whether US action against Iran could include a strike using nuclear weapons, U.S. President George W. Bush answered "All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so."
Bloomberg poised for third-party campaign New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is prepared to spend an unprecedented $1 billion of his own $5.5 billion personal fortune for a third-party presidential campaign, personal friends of the mayor tell The Washington Times. "He has set aside $1 billion to go for it," confided a long-time business adviser to the Republican mayor. "The thinking about where it will come from and do we have it is over, and the answer is yes, we can do it." Another personal friend and fellow Republican said in recent days that Mr. Bloomberg, who is a social liberal and fiscal conservative, has "lowered the bar" and upped the ante for a final decision on making a run. The mayor has told close associates he will make a third-party run if he thinks he can influence the national debate and has said he will spend up to $1 billion. Earlier, he told friends he would make a run only if he thought he could win a plurality in a three-way race and would spend $500 million -- or less than 10 percent of his personal fortune. A $1 billion campaign budget would wipe out many of the common obstacles faced by third-party candidates seeking the White House. "Bloomberg is H. Ross Perot on steroids," said former Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael Toner. "He could turn the political landscape of this election upside down, spend as much money as he wanted and proceed directly to the general election. He would have resources to hire an army of petition-gatherers in those states where thousands of petitions are required to qualify a third-party presidential candidate to be on the ballot." Senior Republican officials -- including those supporting declared Republican presidential nomination contenders -- and several top Democrats told The Times they take the possibility of a Bloomberg candidacy as a serious threat in November 2008. The Bloomberg team is studying the strategies of Mr. Perot, the Texas billionaire whose 1992 presidential campaign helped President Clinton to win the White House with 43 percent of the popular vote. "Mike has been meeting with Ross Perot's most senior people about how they did an independent run in 1992," the Bloomberg business adviser said on condition of anonymity so as to avoid appearing to speak for Mr. Bloomberg. Talk of Mr. Bloomberg as a third-party candidate comes as Republican voters are deeply divided over their top-three declared candidates -- Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- and are casting longing glances at former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "Some of the people on McCain's [presidential campaign] staff have been calling me to see if Mike is running because they are ready to leave the McCain campaign, which is a biplane on fire and spiraling down," the Bloomberg adviser said. Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, another independent-minded Republican, dined recently with Mr. Bloomberg and suggested on CBS' "Face the Nation" over the weekend that he and Mr. Bloomberg might make an independent run for the presidency. advertisement advertisement Copyright © 1999 - 2007 News World Communications, Inc. http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070515-123142-3314r.htm \|\|\|\|\| ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg again rejected supporters Monday who wanted him to run for president. That includes Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel's suggestion that the nation could use an independent presidential ticket with Bloomberg and Hagel on it. "I think he was probably joking," Bloomberg said in an Albany news conference pushing his environmental plan for New York City. "He speaks his mind ... he's not happy with the same things that I'm not happy about." Hagel, a frequent critic of the Iraq war, made the suggestion on Sunday's "Face the Nation" on CBS. Bloomberg, serving his last term under the city's term limit law, said a New York Daily News poll this week that found him ahead of Republican Rudolph Giuliani was flattering, but "the current mayor always has a real advantage." "I thought Rudy Giuliani left the city better than he found it and I'm trying to take what he left and build on that," Bloomberg said. The billionaire businessman was in Albany the same day U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton received a formal endorsement for president in a large outdoor ceremony from Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Bloomberg insists it was a coincidence and his Albany lobbying trip was planned before the 2008 presidential endorsement by the state's top Democrats was announced. Bloomberg also shot down Republican state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's continued mention to reporters that the mayor would be a great governor and could knock off Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, with whom Bruno has been feuding. "I am not running for governor," Bloomberg said of the job held by his friend and neighbor for four months. "My hope is that Governor Spitzer _ and expect Governor Spitzer _ is going to be a great governor and that he will go on for a long time being governor and I wish him all the best."	Bloomberg giving a speech in August 2004. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is prepared to spend one billion dollars of his own money for a 2008 White House bid, the ''Washington Times'' reports, citing his friends and "close associates" . However, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday made light of Senator Chuck Hagel's suggestion that Bloomberg could run as an independent with Hagel as running mate. Bloomberg has so far denied that he is running but has not ruled out the possibility either. Media reports speculate that Bloomberg is considering a run if the Democratic and Republican nominees cater more to the parties' bases, leaving room for an independent candidate who can attract moderate voters for both camps. ''TIME'' magazine reports that Bloomberg was at first ready to consider spending US$500 million for a presidential run. Michael Bloomberg could have more money than either party candidates, former FEC chairman Michael E. Toner told the ''Times''. Those funds would come in handy to mobilize the thousands of petitions needed to qualify for a run in some states. The ''Washington Times'' also has reports of a Bloomberg adviser saying some people involved with John McCain's Presidential Campaign are prepared to leave and join Bloomberg's campaign if he does indeed run. Bloomberg's advisers have also said that they have been studying and learning from Ross Perot's Presidential campaign in 1992. They have called and talked with Perot's former advisers and campaign workers to learn from their mistakes and experience. Bloomberg made his fortune with his company Bloomberg L.P., a financial news and data company. ''Forbes magazine'' ranked him 44th on a list of wealthiest Americans and 142nd on a list of billionaires worldwide. His net worth is estimated at US$5.5 billion.
The online operation will have a reduced editorial staff The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the 146-year-old US newspaper, will print its final edition on Tuesday before becoming a strictly online operation. Owner Hearst Corporation has failed in its attempts to find a buyer for the paper, put on sale in January. America's newspaper industry has been badly hit by the downturn, and a number of titles face closure. The decision to go solely online is the first such venture for a large US paper. However, the website will be run solely as a source of local news and opinion, rather than an internet incarnation of the former newspaper. FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. More from BBC World Service There will be an editorial staff of 20, compared to the previous 150. The remaining editorial staff will be expected to write, edit, take photos, and shoot video. "We don't feel like we have to cover everything ourselves," said a statement from Michelle Nicolosi, who will lead the site as executive producer. "We'll partner for some content; we won't duplicate what the wire is reporting unless we have something unique to offer; we'll continue to showcase the great content from our 150 or so reader bloggers and we'll link to content partners and competitors to create the best mix of news on our front page." Industry woes Seattle follows Denver in losing a daily newspaper this year, after the Rocky Mountain news closed. And in Arizona, Gannett's Tucson Citizen is set to close on Saturday, leaving one newspaper in that city. Last month the San Francisco Chronicle said it plans to cut a "significant" number of jobs to meet cost-cutting targets, and that if the targets are not met, then the paper could be sold or closed down. The New York Times is struggling to service debts of some $400m, amid dwindling cash reserves and plunging revenue. Last year it had to mortgage its gleaming new headquarters (built in 2007 with much fanfare) to bolster its cash flow. The Tribune Company, which owns the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun and many other titles, filed for bankruptcy in December, and although its newspapers remain in publication, the repercussions of the bankruptcy filing are likely to lead to restructuring. Three other newspaper companies have also filed for bankruptcy in recent months. They are Star Tribune Holding Corporation (which owns the Minneapolis Star-Tribune), the Journal Register Company (which owns the New Haven Register and a number of other titles in the North East), and Philadelphia Newspapers LLC (which owns Philadelphia's two top newspapers, the Inquirer and the Daily News). The American newspaper industry has been hit by falling advertising revenue in recent years. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the city's oldest newspaper, will roll off the presses for the last time tomorrow, its owner said today. The Hearst Corporation also said on the P-I's website that it will keep the online version of the P-I alive, a decision that began to leak out earlier this month when some current P-I news staffers were offered jobs with the new internet venture. Additional details were not immediately available. The vast majority of the P-I's 167 employees, almost all in news, are expected to lose their jobs. The online enterprise will have a significantly smaller news staff. The demise of the print P-I had been widely anticipated since 9 January, when Hearst executives said they would put the paper up for sale for 60 days. If no buyer emerged, they said, the print P-I would be shut down. Finding a buyer always was considered a long shot. Newspapers across the US are reeling as advertising revenue plummets, buffeted by twin typhoons: the recession, and reader and advertiser migration to the internet. Some daily newspapers have closed. Other owners have filed for bankruptcy protection. Almost all have cut costs, trimming staff through buyouts and layoffs. Papers up for sale that are healthier than the P-I aren't attracting buyers. One of them, Denver's Rocky Mountain News, stopped publishing last month. The P-I traces its roots to 1863. Hearst bought it in 1921. When Hearst put the P-I up for sale, Chief Executive Frank Bennack and newspaper division President Steven Swartz said the paper had not made money since 2000. "We see no opportunity for us to publish the P-I on a profitable basis," the executives said in a letter to P-I employees. They said the P-I had lost $14m in 2008 and stood to lose more this year. Those losses came despite a joint operating agreement between the P-I and The Seattle Times, approved by the US justice department in 1983, that allowed the two papers to consolidate some operations to reduce costs. Under the JOA the Times and P-I maintain separate newsrooms while the larger Times handles advertising, circulation, production and other business functions for both papers. In return, the Times has received 60% and Hearst 40% of whatever revenue is left after the Times is compensated for the papers' combined non-news expenses. Since the Times switched from afternoon to morning publication in 2000 to compete head-to-head with the P-I, the P-I's weekday circulation has dropped from nearly 200,000 to about 117,000. The Times' circulation has slid less dramatically, to about 198,000. The Times also is in financial trouble. Its executives have said that, while the P-I's demise increases the Times prospects for survival long-term, in the short run it will hurt the Times economically. In addition to the P-I, Hearst owns 15 daily newspapers, 29 television stations, two radio stations, more than two dozen US magazines and a large portfolio of cable and online investments. It is a privately held company that does not disclose its finances, but has indicated its newspapers, like others, face financial difficulties. Last month Hearst said it would sell or close its money-losing San Francisco Chronicle if costs can't be cut quickly.	The ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' (P-I), the 146-year-old Seattle newspaper, will make its final print edition on today, before becoming an online-only news agency. However, the online version is to be for local news only. The editorial staff would consist of twenty people, less than one-seventh of the 150 staff that were employed before the closure. With this closure, the ''Seattle Times'' is now Seattle's only major daily newspaper. "We don't feel like we have to cover everything ourselves. We'll partner for some content; we won't duplicate what the wire is reporting unless we have something unique to offer; we'll continue to showcase the great content from our 150 or so reader bloggers and we'll link to content partners and competitors to create the best mix of news on our front page," said Michelle Nicolosi, who is to be the executive producer of the online paper. The Hearst Corporation, the owner of the P-I, was not able to find a buyer for the newspaper when it was put up for sale back in January. The newspaper industry in the country has been suffering as revenue from advertising plunges. Other newspapers in the United States have also shut down recently: Denver's ''Rocky Mountain News'' shut down earlier this year, whilst the ''Tucson Citizen'' of Arizona will print its final edition on Saturday.
Deloitte’s Neville Kahn, Lee Manning and Nick Edwards were today appointed joint administrators to Setanta Sport Limited and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Limited following an unsuccessful bid to make the necessary repayments. The broadcaster has 420 employees in the UK and Ireland, and approximately 1.2 million subscribers, with channels available in three million homes. Kahn said the business will be wound down after talks between the board, management team and financial backers failed. ‘This decision means that [Setanta] will shortly cease broadcasting to its customers in Great Britain. ‘Regrettably, approximately 200 employees will be made redundant in respect of the Great Britain business. Setanta has today suspended the collection of subscription payments from customers in Great Britain,’ he said. Further Reading: MP calls for full disclosure of costs of digital switchover Virgin Media signs deal with Setanta to show football \|\|\|\|\| 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 \|\|\|\|\| * Setanta's UK operations enter administration * Irish and international business continue trading * More than 1,000 jobs affected (Adds BSkyB comment) By Tom Freke LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - The almost three million British households which subscribe to broadcaster Setanta Sports will have their service switched off by the end of the day after the company called in administrators on Tuesday. The board of privately-held Setanta Sports appointed Deloitte as administrators after failing to secure additional financing, Setanta said. Setanta International and Setanta Ireland, which have around 200,000 subscribers, are not covered by the appointments and will continue trading, Deloitte said. The news comes after the English Premier League terminated its live match contract with Setanta on Friday, saying the company was unable to meet its payments. The League then awarded the lucrative rights to Disney ESPN (DIS.N) on Monday. "After a huge effort by the Setanta board, management team and its backers, it has not been possible to save the GB business, which will be wound down in due course," said Neville Khan of Deloitte. Setanta will wind down its British operations and its British output will go off air shortly, Deloitte said, leading to the loss of about 200 jobs, out of a total of 420. Third-party call centres contracted by Setanta will be hit by the news, with around 950 jobs likely to be affected, Deloitte said in a conference call. Subscriptions in the UK will stop being collected immediately and subscribers should act to stop any bank payments, Deloitte said. The company has no money to make any refunds for ending subscriptions early, the administrator added. IRISH RESCUE A buyer is being sought for the Irish and international operations, and a deal could be announced within days, Khan said in a conference call. A number of buyers are looking at the business, he added. The British business came close to being rescued 10 days ago, Khan said, but a deal could not be reached as the deadline ran out on payments due to the English Premier League. Continued... \|\|\|\|\| Tuesday, June 23 2009, 15:51 BST By James Welsh Updated: June 23 2009, 22:15 BST Setanta's channels have gone off the air in Great Britain after the Irish sports broadcaster's British operations were put in the hands of administrators Deloitte. Full coverage of Setanta GB's collapse on Digital Spy > Setanta stops accepting GB payments Setanta is to stop accepting any form of payment from British subscribers with immediate effect. > Racing UK to continue broadcasting Setanta Sports Pack channel Racing UK will go it alone at £20 per month. > Video: Setanta Sports News goes off air Setanta Sports News ceased broadcasting at 6pm. Watch how the channel said goodbye to viewers. > Setanta Sports 1 to continue in Ireland Setanta Ireland will continue broadcasting. > ESPN America in talks after Setanta collapse Setanta Sports Pack channel is searching for other distribution platforms. > BT to refund advance Setanta payments BT Vision is to refund any customers who paid in advance for Setanta Sports. > Setanta collapse 'shows pay TV market failure' BT says Setanta's collapse is evidence of UK pay TV "market failure". > Sky attacks BT for "cheap opportunism" Sky responds to BT's comments about Setanta and the UK pay TV market. > Virgin to issue pro-rata Setanta refunds Virgin Media will issue pro-rata refunds to customers who subscribed to Setanta Sports. > ESPN America goes standalone on Virgin Setanta Sports Pack channel ESPN America becomes a standalone premium channel on Virgin's cable service. The full story as it broke Deloitte was appointed by Setanta at 2:30pm today after last-ditch efforts to secure a rescue package failed. 200 jobs have been lost with immediate effect as a result of the collapse. "This is a sad day for all concerned," said Setanta chairman Sir Robin Miller. "Since its inspired inception a number of years ago, Setanta and its financial backers, have invested hundreds of millions of pounds buying UK and international sports rights. With the hard work and dedication of its staff, a pay TV broadcaster was created which entertained people in three million homes with top-class sport. "Unfortunately, in a difficult and highly competitive market, and despite strenuous efforts by the board and management, it has not been possible to find sufficient additional funds in the time available to ensure its survival." Neville Kahn, Lee Manning and Nick Edwards of Deloitte have been appointed joint administrators to Setanta Sport Ltd and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Ltd. It is understood that Setanta Ireland and Setanta's other international operations, including those in the United States, are not affected by these appointments and will continue broadcasting. In a statement, Neville Kahn said: "After a huge effort by the Setanta board, management team and its backers, it has not been possible to save the GB business, which will be wound down in due course. This decision means that it will shortly cease broadcasting to its customers in Great Britain. "However, the international and Ireland businesses continue to trade on air whilst we are in discussions with parties to take on those businesses as going concerns. "Regrettably, approximately 200 employees will be made redundant in respect of the GB business. Setanta has today suspended the collection of subscription payments from customers in Great Britain. "Setanta customers should go to www.setanta.com for further information. We can confirm that no further monthly subscriptions or direct debits will be accepted from customers of the UK business." \|\|\|\|\| I f you would like us to contact you when we are able to accept new subscribers to our TV Service, Click Here To Subscribe and watch Racing UK now LIVE on your PC, Click Here For our full list of FAQ's Click Here Leading horse racing television channel Racing UK (RUK) today announced it will become a stand-alone channel again following the demise of Setanta. RUK aims to continue broadcasting on Sky channel 432 but will move to a new EPG number if necessary. The price point will revert to its 2004 launch price of £20 a month but this will include the £9.99 monthly subscription to Racing UK's on-line services for free. Subscribers will also continue to benefit from £600 worth of free race day tickets per year and members' club packs. Racing UK Chairman Will Wyatt said: "We enjoyed a good relationship with Setanta sinceAugust 2006, and the current situation at Setanta is very unfortunate. Racing UK flourished as a stand-alone channel before Setanta, and now we have a stronger financial base and an even better relationship with our customers. Racing UK is sound, safe and assured of its future." Racing UK will be in contact shortly with its 55,000 residential subscribers on how to re-subscribe directly. There will be no joining fee and the channel will be free to air (for all existing subscribers) while this happens. All current broadband subscriptions and the 2,350 pubs which subscribe to Racing UK will be unaffected. The channel is in discussions with Virgin Media to continue supplying cable customers. Monthly subscribers should not lose out through the closure/administration of Setanta and annual subscribers will get the channel free until their next annual renewal date.	The UK operations of Setanta Sports have been placed into administration. Financial firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu confirmed the division would be liquidated. The sports broadcaster, which employs 420 people in Ireland and the UK, entered administration after plans to raise fresh capital through the Russian-American businessman Leonard Blavatnik failed. With effect from today, the company is to cease accepting payments from television customers who had subscribed to its broadcasting services, and 200 employees in the United Kingdom are to be made redundant. Administrators will attempt to find a buyer for the Irish and international arms of the company. The administrators at Deloitte are Neville Kahn, Lee Manning, and Nick Edwards. The specific companies in administration are Setanta Sport Ltd and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Ltd. Setanta Ireland is not under administration. Setanta's UK sports channels, Setanta Sports 1 & 2, have ceased transmission in the UK, but are continuing transmission in Ireland. Other UK channels that have gone off-air include Setanta Golf and Setanta Sports News. Racing UK, which was bundled by satellite and cable television operators with Setanta channels, is not owned by Setanta and will continue transmission. Customers who subscribed to the channel via Setanta will be offered the option of subscribing to the channel directly. 64 of the people facing redundancy work for ITN, which had contracted with Setanta to produce Setanta Sports News. The rights that Setanta had to broadcast football matches to subscribers are to revert to their rights holders. The rights to broadcast 46 Premier League football matches for the next football season, and 23 matches for the three following seasons, have already reverted, and were sold to United States broadcaster ESPN for £260 million yesterday. Because of UK and European Union monopoly and competition laws, broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting is not permitted to bid for the broadcasting rights that Setanta had.
Paddy McErlean, 14, was killed in the quad bike collision in Maghera Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old boy who died in a quad bike accident in Maghera on Thursday night. Paddy McErlean was on the vehicle with a 16-year-old friend who remains critically ill in hospital. The bike crashed into a post on the Craigmore Road in the County Londonderry town at about 2200 GMT. Ann Scott, the head teacher at Paddy's school, St Patrick's College, said everyone was finding it hard to come to terms with the teenager's death. "This tragic accident really has brought a profound sense of loss to the school. "The loss of Paddy, who was only 14, has just shocked everybody at the college," she said. "He really contributed a lot to the school, he was full of life, he was such a lovely young lad, very popular with the staff and pupils and we will really miss him so terribly." It is understood the boys were travelling along the quiet, rural road close to the McErlean family home, when they crashed and were thrown from the quad. SDLP Maghera councillor Kathleen Lagan said she knew the family very well and described the boy's death as "utterly heart-wrenching". 'Traumatic experience' The 16-year-old was treated in the Antrim Area Hospital after the accident but he has since been transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Paddy's mother and two brothers are being comforted by relatives. Councillor Lagan said: "This is the most traumatic experience any parent, any person, can possibly got through and my heart goes out to the family. Children visited the scene of the crash where floral tributes have been laid "I know that the community, who hold the young boy and his family in such high esteem, will gather around and offer help or support during the tough times ahead. "It may be of little consolation to the family but it shows just how well they are thought of in the community." Ms Lagan also said she hoped the other boy injured in the incident would make a speedy and full recovery. Sinn Fein Councillor, Sean Kerr, who went to the scene of the accident on Thursday night said his immediate thoughts were with the two families. "One is facing an awful bereavement as they come up to Christmas, and then the other family, who are the bedside of the young boy that was injured. "I also think we need to think about the young people who were there at the time, it must have been a very traumatic experience for them," he said. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The death of a teenager who he fell off a quad bike in Co Derry was the third tragedy to hit his family in three years, it has been revealed. Paddy McErlean, 14, was on the machine on Thursday night with a friend when they collided with a post on the quiet and rural Craigmore Road, Maghera. The friend is being treated in hospital. His father Joe died three years ago and his uncle earlier this year. Paddy and his two brothers, Oisin in year 12 and Conleith in year 9, attended St Patrick's College in the town. Principal Anne Scott said: "He was very lovely, just a nice wee lad. He was lovely looking with bright eyes and a smiling face. "We are finding it very tough, the pupils at the school are devastated, we had special reflection time for each of the three classes (of the three brothers). The children are distraught, many of them are inconsolable." Paddy's mother Collette is being comforted by friends at home, a short distance from where the accident happened at around 10pm on Thursday. A 16-year-old was also injured in the accident and is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Sinn Fein Maghera councillor Sean Kerr said the collision happened on the edge of town on a narrow road in atrocious weather conditions. "It is a terrible tragedy all round, the town is basically in shock," he said. "He is from a very well-known and well-respected local family." Press Association	A 14-year-old boy has been killed in an accident involving a quad bike in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The boy has been identified as Paddy McErlean, who crashed near his house in the town of Maghera. What is believed to have happened is that Paddy was travelling on an all-terrain vehicle with a 16-year-old boy along a rural road at around 2200 GMT on Thursday when the vehicle smashed into a post, the boys were then thrown from the road. The 16-year-old boy is critically injured and as of yet has not been identified. Ann Scott, who is the head teacher in St. Patrick's College, which is the high school that Paddy attended, said: "This tragic accident really has brought a profound sense of loss to the school. The loss of Paddy, who was only 14, has just shocked everybody at the college. He really contributed a lot to the school, he was full of life, he was such a lovely young lad, very popular with the staff and pupils and we will really miss him so terribly."
Natasha Kaplinsky won the first series of Strictly Come Dancing Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky has given birth to a boy, but has not yet named the child. The birth was announced on the evening Five News bulletin, which Kaplinsky, 36, presented before she took maternity leave last month. Her husband Justin Bower, whom she married after a whirlwind romance in 2005, said: "We're absolutely thrilled." A spokeswoman for the presenter said: "Mother and baby are doing fine." Five News said: "Her colleagues here at Five News are delighted too - and we've sent our best wishes." The former Strictly Come Dancing star made her debut as the face of Five's news coverage in February, in a deal reported to be worth £1 million a year. Kaplinsky's first broadcast attracted one million viewers - almost double the usual audience. The move to Five marked the latest in a career that has seen Kaplinsky make an almost complete tour of the British news networks. She first started in broadcast when she was selected to present the early morning news bulletins at ITV Meridian in 1997. She has also worked for ITV London, Sky News and BBC Breakfast before moving to the station's Six O'Clock News. \|\|\|\|\| Natasha Kaplinsky has given birth to a baby boy Baby boy for TV's Natasha Kaplinsky Natasha Kaplinsky has given birth to a baby boy, it was announced. The newsreader, 36, who began her maternity leave a month ago, has not yet named the new arrival. Kaplinsky's first child was born at a London hospital. Husband Justin Bower, the investment banker Kaplinsky married in August 2005 following a whirlwind romance, said: "We're absolutely thrilled." The birth was announced on Five News. A spokeswoman for the Five newsreader and former Strictly Come Dancing star said the baby's weight was not yet known. She said: "They are both thrilled. Mother and baby are doing fine." Five said: "Her colleagues here at Five News are delighted too - and we've sent our best wishes." Kaplinsky made her debut as the face of Five's news coverage, in a deal reported to be worth £1 million a year, in February. Her first broadcast attracted one million viewers - almost double the usual audience. The move to Five marked the latest in a career that has seen Kaplinsky make an almost complete tour of the British news networks. Since first being selected to present the early morning news bulletins at ITV Meridian in 1997, she has worked for ITV London, Sky News and BBC Breakfast before moving to the station's Six O'Clock News. \|\|\|\|\| Mother and baby are both doing well and dad Justin says they are “absolutely thrilled”. There’s no name as yet, but we’ll keep you posted. It’s just a month since Natasha departed the sofa to begin her maternity leave.	British newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky gave birth to a baby boy earlier this morning at around 08:30 BST. She had been on maternity leave since August 21. Kaplinsky had only been working with Five News just over a month when she announced she was pregnant. Her husband of three years, investment banker Justin Bower announced "We're absolutely thrilled." Kaplinsky first started to work for the BBC in 2002 after a two year tenure with Sky News. She started on the BBC Breakfast show but later moved onto the BBC Six O'Clock News and later became only the third woman to present the BBC Ten O'Clock News. She left the BBC in October 2007. She also spent a short time with ITV News. Five News released a statement saying "Her colleagues here at Five News are delighted too - and we've sent our best wishes." They also said both Kaplinsky and the baby are doing fine.
View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes. From flooding tragedies in Haiti and South Asia, to the Sept. 11 anniversary at the Pentagon. BREAKING NEWS MSNBC News Services A Metrolink commuter train and a freight train collided Friday in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, injuring an unknown number of people. Firefighters worked to douse flames at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. One car of the Metrolink train derailed along with what appeared to be the engine of the freight train. Footage of the collision was broadcast from a KABC-TV helicopter over the scene. Rescue crews were on the scene looking for victims. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Metrolink is a commuter rail system that links Orange County with surrounding areas, including Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. © 2008 MSNBC Interactive \|\|\|\|\| Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> An NTSB investigator is dwarfed by the mangled wreck of a Metrolink engine in Chatsworth on Saturday. Investigators will examine many possible causes of crash Email Picture Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> An NTSB investigator is dwarfed by the mangled wreck of a Metrolink engine in Chatsworth on Saturday. Possibilities include a warning signal malfunction, a crew member's failure to notice a signal and a lapse in following protocols for moving trains safely through the area. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board will examine many possibilities, but the most immediate questions are these: Did a warning signal malfunction? Did crew members not notice a stop signal, or did an engineer fail to follow protocols designed to move trains safely through the area? Tom Dinger, a retired Amtrak engineer, said the common practice is for northbound passenger trains to effectively pull over onto a side track at the Chatsworth station until southbound freight trains have passed. Between Chatsworth and Simi Valley there is only one set of tracks because of narrow tunnels that trains use to go beneath the Santa Susanna Pass. "We were always stopped at Chatsworth to wait for the heavy UP [Union Pacific Railroad] trains to get off the hill," said Dinger, 64, of Silver Lake. "The UP train was almost at the siding -- it was less than a mile away. It's a shame." \|\|\|\|\| Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> Rescuers work to pull people from mangled wreckage in Chatsworth. 'Total destruction': At least 17 die in head-on Metrolink crash Email Picture Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times More photos >>> Rescuers work to pull people from mangled wreckage in Chatsworth. Commuter train with 225 aboard slams into freight train on winding route in Chatsworth. More than 135 are injured. Hours after the crash Friday afternoon, Los Angeles City Fire Capt. John Virant, his face glistening with sweat, described the scene as "total destruction . . . chaos." "They are in there removing dead bodies that are lying on top of survivors," Virant said. In the front train carriage, he said, "it was as if somebody had just taken all the seats and thrown them in there." Metrolink's Train 111, en route from Los Angeles' Union Station to Moorpark, had just left the Chatsworth station when the crash occurred at 4:23 p.m. on a 45-degree bend. The engine of the freight train embedded itself in the front Metrolink carriage as both trains derailed, sending one of the train's three cars full of homebound commuters keeling onto its side. An earsplitting concussion rocked nearby homes, followed by screams from those aboard. "I saw it coming," said Eric Forbes, 56, an administrator at Cal State Northridge who was riding in the second or third car of the Metrolink train when he glanced out the window to see the freight train bearing down. He spoke later at a nearby triage center, his raspy voice swelling with emotion as he was wheeled on a stretcher to an ambulance. "There was no time to stop," he said. "The next thing I knew I was in a seat in front of me. It was horrible." Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrell said officials did not yet know how the accident occurred. "Obviously two trains are not supposed to be at the same place at the same time." Tom Dinger, an engineer who retired last year from Amtrak after a 43-year railroad career, said normal procedure called for the northbound passenger train to pull into a rail siding at the Chatsworth station to allow the southbound freight train to pass. He said he had steered through that stretch of track hundreds of times. Between Chatsworth and Simi Valley there is only one set of tracks because of narrow tunnels that trains use to go through the Santa Susana Pass. He said he talked by telephone with Metrolink conductor Bob Hildebrand, who was injured. Hildebrand told him he was in the rear club car when the trains collided. "He told me they were going 40 mph and came to a dead stop," Dinger said. Metrolink said the train's engineer, whom it did not identify, died in the crash. There was no word on the fate of the Union Pacific crew. Joelle Ouellet, 38, said she was a few hundred feet away, turning around her horse on a nearby ranch, when the trains collided. "I heard a huge crash," she said. "Then I saw a fireball. I ran over there and there were people lying all over the hill." As the rescue effort swung into full gear, yellow-clad firefighters clambered over the train cars and peeled back the roof of one car to gain entry to the passenger compartment. "Victims are on top of victims," Los Angeles Fire Chief Douglas Barry said after surveying the scene. "Metal and debris is all tangled together. It's a difficult situation." At one point, a Los Angeles police officer went to the house of Jim Halty, who lives near the tracks. They had a brief conversation and the officer left with an American flag. A short time later, alongside the wreckage, scores of uniformed Los Angeles Police Department officers formed two lines in a makeshift formation waiting for rescue crews to extract the body of an LAPD officer on her way home from work. With somber faces and hands clasped in front of them, they waited in silence, many peering up at the hole cut in the twisted metal of the front train car, from which firefighters were pulling bodies. Shortly after sunset, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke to reporters at the scene, saying: "We don't know the number of people still trapped inside. We don't know what condition they're in. There are people trapped in there dead and alive -- they know that some are dead." He said at least 10 fatalities had been confirmed by the coroner's office and that the number of injured "is hard to estimate at this point. We know that dozens of people have been injured, probably over 100." The death toll was later raised to at least 15. Villaraigosa also said he was heartbroken by what he called "the devastation, the carnage," adding, "I haven't seen anything like it." There were three passenger cars on the Metrolink train, each capable of carrying up to 155 people. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Ten people were killed and many others injured Friday when a Metrolink train packed with hundreds of rush-hour commuters collided with a freight train in suburban Los Angeles, officials said. A commuter rail car lies on its side after a collision Friday near Los Angeles, California. The apparent head-on collision between Metrolink train 111 and the Union Pacific train occurred about 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. ET) in Chatsworth, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles. It sparked a fire that was brought under control. Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said 10 people had died, as rescuers continued to search the wreckage. An estimated 350 to 400 people were on the commuter train, which was heading north, said Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell. Passengers were still being evacuated, she said. Three passenger cars and one locomotive were involved in the crash. At least one car from the commuter train had derailed and was lying on its side. Five victims -- three males and two females, all in critical condition -- were received at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, said spokeswoman Natasha Shows. More are expected, she said, as ambulances from the hospital remain at the scene. The Associated Press reported that firefighters pulled passengers out a rear door and down a ladder from the toppled commuter car, which had been separated from the rest of the train by several feet. Crumpled and charred freight cars were strewn across the tracks, the AP said, and dazed and injured passengers sat on the ground and milled about on both sides of the tracks. Video from the scene showed a number of injured people lying on blankets. Passersby had attempted to free some passengers from the train cars before fire and rescue crews arrived. A helicopter was on the scene, ferrying people to hospitals. Watch a report on the collision » CNN affiliate KCAL reported about two dozen people were injured. The AP said that one of the largest medical facilities in the area, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, was told to prepare for the arrival of injured passengers, according to hospital spokeswoman Christina Zicklin. "We are expecting some people. I don't know the number yet," she said, according to AP. Tyrrell said the train left Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and was headed northwest to Moorpark in Ventura County, according to AP. "We don't know if we hit another train or another train hit us," Tyrrell said, according to AP. The cause of the collision is unknown. The AP said the crash happened in an area where the tracks form a "U" shape, about 2,500 feet (762 meters) wide. At the top of the bend is a 500-foot-long tunnel that runs beneath Stoney Point Park, popular with climbers for its large boulders, the AP reported. CNN's Ted Rowlands 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. All About Train Travel • Los Angeles \|\|\|\|\| Rescuers remove a victim with a gurney attached to an aerial ladder as others continue rescue efforts after a MetroLink commuter train collided with a freight train in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) At least 10 killed in LA commuter train wreck LOS ANGELES (AP) — A commuter train believed to have been carrying up to 350 people during the afternoon rush collided with a freight train Friday, killing at least 10 people, injuring dozens and trapping an unknown number of others in a mangled passenger car imploded by its own engine. Firefighters extinguished a blaze under part of the wreckage and were working hours after the collision to free people from the destroyed commuter car, which was left toppled on its side with the train's engine shoved back inside it. Two other cars in the Metrolink train remained upright. The Union Pacific freight train's engine was also turned onto its side, with the rest of the train splayed out like an accordion behind it. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at the scene there were between 10 and 15 fatalities, and 50 to 60 people injured. "This is the worst accident I've ever seen," Villaraigosa said. "Clearly the injuries are going to mount and so are the fatalities." Police Lt. John Romero said the death toll was 10 to 20. The crash "made a terrible sound, like a bomb, a huge noise," said Julio Pedraza, 35, who lives and works at a nearby horse boarding facility. He said he saw passengers emerging from the wreckage, and he and others helped the injured, one with skin peeling off of his forehead. "They were yelling for help and crying," Pedraza said in Spanish. Firefighters treated the injured at three triage areas near the wreck, and helicopters flew in and out of a nearby landing area on medical evacuation flights. Rescuers worked atop the wreckage and through breaches in the passenger car to reach victims. Dazed and injured passengers sat on the ground and milled about on both sides of the tracks. Surgeons were sent to the scene. Dr. Stephanie Hall, chief medical officer at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, said three people in critical condition — two females and a male — were being treated at the hospital. "They are massive injuries," she said. One of the largest medical facilities in the area, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, was told to prepare for the arrival of injured passengers, said hospital spokeswoman Christina Zicklin. "We are expecting some people. I don't know the number yet," she said. A male passenger told KNBC-TV he boarded the Metrolink train in suburban Burbank and was talking with a fellow passenger when the crash occurred. "Within an instant I was in my friend's lap. It was so quick. It was devastating," he said. The man was visibly injured, but able to walk with the aid of firefighters. The man said he was involved in a devastating 2005 Metrolink crash in Glendale and was talking about it with the other passenger when Friday's crash occurred. The trains collided in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley. Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said the train left Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and was headed northwest to Moorpark in Ventura County. She couldn't confirm how many people were on the train, but said that in rush hours there would usually be about 350 people on board. "We don't know if we hit another train or another train hit us," Tyrrell said. She said the Metrolink train was being pulled by its locomotive rather than being pushed. The push mode is controversial due to claims that it makes trains more vulnerable in accidents. The condition of the freight crew was not immediately known. Union Pacific spokeswoman Zoe Richmond said a freight train usually has a two-person crew. She also said it is common in California for freight and commuter trains to share the same track. "You see it a lot in California where commuter trains share tracks with freight trains," Richmond said, adding she couldn't speculate about the cause of the crash. The federal investigation into the crash will be headed by the National Transportation Safety Board, said Steven Kulm, a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration. The FRA will conduct a review of whether any federal rail safety regulations were violated, he said. Asked about how the two trains ended up on the same track, Kulm said, "We are nowhere near having any information on that." The crash happened in an area where the tracks form a "U" shape, about 2,500 feet wide. At the top of the bend is a 500-foot long tunnel that runs beneath Stoney Point Park, popular with climbers for its large boulders. The toppled passenger car was part of a Bombardier BiLevel coach, commonly used for regional railways from Seattle's commuter rail Sounder to New Jersey Transit. Each double-decker car is about 16 feet high and 10 feet wide and can seat up to 160 passengers, depending on its configuration. The worst disaster in Metrolink's history occurred on Jan. 26, 2005, in suburban Glendale, when a man parked a gasoline-soaked SUV on railroad tracks. A Metrolink train struck the SUV and derailed, striking another Metrolink train traveling the other way, killing 11 people and injuring about 180 others. Juan Alvarez was convicted this year of murder for causing the crash. Associated Press writers Raquel Maria Dillon, Greg Risling, Denise Petski, Josh Dickey, James Beltran and John Rogers contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| LOS ANGELES A freight train collided with a rush-hour commuter train in Los Angeles on Friday evening, killing at least 18 people and injuring scores of others, many of them critically. The crash was potentially the deadliest accident in the history of the Southern California commuter trains. The accident happened in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley, north of downtown Los Angeles, just before 4:30 p.m. Pacific time. Almost immediately after the collision, firefighters, using large cranes and ladders, swarmed a toppled and twisted car, reaching through smashed windows and frantically trying to extract passengers. Firefighters said they expected the death toll to rise as they tried to search through the toppled car. A stream of helicopters flew in to remove the injured some of them gravely so, legs snapped, heads bleeding, arms twisted behind them to several hospitals, and scores of ambulances lined the area as well. Hundreds of police officers joined the rescue effort, which fanned into a nearby park, where a triage unit was set up. \|\|\|\|\| Mayor: At Least 10 Killed In Metrolink Crash LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Friday night that "at least 10" people were killed -- and scores injured, as many as 47 critically -- when a Metrolink commuter train crashed into a freight train in Chatsworth before the evening rush hour.One of the confirmed dead is a Los Angeles Police Department officer, according to LAPD Media Relations. The officer's name was not released.Reporting overhead in Sky 9, Gary Lineberry said it was a "real mess. And it's a bad one...no doubt about that."The freight train looked accordioned. Several cars on the freight train derailed. Several cars of the commuter train overturned.Tim Lynn reporting overhead in Chopper 2 said the crash was "head on." He added, "We saw people crawling out of the train trying to escape flames. The fire department immediately got into rescue mode."Just looking at the aftermath Lynn said, "this crash had to be horrific."A Metrolink spokeswoman confirmed at least seven people were killed as of 7:30 p.m. Lineberry said police sources were confirming casualties are expected to mount.Later in the evening, a somber Mayor addressed reporters and said the rescue effort had turned into a recovery effort and that "at least 15 people" were dead. Also, officials called in cadaver dogs to look for more victims.The crash occured near Topanga Boulevard about 4:40 p.m.The most serious injuries are believed to be in the front car of the Metrolink train.Some people were believed trapped.Rescue teams were on hand to extricate at least three people from the overturned cars, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The Los Angeles Police Department called a citywide tactical alert in response to the crash.Metrolink says the train had 350 passengers.Fire crews think that there might be some bodies trapped underneath some of the overturned cars, debris and rubble.They have requested heavy machinery to move the wreckage.Lineberry reporting over the triage area said responders were separating the wounded and injured by color-coded blankets: the most serious injuries were put on red blankets, serious -- but not critical -- injuries were given yellow blankets, and wounded people who did not require immediate attention were put on green blankets. (© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) \|\|\|\|\| Driver dies when Metrolink train hits car in Corona The unidentified woman drove around crossing gates onto the tracks, officials say. The driver of a car heading south on Sheridan drove around the lowered arms of the crossing gate onto the train tracks, Corona Police Lt. Brent Coleman said. Coleman said there was no way the engineer could have seen the car because a commercial building blocked the view. The seven-car train was 300 yards from its next stop, Main Street. The driver, an unidentified woman in her 40s traveling alone, died at the scene. An investigation of the crash continues, but it appears the driver tried to beat the train, Coleman said. A passenger on the train was taken to Corona Regional Medical Center for anxiety. No one else was injured, authorities said. "By no means should you try to beat the train," Coleman said. "You will not win." esmeralda.bermudez@ latimes.com	Firefighters stand near a locomotive on September 12, 2008 after a Metrolink passenger liner collided with a Union Pacific freight train near Chatsworth, California. At least 25 people have been killed and many more injured when a Metrolink commuter train collided yesterday afternoon with a Union Pacific freight train in the Chatsworth district of Los Angeles. Around 250 firefighters have responded to the accident scene. Estimates are that 350-400 people were on the number 111 commuter train which departed from Los Angeles' Union Station at 3:35pm PDT. The collision occurred on Friday at about 4:25pm PDT on Metrolink's Ventura County Line. The area in which the crash took place is hilly and contains a single track; it is just north of the Chatsworth Metrolink station. The force of the collision sent the locomotive of the Metrolink train to penetrate deep into the lead bi-level passenger car of the three-car train. The collision then knocked the Union Pacific and Metrolink locomotives on their side along with the lead passenger car. According to various sources, upwards of 10-15 passengers, possibly even more than 20, have been killed, including a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer. The LAPD has not released the name of the officer. The engineer of the Metrolink train is believed to be another of the fatalities. The number of injured is believed to be 135, although the precise number is still unclear. According to emergency responders, the injured have been transported to Los Angeles area hospitals, including the University of California, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and Huntington Hospital. “This is the worst accident I’ve ever seen. Clearly the injuries are going to mount and so are the fatalities,” Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, said. It is unclear how the accident occurred. Some of the possibilities include a signal malfunction, a failure by a crew member to notice a signal or a lapse in protocol for moving trains safely in the area. According to Metrolink and the Los Angeles Times, the National Transportation Safety Board has a team on scene and is investigating. In an apparently unrelated incident less than an hour after the crash in Chatsworth, another Metrolink train collided with a car in Corona, California, killing the female driver of the automobile.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. BP has slowed the flow of oil and gas from a ruptured well into the Gulf of Mexico, a US official told local media. The company's "top kill" effort has "stabilised the wellhead", Coast Guard commander Admiral Thad Allen said. But he cautioned it was too early to declare success. This is the first step in BP's plan to seal the well for good. Meanwhile, a panel of US scientists said the oil leak was much worse than previously estimated, making it the nation's worst spill. US Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt said BP 'slows leaking Gulf oil well' government teams estimated the flow ranges from 12,000 barrels (504,000 gallons or 1.9 million litres) to 25,000 barrels per day. Up to now, BP had estimated the leak at 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day, while cautioning that figure was unreliable. If the new estimates are confirmed, it would mean the leak has far eclipsed the previous worst oil spill in US history - the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. Official resigns Later on Thursday, President Barack Obama is expected to extend a moratorium on deep-water offshore drilling for six months, the White House has said. The move comes as his administration faces criticism of its handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Hours before Mr Obama was due to speak, US officials announced the resignation of the head of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the US agency which oversees drilling operations. Elizabeth "Liz" Birnbaum, who had run the MMS since July 2009, has endured criticism in the weeks since the oil spill over alleged lax oversight of drilling and what President Obama has called an overly cozy relationship with industry. Eleven workers were killed in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on 20 April. Millions of gallons of oil have poured into the sea since then. 'Low pressure' Adm Allen told US media the "top kill" procedure, which began on Wednesday, has pumped enough drilling fluid to block some of the oil and gas escaping from the well. Earlier, he had indicated that all the leaking oil and gas had been stopped, telling National Public Radio that BP engineers had "been able to force mud down and not allow any hydrocarbons to come up." An aide to Adm Allen later clarified his statement, saying the procedure had a way to go before it proved successful. It was the first positive official assessment of BP's latest attempt to plug the well, after previous efforts failed. TOP KILL PROCEDURE Continue reading the main story Drilling mud pumped from surface Goes into blowout preventer If pressure and density sufficient, oil and gas flow stops Well then filled with cement What is a 'top kill'? BP shares were up more than 5% in London trading following the announcement. BP has not yet commented in detail on the situation, saying merely that its "subsea efforts [were] advancing on several fronts". The company did not know how long the operation would take, a BP official said. The top kill attempt, which began on Wednesday, involves pumping heavy drilling fluids into the top of the well to try to halt the oil flow. If it succeeds, cement would then be injected to seal the well. The oil leak has already soiled more than 110km (70 miles) of Louisiana's coastline, threatening fragile marshlands and putting the Louisiana fishing industry at risk. US officials warn the coming hurricane season could make things worse. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts 14 to 23 named storms, with 8 to 14 developing into hurricanes, making it one of the most active on record. Are you in the region? What is your reaction to the apparently successful attempt to stem the flow of oil and gas? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. \|\|\|\|\| “I’m hopeful that the reforms that the secretary and the administration are undertaking will resolve the flaws in the current system that I inherited,” she said in a statement. Mr. Obama plans on Friday to inspect the efforts in Louisiana to stop the leak and clean up after it, his second trip to the region since the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20. He will also visit with people affected by the spreading slick that has washed ashore over scores of miles of beaches and wetlands. Even as Mr. Obama acknowledged that his efforts to improve regulation of offshore drilling had fallen short, he said that oil and gas from beneath the gulf, now about 30 percent of total domestic production, would be a part of the nation’s energy supply for years to come. “It has to be part of an overall energy strategy,” Mr. Obama said. “I mean, we’re still years off and some technological breakthroughs away from being able to operate on purely a clean-energy grid. During that time, we’re going to be using oil. And to the extent that we’re using oil, it makes sense for us to develop our oil and natural gas resources here in the United States and not simply rely on imports.” In the top kill maneuver, a 30,000-horsepower engine aboard a ship injected heavy drill liquids through two narrow flow lines into the stack of pipes and other equipment above the well to push the escaping oil and gas back down below the sea floor. As hour after hour passed after the top kill began early Wednesday afternoon, technicians along with millions of television and Internet viewers watched live video images showing that the dark oil escaping into the gulf waters was giving way to a mud-colored plume. That seemed to be an indication that the heavy liquids known as “drilling mud” were filling the chambers of the blowout preventer, replacing the escaping oil. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. US President Barack Obama has defended his government's handling of the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He unveiled a series of measures, including a continued moratorium on drilling permits for six months. The move comes after an opinion poll said 60% of Americans were unhappy with the government's response. BP has resumed pumping heavy mud into the ruptured well after a pause to assess the effect of its "top kill" operation. The procedure is aimed at stemming the oil flow, from what some experts say is the country's worst-ever spill. New estimates from a panel of US scientists said at least 12,000 barrels (504,000 gallons) were leaking into the Gulf every day, far exceeding the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. The leak was caused by an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on 20 April, which also killed 11 workers. Corruption charges Speaking at the White House, President Obama vowed to hold BP accountable for the "horrific disaster". He stressed that his administration, and not oil company BP, was in charge. TOP KILL PROCEDURE Continue reading the main story Drilling mud pumped from surface Goes into blowout preventer If pressure and density sufficient, oil and gas flow stops Well then filled with cement What is a 'top kill'? But he admitted the government did not have the technology to deal with the damaged oil well nearly a mile (1.6km) below the surface, meaning that Washington must rely on BP to plug the ruptured well. The president's comments came as questions were increasingly being asked about whether he had been sufficiently engaged in handling the disaster, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington. In a shake-up of the offshore oil industry, Mr Obama suspended test drilling on 33 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as halting exploratory deepwater drilling for another six months. In addition, he cancelled the sale of some offshore leases off the coasts of Alaska and Virginia. Correspondents say the move marks a shift in policy since March, when President Obama gave the go-ahead to widen the scope for offshore drilling in order to reduce dependency on oil imports. Hours before Mr Obama spoke, the head of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which oversees drilling operations, resigned. Elizabeth Birnbaum and the MMS have come under fire from lawmakers over lax oversight of drilling operations. The president blasted the "scandalously close relationship" between oil companies and regulators, and said officials granting exploration permits would no longer be responsible as well for ensuring safety. Also on Thursday, Mr Obama's top spill response official - Coast Guard commander Admiral Thad Allen - approved part of an ambitious plan to build barrier islands to stop oil from coming ashore in Louisiana. 'Worst spill' The oil leak has already soiled more than 110km (70 miles) of Louisiana's coastline, threatening fragile marshlands and putting the Louisiana fishing industry at risk. In the first official estimate of the size of the oil leak, US Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt said government teams estimated the flow ranges from 12,000 barrels (504,000 gallons or 1.9 million litres) to 25,000 barrels per day. Up to now, BP had estimated the leak at 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day, while cautioning that figure was unreliable. If the new estimates are confirmed, it would mean the leak has far eclipsed the previous worst oil spill in US history - the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. Making matters worse, US officials warned the coming hurricane season could be one of the worst on record. But BP said its latest attempt to stem the flow was making progress. It would take 24-48 hours before BP engineers could tell whether the "top kill" procedure had worked, company officials said at about 2000 GMT on Thursday. The procedure, which began on Wednesday, involves pumping heavy drilling fluids into the top of the well to try to halt the oil flow. If it succeeds, cement would then be injected to seal the well. Are you in the region affected by the oil? What is your reaction to the apparently successful attempt to stem the flow of oil and gas? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below.	A US official said today that BP's latest effort to plug the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been successful in slowing the amount of oil leaking from the well. The official, Admiral Thad Allen, said that the procedure, known as a "top kill" operation, has been able to block some of the leaking oil at the source, the top of the damaged well. The operation involves pumping material into the well to plug the leak before cement is used to permanently seal the leak. Allen said the operation has "been able to force mud down and not allow any hydrocarbons to come up." BP hasn't confirmed the success of the top kill operation, saying only that the "operation is proceeding as we planned it," and that there had been no major incidents thus far. Although the possibility of failure is still present, experts say that the longer the procedure continues, the less likely it will be that anything goes wrong. The procedure began yesterday afternoon, after diagnostics on the damaged equipment on the ocean's surface indicated that it could withstand the added pressure of the mud being pumped into the well. Although engineers involved with the operation wore concerned that the pressure of the mud might not be able to overcome that of the oil, that has thus far not been the case. Separately, a group of US scientists announced new estimates of how much oil was flowing from the well, ranging from 12,000 to 25,000 barrels a day, far higher than BP's original estimate of 5,000 barrels a day, a figure which BP warned was possibly inaccurate. In a press conference Thursday afternoon, US president Barack Obama also announced new measures in response to the spill, which include: Suspending off-shore test drilling for six months Extending the moratorium on issuing drilling permits for an additional six months *Cancelling the sale of leases for off-shore drilling. In statements, Obama criticized the "scandalously close relationship" between government officials and oil companies in the past, saying that the Mineral Management Service, which is the agency responsible for monitoring off-shore drilling, had been corrupt for years.
Wikipedia is one of the internet community's big successes The 12-hour ban hit large numbers of people in the country because all web traffic in Qatar is routed through a single net address. Wikipedia says pages about the US, sex and the birthday of the prophet Muhammad were vandalised. The site is run by its users and anyone is free to alter posts in good faith. Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, wrote: "This IP (internet protocol) number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy." In an earlier post on the Wikipedia site, it said: "Anonymous editing from this internet address is currently disabled due to a large volume of spam and vandalism that we have received from this address." Specific users In other cases Wikipedia bans specific users who vandalise entries to the encyclopaedia. But it was not able to do that for users in Qatar because of the way the net is configured in the country. There is only one high speed internet service provider in the country which acts as a gateway for all users. We wish to allow the maximum numbers of people, from everywhere Florence Devouard, Wikimedia foundation chair It was thought the ban was permanent but Mr Wales made clear the ban was temporary. "In the English Wikipedia, such an action [a permanent ban] would require approval of at a minimum the English Arbitration Committee and/or me personally, and would never ever be undertaken lightly, nor without extensive attempts at direct negotiation with the ISP and/or nation in question," he wrote. Qatar is one of the wealthiest middle eastern countries, with a population of about 630,000. It is also the home of Al-Jazeera TV, one of the most well-known Arabic TV networks. Florence Devouard, chair of the Wikimedia foundation, told BBC News: "None of us is against any country. We come from countries all over the world. Not only the USA, not only Europe. "We are aware some of our very good editors are sometimes blocked after a vandalism spree, this happened just a few days ago in Thailand. We unblock people as soon as possible. "We wish to allow the maximum numbers of people, from everywhere. We just have to protect ourselves from vandals from time to time." \|\|\|\|\| January 02, 2007 (4:00 PM EST) Wikipedia Founder Refutes Claims That It Banned Qatar By Thomas Claburn , Reports that Wikipedia has banned the residents of Qatar from editing entries have been greatly exaggerated. In response to posts on TechCrunch and Slashdot titled "Wikipedia Bans Qatar" and "Wikipedia Blocks Qatar," respectively, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales posted a note on Wikipedia to correct the record. "If you came here from a news headline saying that Wikipedia has banned all of Qatar, please pop right back over there and post in the comments that the story is not true," Wales wrote. "This IP number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy. "In all language Wikipedias, such an action would require a series of administrative processes, and would never ever be undertaken lightly, nor without extensive attempts at direct negotiation with the ISP and/or nation in question," Wales explained. In an e-mail, a Wikipedia spokesman elaborated, "Qatar has not been banned from Wikipedia. Apparently Qatar basically has only one ISP, and nearly all of its traffic shows as coming from a single IP address." He explained that the IP address "was briefly blocked (from editing, not from viewing) because of a burst of spam or vandalism coming through it. Normally this is a fairly routine action, but the person who blocked this IP address was unaware that it effectively blocked an entire ISP or country, and as soon as people figured out what had happened the block was removed. The whole thing lasted less than half a day, and there is no way we would ban an entire country from contributing to Wikipedia." Wales considers the reports of a ban inaccurate. "I object to the story completely," Wales wrote in e-mail. "A block of an IP number is not a 'ban' in our usage. It's just part of how Wikipedia functions." Wikipedia's discussion page for the IP address in question, 82.148.97.69, notes that the address "has been repeatedly blocked from editing Wikipedia in response to abuse of editing privileges. Further abuse from this IP may result in an immediate block without further warning." This is not quite the same thing as "Wikipedia Bans Qatar," but headlines seldom have room for subtleties. The irony here is that Wikipedia, repeatedly pilloried for inaccuracies, finds itself on the defensive against bloggers who play fast and loose with the facts. For example, in a post titled "Wikipedia Bans Qatar," TechCrunch's Michael Arrington wrote, "Qatar, home to nearly a million people, has been blocked from editing any entry on Wikipedia 'due to a large volume of spam and vandalism.' " Qatar may indeed be home to 885,359 people, according to a July 2006 estimate in the CIA World Factbook, but this supposed ban affected far fewer of them than TechCrunch's headline suggests. Qatar has only 219,000 Internet users, and almost certainly not all of them bother editing Wikipedia entries. The IP address in question was the source for some 200 edits in December, according to Wikipedia's spokesman. Really, the story, if it even deserves media attention, should have had a headline like "A Few Hundred in Qatar Inconvenienced for a Half Day by Wikipedia Administrative Error." Good luck getting anyone to read that. Related Stories: Search Wags The Long Tail China Removes Block To English-Language Wikipedia, But Chinese-Language Version Still Blocked Wikipedia Founder Plans Search Engine	Wikipedia blocked editing by a proxy IP address belonging to Internet users in the Middle Eastern kingdom of Qatar for a period of twelve hours due to persistent vandalism originating from the IP. Only one provider of high-speed Internet access operates in Qatar, and this provider has configured its network such that all its users share the same single IP address. In most cases, a single IP address corresponds to one user or a small group of users in one building or school. Because of this single-address configuration, Wikipedia was not able to implement its usual countervandalism solution, the blocking of individual IPs or user accounts. Wikipedia said that the action was taken after 200 repeated vandalism edits of the articles on sex, the United States, and the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. A spokesperson for Wikipedia, said: "Qatar has not been banned from Wikipedia. Apparently Qatar basically has only one ISP, and nearly all of its traffic shows as coming from a single IP address." Jimmy Wales, the Wikipedia founder, emphasized the temporary nature of the block, saying, "This IP number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy." At 21:26 UTC (5:26 p.m. ET) a Wikipedia admin unblocked the IP address with the reason given as: ''"This IP is the address for the entire nation of Qatar; it should not be blocked."'' Qatar only has around 219,000 Internet users, and much less of that number would actually be affected by the block.
Sports > ravens/football Ryan 'ready' if Chargers make offer Sun reporter What caught the eye of everyone in the Chargers' organization was Ryan's jewelry - the Super Bowl ring he won with the Ravens in January 2001. "That would be something that we'd be targeting," Ryan told San Diego reporters after meeting with Chargers executives yesterday. "We'd like to get several of those, but we want to put a different logo on it." Ryan was the second candidate to interview for the job that became open when the Chargers suddenly fired Marty Schottenheimer four days ago. San Diego officials spoke with San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary Wednesday and then sat down with 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner after meeting with Ryan. It marked the first interview for a head coaching job for Ryan, who spoke with Chargers president Dean Spanos, general manager A.J. Smith and executive vice president Ed McGuire from 8 a.m. to noon yesterday. "It was quite an experience," Ryan said. "I think once you go through this process, you realize how much you really do want to be in this position. I know I'm ready." Last season, in his second season as defensive coordinator, Ryan directed the Ravens to the top of the NFL rankings for the first time in team history. If hired, he would be the third Ravens defensive coordinator to become a head coach, following Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan. Ryan's strength has been his creativity, keeping offenses off-balance with defenses that would change nearly every snap. He also gained a reputation for being a players' coach because he sought their input, which usually resulted in getting their respect as well as their best effort. "What I would bring is a great passion," Ryan said. "It's something that I was born to do. It's something I know how to do. I'm a football coach, No. 1. I love the game. I'm committed to the game. My family is committed to it and I think that will be obvious once I do hopefully get the opportunity to be a head coach." During his talk with Chargers executives, Ryan spoke about being brought up in a football family. His father, Buddy Ryan, was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986 to 1990, and the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and 1995. Ryan made a point to differentiate his coaching style from the one used by his father, a brash Korean War veteran who brought a military ethic to his teams. "I think my personality might be a little different," Ryan said. "I think I'm just the opposite. I've learned a great deal from my father, how to attack offenses and how to do different things in football. But I've also learned what not to do as well. With his help." Ryan then added, "And you hope you don't punch out an assistant coach on the sideline." Ryan was alluding to Houston's 1993 season finale, when then-Oilers defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan threw a punch at offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the sideline. After meeting with Rex Ryan yesterday, the Chargers seemed impressed with him as well as his ring. "We talked quite a bit about what it was like during that special run of 2000," Smith, the Chargers' general manager for the past four seasons, told the team's Web site. "The goal of this search is to find someone who can help us get there." Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was scheduled to be interviewed today. If Ryan were to leave, the Ravens likely would look at consultant Vic Fangio, linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald and former secondary coach Donnie Henderson to be their next defensive coordinator. "Everybody just wants to win around here," Ryan said. "Obviously, 14-2 record [last season], it would be a unique situation to come into as a head coach." jamison.hensley@baltsun.com Ravens quick links: Schedule \| Roster \| Photos \| More coverage Subscribe to Jamison Hensley's podcast In interviewing for the San Diego Chargers' coaching job yesterday, Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan dressed to impress.What caught the eye of everyone in the Chargers' organization was Ryan's jewelry - the Super Bowl ring he won with the Ravens in January 2001."That would be something that we'd be targeting," Ryan told San Diego reporters after meeting with Chargers executives yesterday. "We'd like to get several of those, but we want to put a different logo on it."Ryan was the second candidate to interview for the job that became open when the Chargers suddenly fired Marty Schottenheimer four days ago.San Diego officials spoke with San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary Wednesday and then sat down with 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner after meeting with Ryan.It marked the first interview for a head coaching job for Ryan, who spoke with Chargers president Dean Spanos, general manager A.J. Smith and executive vice president Ed McGuire from 8 a.m. to noon yesterday."It was quite an experience," Ryan said. "I think once you go through this process, you realize how much you really do want to be in this position. I know I'm ready."Last season, in his second season as defensive coordinator, Ryan directed the Ravens to the top of the NFL rankings for the first time in team history.If hired, he would be the third Ravens defensive coordinator to become a head coach, following Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan.Ryan's strength has been his creativity, keeping offenses off-balance with defenses that would change nearly every snap. He also gained a reputation for being a players' coach because he sought their input, which usually resulted in getting their respect as well as their best effort."What I would bring is a great passion," Ryan said. "It's something that I was born to do. It's something I know how to do. I'm a football coach, No. 1. I love the game. I'm committed to the game. My family is committed to it and I think that will be obvious once I do hopefully get the opportunity to be a head coach."During his talk with Chargers executives, Ryan spoke about being brought up in a football family.His father, Buddy Ryan, was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986 to 1990, and the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and 1995.Ryan made a point to differentiate his coaching style from the one used by his father, a brash Korean War veteran who brought a military ethic to his teams."I think my personality might be a little different," Ryan said. "I think I'm just the opposite. I've learned a great deal from my father, how to attack offenses and how to do different things in football. But I've also learned what not to do as well. With his help."Ryan then added, "And you hope you don't punch out an assistant coach on the sideline."Ryan was alluding to Houston's 1993 season finale, when then-Oilers defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan threw a punch at offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the sideline.After meeting with Rex Ryan yesterday, the Chargers seemed impressed with him as well as his ring."We talked quite a bit about what it was like during that special run of 2000," Smith, the Chargers' general manager for the past four seasons, told the team's Web site. "The goal of this search is to find someone who can help us get there."Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was scheduled to be interviewed today.If Ryan were to leave, the Ravens likely would look at consultant Vic Fangio, linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald and former secondary coach Donnie Henderson to be their next defensive coordinator."Everybody just wants to win around here," Ryan said. "Obviously, 14-2 record [last season], it would be a unique situation to come into as a head coach." Advertisement Get Sun home delivery Copyright © 2007, The Baltimore Sun Talk about it E-mail it Print it Contact us \|\|\|\|\| Brodie Croyle(QB, Alabama) with good coaching and a veteran quarterback to guide him, Croyle could eventually become a starter in the NFL. However, his...[ with good coaching and a veteran quarterback to guide him, Croyle could eventually become a starter in the NFL. However, his...[ More Chad Greenway(OLB, Iowa) is known for being a very good tackler, since he rarely misses one. He may need to get a little more built to get past NFL offensive linemen. Demetrius Williams(WR, Oregon) has very good body control near the sideline and when leaping to snag balls. Sometimes he loses focus and runs before securing the ball.	On February 13, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders announced his re-retirement from the NFL. Last January, many assumed Sanders would be leaving the league after spending 14 years in it. Sanders won back-to-back Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Sanders is the first professional athlete to win a World Series and Super Bowl in his pro career. The All-Pro Cornerback had 53 interceptions, was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times and was once Defensive Player of the Year. Reports speculate Sanders, who broadcast with ''CBS'' after his first retirement, may go back into news broadcasting, possibly on the ''Fox'' NFL Pre-Game Show. After his retirement, current Ravens Cornerback Chris McAlister stated, "I'll miss Deion, just as the rest of the Ravens organization will. I learned a lot from him."
To complain so candidly while still in office is unusual, but Obama highlights what historians may come to see as his major flaw in international affairs \|\|\|\|\| A bomb in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir Tuesday evening killed seven people and injured 17 others, the local governor's office said. Authorities said the bomb was made from powerful explosives and was set off by a cell phone timer. It was not immediately known who placed it. Diyarbakir Deputy Gov. Ahmet Aydin said children were among the killed and that two of the injured were in serious condition at a local hospital. Local news stations said five of the seven killed were children. The blast apparently took place near an elementary school, a Kurdish news agency reported. Diyarbakir is Turkey's largest Kurdish-majority city, and the explosion comes as Kurdish rebels fighting for autonomy in the region have stepped up their attacks. It is the third suspected bomb attack of the day. \|\|\|\|\| Authorities said the blast, which occurred at a park in the poor Baglar area of the city, was probably detonated using a mobile phone timer. At least five of the dead were reported to be children. The blast came as a US envoy arrived in Turkey for talks on curbing a wave of bombs blamed on Kurdish separatists. Bomb attacks in tourist resorts and other cities in recent weeks have killed a total of 12 people and wounded dozens. One separatist militant group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (Tac), has said it carried out those attacks. It also warned on its website last week that it would turn "Turkey into hell". Shattered The explosion happened at about 2100 local time (1800 GMT) at a park popular with locals in an area of the city largely populated by Kurdish migrants. The local governor's office said it suspected a bomb had been set off, but that investigations were continuing. Police cordoned off the site as rescue workers converged on the scene. Upsurge in violence Diyarbakir, the central city of Turkey's south-east, is a heartland of Kurdish separatist militancy. The district mayor is from the Kurdish DTP political party, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul, which recently called on the outlawed Kurdish separatist group the PKK to announce a ceasefire following an upsurge in violence in recent weeks. The Tac group, which is said to be linked to the PKK, called on foreign tourists not to travel to the country following recent attacks. Retired US air force General Joseph Ralston will meet Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday for talks on the Kurdish issue.	Ten people, 7 of which are children, are dead, and at least 17 injured as a bomb went off in , Turkey. Police say that the bomb was set off by a timer on a mobile phone. The blast happened inside a park in the Baglar region of Diyarbakir. A group called the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons or TAC has claimed to be responsible for the blasts. The group threatened Turkey last week when it posted a message on their website saying that they would turn the country "into hell." "Our grief is great for the victims of this terror, especially as our children have been the victims," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister.
Haji Yar Mohammad Karzai was killed during a night raid in the early hours of Thursday, south of the city of Kandahar. The presidential palace said Mr Karzai was "extremely sad" at the news and once again called on Nato forces "to avoid killing civilians". Afghan officials said troops had raided a compound in Karz village of Dand district which is the home of the Karzai clan. During the raid at around 2am, Yar Mohammad, a cousin of the president's late father, had apparently tried to leave his home and had been mistakenly shot. Ahmad Wali Karzai, the president's brother and Kandahar's main powerbroker, said: "It was a mistake. The forces conducted an operation, he was at his home, he came out and was shot." "It was a mistake. What can you do about it?" A Nato press statement had said the raid targeted a Taliban leader who smuggled weapons and bombs to insurgents in Kandahar. It said an "armed individual", believed to be the target's father, had been shot when he emerged from a neighbouring building inside the compound carrying an AK-47. When reports it was Yar Mohammad later emerged, the coalition said it was "aware of conflicting reports about the identities of those involved" and had begun an investigation. Civilian deaths cause deep resentment of foreign forces among Afghans and are a constant source of tension between Mr Karzai and Nato. He recently refused initially to accept an apology from Gen David Petraeus after a coalition helicopter mistakenly killed nine boys in an airstrike as they collected firewood in Kunar province. Yar Mohammad, who was aged around 60, was the principal player in a vendetta which has split the Karzai family for 30 years. He allegedly killed the father of Hashmat Karzai, a first cousin of the president, in Quetta in a row over a failed arranged marriage. Two years ago Yar Mohammad's son, Waheed, was shot dead by unknown assassins who burst into his home and murdered him in front of his younger sister. According to reports at the time, Waheed used his dying breath to claim Hashmat was behind the killing. Yar Mohammad later complained that his son's death had never been adequately investigated. Meanwhile a senior Afghan official said Kabul would take control of security in up to four provinces and three major cities this July in the first stage of a handover which will allow Nato troops to leave the country. Hamid Karzai is expected to announce the first areas to be handed over in a speech to mark Afghan new year on March 21. \|\|\|\|\| Nato 'kills cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai' The death comes just days after Hamid Karzai lambasted US forces over civilian deaths A relative of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been mistakenly killed by Nato troops in southern Afghanistan, officials say. Yar Muhammad Khan was at his home in Dand district near Kandahar city when he was shot dead in an overnight raid. Nato says it is investigating the incident. Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of the capital, Kabul, last week to protest about civilian deaths at the hands of foreign forces. ''There were operations taking place near his house. He was killed by mistake. He was not a target," Ahmad Wali Karzai, the brother of President Karzai and head of Kandahar's provincial council, told the BBC. It comes just days after President Karzai lashed out at US-led forces over the recent accidental killing of nine boys in eastern Kunar province. US President Barack Obama, Gen Petraeus, the commander of international troops in Afghanistan, and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates have all apologised for the incident. 'Extremely sad' The man killed on Thursday does not appear to have been a close relative of Hamid Karzai. He has been described by various sources as a cousin of President Karzai and a cousin of his father's. However, President Karzai's spokesman said that the president knew the man and that they came from the same village. "He was extremely sad, just as he's sad over any incident that takes the life of any innocent Afghan civilian," Waheed Omer said. Continue reading the main story 2010: A BLOODY AFGHAN YEAR 2,777 civilians killed - 75% by the Taliban 83% rise in abductions 105% increase in targeted killings 588% and 248% rise in civilian killings in Helmand and Kandahar provinces 26% decline in the number of civilian deaths caused by coalition and Afghan forces 21% rise in the number of child casualties 6% rise in the number of women casualties Source: United Nations The president "once again calls on Nato forces to avoid killing civilians," he is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. Mr Khan is thought to be a farmer between 60 and 65 years old. He is reported to have left the house at night carrying a weapon. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says it is not unusual to carry weapons at night in such volatile areas, especially for those in the Karzai clan. However, reports say he was spotted by the Nato team with a weapon and shot dead. A record number of civilians were killed in Afghanistan last year. More than 2,700 civilians were killed in 2010 - up 15% on the year before. A UN report on civilian deaths said that the Taliban were responsible for 75% of all deaths. The numbers killed by Afghan and Nato forces fell, accounting for 16% of civilian deaths. Nevertheless the issue of civilian deaths is highly sensitive in Afghanistan. Our correspondent says that public anger over the deaths of the nine boys in Kunar shows that the deaths of Afghans by foreign hands provokes greater outrage than killings by the Taliban. In 2009 Gen Stanley McChrystal, the former commander in chief in Afghanistan, made reducing civilian casualties a priority for coalition forces. Analysts see this as a critical year for the conflict: fighting is expected to get worse and human rights groups fear that the Taliban are becoming more brutal. They say civilians will continue to be caught in the middle, with even higher casualties expected in the year ahead. Kandahar province, where Mr Khan was killed, is the spiritual homeland of the Taliban and is a key focus of the coalition offensive to drive out insurgents. \|\|\|\|\| Karzai's Cousin Killed by Coalition Forces, Says President's Brother Photo: VOA Afghan President Hamid Karzai's brother said Thursday that NATO-led forces mistakenly killed a cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai during operations in southern Afghanistan. Provincial council chief Ahmad Wali Karzai said Yar Mohammad Khan was killed at his home in the Dand district of Kandahar province late Wednesday as coalition forces pursued insurgents in the area. Afghan and NATO officials are investigating the incident. Earlier on Thursday, the coalition said NATO and Afghan forces captured a Taliban leader, killed an armed individual and detained several suspected insurgents during operations in Kandahar city on Wednesday. It's unclear whether the individual reportedly killed in those operations is Karzai's cousin. President Karzai has called the killing of civilians in NATO operations unacceptable. On Thursday, he urged the United Nations to put pressure on NATO to exercise greater care in protecting civilians while pursuing insurgents. Mr Karzai last week rejected an apology from General David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, after a NATO airstrike killed nine boys in northeastern Kunar province. Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan, German troops accidentally killed a woman during a gun battle Wednesday in the Chardara district of Kunduz province, police said. Coalition officials said Thursday they were investigating the incident. Also Thursday, NATO says a roadside bomb killed one of its service members in southern Afghanistan. This week, the United Nations reported the number of war-related civilian deaths increased 15 percent last year. Comments (3) Nice! Let's start another war in the Middle East and go around killing people! Collateral damage... Nice, is not it! I am quite furious about killing civilians. No democracy is worth extra deaths, however collateral!!! Writers 1 & 2: Al Qaida started the war in NYC and the Taliban extended it by giving Al Qaida a home base. Both guilty; both being punished. More Muslim's killed by them than by NATO. Russia is proof that democracy goes down the toilet, if the people aren't willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Putins happy,are you? Post Your Comment * Required	Hamid Karzai was said to be "extremely sad" over the shooting A relative of the Afghan president Hamid Karzai has been mistakenly shot dead by NATO troops, according to officials. Yar Mohammad Khan, who was in his 60s was killed during a night raid in the . Khan, who also possibly used the surname of Karzai, was believed to have been a cousin of either the president or a cousin of the president's father. The president's brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, released a statement over the shooting. He said, "It was a mistake. The forces conducted an operation, he was at his home, he came out and was shot. It was a mistake. What can you do about it?" Several officials have apologised for the incident including United States president Barack Obama, US defence secretary , and commander of international troops in Afghanistan . Khan's death come only days after President Karzai called the killing of civilians unacceptable. The president urged the United Nations to pressure NATO to take more care during operations when searching for insurgents. Karzai rejected a previous apology from General Petraeus over the killing of nine boys during an air strike.
WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict XVI began the first full day of his U.S. visit being serenaded by thousands of spectators at the White House and ended it with a sweeping speech to the nation's bishops in which he admitted the sex abuse scandal was "very badly handled." With Washington in a celebratory mood, President George W. Bush invited the pope -- just the second pontiff to visit the White House -- for an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn and then the two leaders privately discussed issues ranging from immigration to the Middle East. Thousands filled the streets of downtown Washington as Benedict shuttled between events in the popemobile. Much attention was focused on the pope's highly anticipated speech to 350 American bishops Wednesday evening. Echoing introductory remarks by Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Benedict said the sex scandal was "at times very badly handled. "It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliations and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," Benedict told the bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Papal observers said the pope, who said Tuesday that he was "deeply ashamed" by the abuse scandal, was trying to tackle head-on the most important issue facing the American church. "This is the first time there has been a public acknowledgment by a pope that sometimes the bishops handled the sex abuse scandal very poorly. ... This is a mea culpa by the church," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and author of books on the Vatican. Benedict did not directly address the conduct of some bishops accused of sheltering pedophile priests from scrutiny, nor did he propose concrete steps for reform. The speech was "a middle way" that likely will not satisfy all lay Catholics and abuse victims, said Stephen Pope, a professor of moral theology at Boston College. "The issue that hasn't been dealt with here is that of accountability," Pope said. The pope's remarks came in the middle of a long address Wednesday evening on topics ranging from declining marriage rates to the faltering numbers of priests. Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre did not attend the speech -- nor any other events in Washington -- because his sister was seriously ill in Boston, said Diocese spokesman Sean Dolan. Murphy is expected to be at papal events in New York on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dolan said. Earlier in the day, Benedict largely steered clear of controversy, and Washington turned out in force to welcome him to the United States. As the popemobile carried Benedict through the streets, throngs of people transformed downtown Washington into a church of sorts on a bright clear spring morning. Many sat in circles and played religious songs while others strained their necks, hoping for a glimpse of the pontiff. Teresa Glover, 44, of Fairfax, Va., took the day off work to stand on Pennsylvania Avenue and watch the procession. She had seen John Paul II once as a teenager, but "honestly, I didn't appreciate it," Glover said, clutching a prayer bracelet she hoped the pope would bless. "That's why I definitely wanted to be here for this." On the South Lawn, 13,500 spectators attended an elaborate ceremony for the pontiff that included a rendition of the Lord's Prayer by soprano Kathleen Battle and a 21-gun salute. Later, the crowd spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday" to the pope. In a short address, Benedict called on Americans to use their great wealth to help the poor and create "a more humane and free society." "Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility," the pope said, as Bush looked on. Bush praised the moral leadership of Benedict, who has emphasized the threat relativism poses to the church in the modern world. "In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this 'dictatorship of relativism,' and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said. Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who had led the congressional delegation to watch Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger ascend to the papacy in 2005, said yesterday's ceremony was "very moving, very significant. It was a feeling of being present at a very historic moment." Bush and Benedict met in the Oval Office and discussed a host of issues, including immigration and conflicts in the Middle East. Afterward, the White House and the Vatican released a joint statement calling for a coordinated immigration policy, specifically addressing the pope's long-held concern for the "humane treatment and well-being" of immigrant families. The pope and Bush also "expressed hope for an end to violence and for a prompt and comprehensive solution to the crises" in the Middle East, the statement said, omitting any reference to the pope's opposition to the Iraq war. Staff writers JENNIFER MALONEY, BART JONES, JENNIFER BARRIOS, KRISTEN DAUM and MICHAEL AMON, Washington bureau chief CRAIG GORDON contributed to this story. It was written by AMON. \|\|\|\|\| 8.15pm BST / 3.15pm ET Thousands gather to greet Pope at White House Miguel Lenarduzzi travelled for 24 hours by van from Texas to join more than 13,000 of the faithful from across the US to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Washington today. "We made a long trip. We are tired. But our faith is bigger than that. The thousands of people here just want to say hi to the Pope," the 43-year-old waiter said. With the country in the grip of Pope-mania, about 9,000 gathered on the White House lawn to hear the pontiff. Another 4,000-plus without tickets, like Lenarduzzi, lined the streets outside to sing, pray and catch a glimpse of his motorcade. The Pope, making his first visit to the US since his election in 2005, was greeted on the White House lawn by President Bush, and given a 21-gun salute and a serenade from a top opera singer. Spectators sang happy birthday to Benedict — 81 today — who smiled, clasped his hands together and bowed in acknowledgement. Lenarduzzi, who travelled in a convoy of nine vans from Dallas, had four hours' sleep before getting up early to bag a spot in the street close to the White House. He and his noisy, banner-waving and guitar-playing retinue plan to follow the Pope for the next six days. The crowds have caught the US by surprise. There had been an expectation that this Pope, only the second to visit the White House, might not generate the same fervour as his predecessor, whose charisma he does not share. Addressing the crowd outside the White House, he delivered a short address in halting, barely audible English. A strong critic of the Iraq war, he avoided any mention of it, or any other reference that might embarrass his host. Instead, he concentrated on saying he had "great respect for this vast pluralistic society". He ended with a call of "God bless America". The only remark in any way critical was a call to support the UN, a target of the Bush administration. The Pope called for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress." In stark contrast, Bush used the occasion to make several explicit political points. He declared that the visit was a reminder to Americans to "distinguish between simple right and wrong". He added: "We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth." Bush told the pontiff that in America "you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of religion in the public square" and that "in a world where some evoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that God is love. And embracing this love is the surest way to save man from falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism". At a private meeting afterwards, Bush presented him with a birthday cake. The Pope, as he had promised, then raised the Iraq war and his concern for the treatment of illegal immigrants in the US, who make up an estimated 12 million to 20 million of the population, most of them Latino. Back on Pennsylvania Avenue, decked out in the red, white and blue of the US and the yellow and white flag of the Holy See, was another who had travelled a long way, Alex Bengoa, 33, an IT manager from New Orleans. He is sleeping with 300 others in a gym provided by a parish on the outskirts of the city. He too will follow the Pope to New York but did not know where he would stay: "In New York, the Lord will provide." Dancing and singing behind him was Kevin Waymel, 26, who travelled from San Francisco with 80 others, the youngest of whom was 12 and the oldest in her 60s, a mixture of Latinos, Anglos and African-Americans. He said his faith had helped get him off drugs and he wanted to "come to show support for the Holy Father". There were few public protests. About 200 people held banners objecting to various aspects of Catholic orthodoxy, as well as the sexual abuse scandal. Bush is set to hold a dinner in honour of the Pope at the White House tonight, with a menu heavy on Bavarian food. But it will be a dinner with the guest of honour missing. The Pope has chosen to spend the evening with his bishops. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON Far from tamping down emotions, Pope Benedict XVI’s expression of remorse on Tuesday for the church’s sexual abuse scandal prompted an angry and skeptical response from victims, who said they wanted actions, not words from the Vatican. “He talks about feeling shame for the scandal but it’s a far cry from the shame that victims have had to live with our entire lives,” said Becky Ianni, 50, an abuse victim who joined a vigil in front of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church here. Holding an eight-foot-long vinyl banner with photographs of more than 60 children abused by priests, a group of about a half-dozen victims and supporters gathered to voice their frustrations with the pope. The protesters explained that the 15 or so faces on the banner that were framed with black boxes were those of abuse victims who committed suicide. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Wednesday acknowledged the Church had handled the pedophile priests scandal “very badly” and told U.S. bishops to bind up wounds and seek reconciliation with those who were “so seriously wronged.” For the second consecutive day, the pope said the scandal had caused “deep shame” and enormous pain as the result of priests betraying their vocation by sexually abusing minors with such “gravely immoral behavior.” After visiting the White House on Wednesday morning and praying with President George W. Bush, he dedicated a section of a speech to the bishops to the scandal that rocked the Church starting in 2002 and has forced U.S. dioceses to pay over $2 billion in damages. “It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged,” he said. He said he agreed with an assessment by the head of the U.S. bishops conference that the crisis had been “sometimes very badly handled” and that only recently was “the scale and the gravity of the problem” more clearly understood. The Church was criticized for transferring known abusers rather than defrocking them or turning them over to police. “While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work ... it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded by those who would cause harm,” Benedict told the bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. But he said the problem ran deeper, saying children should be “spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent” in society today. PRAYING IN THE WHITE HOUSE On Wednesday morning, the pope made just the second visit by a pontiff to the White House and urged Americans and their leaders to base social and political decisions on moral principles to create a more just society. During the visit, the pope and Bush and his wife, Laura, who are Methodists, prayed together for the institution of the family, a Vatican spokesman said. Both Bush and the pope have said the traditional family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman, is under threat. “I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society,” Benedict said after Bush welcomed him at a garden ceremony that included a fife and drum band in colonial garb and a 21-gun salute. Slideshow ( 41 images ) As some 10,000 people applauded, Bush cited the role of faith in U.S. life, saying, “Here in America, you’ll find a nation of prayer.” Bush referred to the September 11 attacks, which the pope will commemorate when he prays at Ground Zero, the New York site where the World Trade Center towers once stood. “In a world where some invoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that God is love,” he said. The pope smiled as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” and was treated to a large white cake inside the White House. Slideshow ( 41 images ) He sprinkled his speech with references to the U.S. founding fathers -- citing the Declaration of Independence and the first president, George Washington. But he made no specific references to issues such as abortion and the Iraq war, avoiding anything that could be seen as commentary on the presidential campaign apart from saying that freedom demanded “reasoned public debate.” Benedict and Bush oppose abortion and embryonic stem cell research but differ on the Iraq war and capital punishment. As the pope spoke, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling clearing the way for executions to resume. As U.S. and Vatican flags fluttered, it was Bush who referred to abortion, a hot-button issue particularly with the presidential election in November. “In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred,” he said. Outside the White House, some 200 people protested, with one banner reading: “Catholic priests are pedophiles.” But the overwhelming number of those who lined his motorcade route welcomed the pope with joy, dancing and shaking tambourines as they waited for hours to glimpse him. (Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, Andy Sullivan, David Alexander and Jeremy Pelofsky) (Writing by Philip Pullella; Editing by Patricia Zengerle) \|\|\|\|\| The president made the unprecedented gesture of greeting the Pope's plane Pope Benedict XVI has received an unprecedented presidential greeting from George W Bush after arriving for his first official visit to the US. Mr Bush and his wife Laura were waiting on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base when the Pontiff's plane touched down. During his six-day visit, the head of the Catholic Church will address the UN and lead prayers at Ground Zero. Before arriving the Pope told reporters on board his plane that he was "deeply ashamed" of sexual abuse by US clergy. Pope Benedict, who was elected three years ago, vowed to work against a recurrence of the crisis, which tarnished the Church's reputation, saying "we will absolutely exclude paedophiles from the sacred ministry". In recent years, the US Catholic Church, which has around 65 million followers, has paid $2bn (£1bn) to settle clergy sexual abuse cases. The BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope, says that damage limitation over past scandals is not the main purpose of the Pontiff's first trip to the US though. Our correspondent says he wants to deliver a message of Christian hope to American Catholics and non-Catholics alike, describing his journey as a pilgrimage to a "great people and a great country". Pilgrimage Hundreds of spectators had turned out for Pope Benedict's arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington. The crowds cheered and clapped as he made his way onto the runway to be met by Mr Bush, his wife Laura and daughter Jenna. On Wednesday, the Pope will pay a formal call upon Mr Bush at the White House. It is more important to have good priests than many priests Pope Benedict XVI Pope's tour: Reporter's diary Latinos welcome Pope's words During the flight from Italy, he said he would talk to Mr Bush about the plight of some Hispanic immigrants in the US, our correspondent says. The US Church has been changing in recent years with the arrival of millions of new Latino immigrants. The Pope also paid tribute to the fact that there was no state religion in the US, adding that a secular state where all religions can be welcomed is a positive model from which Europe can learn, our correspondent adds. During the visit the Pope is due to celebrate two huge Masses at baseball stadiums in Washington and New York, as well as praying at Ground Zero, the New York site where the World Trade Centre was destroyed on 11 September 2001. Birthday dinner Although there have been 24 previous meetings between a sitting US president and a Pope - and Benedict XVI's predecessor, John Paul II, visited the White House in 1979 - there will be numerous firsts during this visit. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A crowd expected to number 10,000 will gather on the White House's South Lawn on Wednesday to mark his official arrival. The unprecedented crowd, even larger than the 7,000 who greeted Queen Elizabeth II during a 2007 visit, will hear the anthems of both the US and the Holy See, as well as a 21-gun salute. Mr Bush is due to host a lavish dinner in the White House's East Room to mark Pope Benedict's 81st birthday on Wednesday. The meal's Bavarian-style menu will celebrate the Pope's German heritage, although the Pontiff himself is unable to attend. Instead, he is expected to lead US bishops in a prayer service in Washington. The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the theologically conservative Pope may get a warmer reception for his views in the US than in Europe. Mr Bush is close to the Pontiff in opposing abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research. But the two differ on issues including the war in Iraq and capital punishment, both of which the Vatican has opposed. Personal suffering On board his flight to Washington, the Pope briefed reporters on his handling of the clerical sex-abuse crisis. The sexual abuse by clergy had been a great suffering for the US Catholic Church and for him personally, he said. "I am deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future," he said. "It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound." The Pope has been asked to meet some victims of clerical abuse and their families during his visit but has so far declined to do so. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| By Philip Pullella WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pope Benedict arrived in Washington on his first papal visit to the United States on Tuesday, facing the sexual abuse scandal tarnishing the Roman Catholic Church's image here by declaring himself "deeply ashamed" even before he landed. On his flight from Rome, the pope vowed to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood. The scandal of priests sexually abusing youths broke in 2002 and has forced U.S. dioceses to pay over $2 billion in damages. Five have gone bankrupt. The six-day visit includes a United Nations address, masses in baseball stadiums and meetings with Catholic educators and leaders of other religions, but the German-born pope sent a signal that he would not avoid the scandal issue. "We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," Benedict told reporters on his flight. The Church will screen candidates for the priesthood, he said, "so that only really sound persons can be admitted." "It is more important to have good priests than to have many priests," Benedict said. President George W. Bush greeted the pontiff on arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside the capital, the first time he has gone to the airport to meet an incoming dignitary. Neither made a public statement, but onlookers sang "Happy Birthday" for Benedict, who turns 81 on Wednesday. A Washington Post-ABC news poll published on Tuesday showed almost three-quarters of U.S. Catholics approve of Pope Benedict but most find the Church out of touch with their views and criticize the way the sex abuse scandal was handled. Half wanted the pope to stress traditional teachings and 45 percent preferred policies that "reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of modern Catholics." Continued... \|\|\|\|\| CNS Story: POPE-ARRIVE (SECOND UPDATE) Apr-15-2008 (610 words) With photos. xxxn Pope Benedict greeted by Bush as he begins first U.S. visit By Catholic News Service ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (CNS) -- Welcomed by U.S. President George W. Bush and an array of church officials, Pope Benedict XVI began his first pastoral visit to the United States as pope April 15. The papal plane landed under an almost cloudless sky at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 3:51 p.m. EDT, nearly 10 minutes ahead of schedule. The pope was to spend the next two days in Washington before traveling to New York April 18. Among those greeting the pope were Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington; Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services; Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., USCCB vice president; and Mary Ann Glendon, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. Although the two spoke privately for less than 10 minutes in a building on the air base grounds, neither Bush nor the pope delivered any formal remarks at the air base. The pope's official welcome was to take place the next day at the White House. In their meeting, Pope Benedict sat at a small round table, and the pontiff accepted a glass of juice. The president sat on the pope's right and the first lady on the pope's left. Cardinal George and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, also were at the table. It was the first time in his presidency that Bush had gone to Andrews to welcome any head of state. The air base has hosted more than 300 arrivals or departures by heads of state since 2006. Joining the president in greeting Pope Benedict were first lady Laura Bush and the Bushes' daughter Jenna. White House press secretary Dana Perino said at an April 15 briefing before the pope's arrival that Bush would tell the pontiff at the White House that "the hearts of the American people are open to the Holy Father's message of hope." Pope Benedict "will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need at home and across the world," Perino added. Perino admitted that the pope and the president disagreed on issues such as the war in Iraq and the death penalty but said that "there is much more agreement between these two leaders than there is disagreement." "I really don't think that the president is planning to spend a lot of time talking about the issues of Iraq with the pope," she said. "But I do think that the root cause of ... terrorism and extremism is something that they will talk about." At Andrews, the wind ensemble from Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., provided entertainment while a crowd of approximately 1,200 people assembled before the pope's arrival. The group was chosen to perform because they were going to Disney World for a competition later in the week and would miss the April 17 papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington. After Pope Benedict spoke privately with the president, he and Archbishop Sambi boarded a limousine that was to take them to the apostolic nunciature, where the pope was to spend the night. - - - Contributing to this story was Patricia Zapor at Andrews Air Force Base. END Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 \|\|\|\|\| Pope Benedict to Visit In April November 12, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2007 POPE BENEDICT XVI TO VISIT IN APRIL His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, will visit the Archdiocese of New York from April 18-20, 2008 as part of a pastoral journey to the United States. The Holy Father will arrive in New York following a visit to Washington, D.C. from April 15-April 17. On April 18, the Holy Father will address the United Nations, and participate in an Ecumenical Service at a New York parish. A morning Mass with priests, deacons, and members of religious orders will be held on Saturday, April 19, in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, followed by a visit to Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers where the Pope will participate in an event with youth and young people. Pope Benedict will spend his last day in New York by visiting Ground Zero, and by celebrating a Mass in Yankee Stadium. He will return to Rome in the evening of April 20. His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, reacted with great joy to the news that Pope Benedict will be visiting. “When our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, told me last July that he would be visiting New York this coming April, I was delighted with the news and shared it with the People of God of the Archdiocese of New York and the entire community of Greater New York. The response of all was both rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord for the great grace of the presence of the Successor of Saint Peter in our midst. I have assured the Holy Father of a warm and prayerful welcome. We all look forward to his visit with pleasure and anticipation,” the Cardinal said. Additional details about the visit will be made known as soon as they are finalized, meanwhile, if you wish to contact the contact the Papal Visit Office, please call: 212-371-1011 Ext. 7673 XXX	Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, April 15, 2008. Pope Benedict XVI began his visit to the United States on Tuesday. In an unprecedented gesture, he was greeted by President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna, upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Today, which is also the Pope's 81st birthday, Benedict XVI visited the White House and more than 9,000 people with tickets were there to see him speak. This makes it "one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House," according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. An estimated additional 4,000 people without tickets lined the streets. Benedict XVI addresses the gathered crowd today at the South Lawn. The Pope was given a 21-gun salute and greeted by President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House. Benedict XVI addressed the crowd in a short speech. He appealed for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress." He further said, "As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society." Benedict said he has "great respect for this vast pluralistic society" and ended his speech with "God bless America." Kevin Waymel, 26, travelled from San Francisco with 80 others to see the Pope. He told ''The Guardian'' that he had "come to show support for the Holy Father," and credited his faith for getting him off drugs. Laura Bush present a birthday cake to Benedict XVI. Afterwards, inside the White House, the first couple presented the Pope with a birthday cake. In a private meeting with Bush, Benedict XVI brought up his concerns about the Iraq war and the treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States, who may number as many as 20 million. Most of these are from Latin America and therefore overwhelmingly Catholic. After the meeting, Benedict XVI rode along Pennsylvania Avenue in the popemobile with throngs of people lining the street. Wednesday evening, the Pope met with US bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He addressed the bishops about sexual abuse by the clergy, which the Pope has said made him "deeply ashamed." The US Catholic Church has paid out an estimated US$2 billion to settle abuse cases in recent years. Bendict XVI told the gathered bishops that the sex abuse scandal had at times been mishandled and urged them to reach out to the victims. Children along Pennsylvania Avenue wait for the popemobile to pass before them. "It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," the Pope said. Some victims had hoped the Pope would have critcised bishops for transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish. He did not go that far and instead praised training programs for priests and lay people who deal with children. "In this regard your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society," said Benedict XVI. Benedict XVI passes the White House in the popemobile "It's the closest the Pope has come to saying that the bishops didn't do their job right. I think that's quite significant," said the Reverend Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest and author. Prior to his arrival, hundreds of people were already gathered outside the Basilica as Benedict XVI arrived. "I'm really excited," said an unnamed onlooker to NY1. "It's like a dream, almost. There are, like, other foreign dignitaries, and then there's the pope. It's a unique experience and I can't wait to see him." During his flight to the United States, Benedict XVI told reporters that he intended to discuss poverty and development aid to poor countries with President Bush. "The United States has to help these countries develop. It is in the interest of everyone, not only these countries but of the world and particularly of the United States," he said. This is the first Papal visit to the United States by Benedict XVI, and the first visit of a Pope to the U.S. since John Paul II's visit in 1999. The pope scheduled to stay in Washington through Thursday. After that, he will travel to New York City where he plans to address the United Nations, visit the World Trade Center site, and celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium.
Held in pristine 20-foot Chilean surf, Marcos Monteiro has won the 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos. In a final packed with big-wave all-stars, Monteiro's win is proof further that Brazil has hands down arrived as the most powerful surf nation on the planet. Given the green light to run earlier in the week, the first event of the 2011 Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) drew notables such as Greg and Rusty Long, Peter Mel, Gabriel Villaran, and Ramon Navarro (who took "Drop of the Day" honors). Also making the trek to desolate Punta de Lobos were two former BWWT champs in Jamie Sterling and Carlos Burle. "We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial," said Big Wave World Tour Contest Director, Gary Linden. "It looks like patience is going to pay off as we're seeing solid 20- to 25-foot faces with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to the season." Courtesy Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Big and clean, not a bad way to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour season. Big and clean, not a bad way to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour season. Three years in and you can probably drop "fledgling" from the list of adjectives used to describe the BWWT. It's taken a couple years to get their feet under them, but as evidence by today's success in Peru, things are coming together. The lineup of surfers is less random and more recognizable, and with the exception of an uncooperative webcast, the infrastructure also seems to be coalescing. And financially speaking -- because you're only as strong as your available capital -- there is word of a significant sponsorship deal in the works. BWWT CEO Pierre Camoin confirms that talks are underway, and that should thing work out the BWWT's status and visibility will be drastically enhanced, but he also is quick to note that nothing has been signed or made official yet. As for Brazil and Monteiro's win, when you consider that Danilo Couto won the XXL Awards this year and there are slew of small-wave specialists lining up to jump on the ASP World Tour come mid-season adjustment, the rest of the world has their work cut out for them. 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Results: 1. Marcos Monteiro 2. Ramon Navarro 3. Gabriel Villaran 4. Kohl Christianson =5. Greg Long, Cristian Merello \|\|\|\|\| 2013 Quiksilver Ceremonial Trials Congratulations to Fernando Zegers, Camilo Hernandez, Morris Tapia, and Ismael Herrero, who will be joining the world's best in the main event. \|\|\|\|\| Quiksilver Big Wave Monteiro no topo do Chile Por Redação Waves em 28/05/11 18:03 GMT-03:00 Marcos Monteiro vence primeira etapa do Big Wave World Tour em Punta de Lobos, Chile. O big rider carioca Marcos Monteiro faturou o título do Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Invitational, válido pela primeira etapa do Big Wave World Tour 2011 e realizado neste sábado em Pichilemu, Chile. Clique aqui para ver as fotos Na bateria final, disputada em ondas gigantes no pico de Punta de Lobos, o brasileiro derrotou os chilenos Ramon Navarro e Cristian Merello, o peruano Gabriel Villarán, o havaiano Kohl Christensen e o norte-americano Greg Long. "Viva Brasil! Primeiro quero agradecer a Deus, pois estão todos bem e ninguém saiu machucado. Também quero agradecer aos locais de Pichilemu por liberarem as ondas e aos pilotos dos jet-skis, que trabalharam duro o dia inteiro. Sabia que esse dia ia chegar", comemora o campeão, que recebeu o cheque de US$ 10 mil pela vitória. Monteiro somou 21.17 pontos para deixar Ramon Navarro em segundo, com 19.32. Gabriel Villarán foi o terceiro com 14.81 e Kohl Christensen, atual campeão do circuito mundial de ondas grandes, ficou em quarto com 2.00. Os brasileiros Carlos Burle e Felipe Cesarano também participaram do evento e não conseguiram chegar à bateria final. A janela de espera para a próxima etapa do Big Wave World Tour 2011 começa no dia 1 de julho em Pico Alto, Peru. Confira mais informações e fotos em nossas próximas atualizações. Resultado do Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Invitational 2011 1 Marcos Monteiro (Bra) 2 Ramon Navarro (Chi) 3 Gabriel Villarán (Per) 4 Kohl Christensen (Haw) 5 Cristian Merello (Chi) 6 Greg Long (EUA) Leia mais Tropa na batalha \|\|\|\|\| Estrellas mundiales del surf esperan hoy olas de nueve metros en Punta de Lobos Este año, el Quiksilver Ceremonial reunirá a 24 deportistas internacionales, que intentan dominar las grandes marejadas. por Tamara Meruane Ampliar Kohl Christensen, uno de los surfistas más importantes a nivel mundial y número dos de la especialidad, está en Chile otra vez, esperando, al igual que la elite internacional del deporte de las olas, la subida de las marejadas que hoy podrían alcanzar los nueve metros de altura en la costa de Pichilemu. En 1998, cuando recién estaba partiendo el Quiksilver Ceremonial de Punta de Lobos, en esa localidad de la VI Región, ganó el torneo y desde esa época ha venido continuamente al país. Así, cuenta que se hizo amigo de los más reconocidos del surf chileno, cuando ellos recién estaban iniciándose. Con Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina y Cristián Merello, se ven casi todos los años en Chile o en su natal Hawai. Conocedor de las olas chilenas dice: "Si no fueran buenas, yo no volvería. Ellas son poderosas, lo que hace de Chile un buen lugar para entrenar". Junto a los mencionados y otros como Jamie Sterling, Peter Mel, Carlos Burle y Grant Baker, que conforman un total de 24 surfistas de países como Perú, Estados Unidos, Sudáfrica o Argentina, esperarán su turno desde las 7.30 para entrar al mar. Esta es la versión número 14 del ceremonial, el cual es parte del torneo Big Wave World Tour, que recorrerá lugares como Hawai o Sudáfrica. Según Carlos Ferrer, marketing mánager de Quiksilver, "este campeonato ha logrado posicionarse como una de las grandes fechas del circuito mundial de surf. Es de clase internacional". Para este año, una de las novedades es que por primera vez se transmitirá en calidad HD, que incluye tomas submarinas. Para verlo sólo hay que entrar a www.quiksilver-ceremonial.cl. La preparación En Punta de Lobos ayer se respiraba gran expectación. Muchos foráneos llegaron a mirar con cámara de video y de fotos por si se topaban con alguna pirueta de los riders. "Ha arribado la misma cantidad de gente que llega un fin de semana largo a Pichilemu, pero esta vez, sólo a ver el campeonato", dice Rodrigo Farías, director de la revista de surf Glass.cl y que vive hace años en la zona. Además, comenta que las olas del año pasado fueron de ocho metros de alto y que a diferencia de ésas, se prevé que las de hoy serán más ordenadas. El año pasado hubo mucho viento y sol en contra, lo que afectó la visibilidad del público. "Ahora va a estar un poco nublado y habrá más períodos entre ola y ola, por lo que podría haber más tubos, lo que será mucho mejor visualmente", dice Farías. \|\|\|\|\| The 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Big Wave Invitational Presented By Sony Ericsson And Suzuki Is A Go! Event Called for Saturday, May 28th; Kick Off of the 2011 Big Wave World Tour Punta del Lobos, Pichilemu, Chile (May 23, 2011) – The 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Big Wave Invitational presented by Sony Ericsson and Suzuki has officially been called “ON” by Big Wave World Tour Contest Director Gary Linden for Saturday, May 28. “We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial,” said Big Wave World Tour Contest Director, Gary Linden. “It looks like patience is going to pay off as we are expecting surf in the 30 to 40 foot range with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to season.” The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta De Lobos Big Wave Invitational will commence this weekend with the world’s top big wave riders competing for a $20,000 prize purse. As the first stop on the 2011 Big Wave World Tour, the Quiksilver Ceremonial is one of the world’s most anticipated big wave events, featuring some of the best waves and skilled surfers from around the globe. Past winners of the event Christian Merello (2010) and Grant “Twiggy” Baker (2009) will return in an attempt to reclaim their titles. The complete line-up of 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial participants includes: Jamie Sterling, Kohl Christensen, Anthony Taschnick, Carlos Burle, Marcos Monteiro, Peter Mel, Chris Bertish, Cristian Merello, Greg Long, Gabriel Villarán, Mark Healey, Kealii Mamala, Jaimie Mitchell, Danilo Couto, Sebastian De Romana, Rusty Long, Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina, Fernando Zegers, Reinaldo Ibarra, Matías López and León Vicuna. The event will be webcast live and hosted by Chad Wells & Strider Wasilewski at www.quiksilver.com/chile. Competition updates and information will be posted at www.quiksilver.com, www.facebook.com/Quiksilver and www.twitter.com/quiksilverusa.	Promotional poster of the world championship. Attendants to the Quiksilver ceremonial, looking forwards to the rocks. The fourteenth Ceremonial Big Wave Invitational surf championship took place on Saturday in the Chilean city of Pichilemu, often called the "Capital of the Surf." In this year's competition, 24 surfers from countries such as South Africa, Peru, Chile, the United States, and Argentina participated in the championship, including Pichileminians Ramón Navarro and Cristian Merelló, and Hawaiian Köhl Christensen. The surfers competed for a 20,000 prize. ===Background=== The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos has been a tradition since 1998. Christensen won that championship, and has regularly participated in it since then, according to ''''. "If the Chilean waves weren't that good, I wouldn't come back. They're powerful, that's what makes of Chile a great place to train," Christensen told ''La Tercera''. The competition was scheduled to take place sometime between April 1 and May 31; it was confirmed to take place on May 28 by Gary Linden, the Big Wave World Tour Contest Director. "We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial. ... It looks like patience is going to pay off as we are expecting surf in the 30 to 40 foot range with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to season," Linden said. "The Quiksilver Ceremonial is one of the world's most anticipated big wave events, featuring some of the best waves and skilled surfers from around the globe," Hawaiian media ''Aloha Update'' reported. Carlos Ferrer, marketing manager of Quiksilver Chile, said: "This championship has managed to put itself as one of the great dates of the worldwide surfing scene. It is of international class." Mayor of Pichilemu Roberto Córdova with the championship organizers on Thursday. On Thursday, Mayor of Pichilemu Roberto Córdova reunited with organizers of the ceremonial, Carlos Ferrer, Gary Linden, and Ricardo Parot from Wetfly Productions, at the . "The mayor reiterates his commitment to the community with these kinds of events in the low-season as they are great attractions that help support Pichilemu's tourism industry," city hall representatives said on its Facebook profile. Many people visited Punta de Lobos on Friday, as the surfers were practicing. "There was great expectation in Punta de Lobos yesterday on Friday," ''La Tercera'' reported. "It has arrived the same amount of people coming a long holiday weekend to Pichilemu, but this time, only to see the championship," director of surf magazine ''Glass.cl'' Rodrigo Farías told the newspaper. Farías also told ''La Tercera'' that during last year's ceremonial there were waves eight-meters high, and "Saturday's waves are expected to be more ordained." He predicted that it would be "a bit cloudy, and there will be more time between one wave and another, so there could be more tubes, which will be much better visually." ===The championship=== Video footage of the first stage of the semi finals of the Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos. The surfers dropped into the sea to begin the championship at 07:30 local time (11:30 UTC). It is estimated that least two thousand people from Chile and other countries attended the event throughout the day. A helicopter flew overhead at Punta de Lobos, recording and photographing the surfers and attendants. The attendants were given free fruit juice, fruits, as well as drinks at the end of the day. The 24 competing surfers were: Köhl Christensen, Carlos Burle, Marcos Monteiro, Peter Mel, Chris Bertish, Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina, Cristian Merello, Rusty Long, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Fernando Zegers, Reinaldo Ibarra, Greg Long, Gabriel Villarán, Jamie Sterling, Anthony Taschnick, Mark Healey, Kealii Mamala, Jaimie Mitchell, Danilo Couto, Sebastian de Romana, León Vicuña, and Matías López. The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos was broadcasted live in HD quality for the first time in the championship's history through its official website. The footage included underwater shots. The championship lasted until 17:30 local time (21:30 UTC), and the results were as follows: # Name Country Score 1 Marcos Monteiro link= Brazil 21.17 2 Ramón Navarro link= Chile 19.32 3 Gabriel Villarán link= Peru 14.81 4 Köhl Christiensen link= USA 2.00 5 Cristián Merelló link= Chile 0.00 5 Greg Long link= USA 0.00 "Viva Brazil! Firstly I want to thank God, because everyone's okay and nobody got injured. I also want to thank the residents of Pichilemu for giving us good vibes and to the jet-skis pilots, who worked hard all day. I knew this day was going to come," Marcos Monteiro, the winning surfer said shortly after the championship ended during a press conference. The Big World Tour's next stop is , Peru, on July 1. ===Photographs===
A coalition of prominent British Jews has attacked the country's Jewish establishment, claiming it puts loyalty to Israel before the human rights of Palestinians. An open letter entitled "A Time to Speak Out: Independent Jewish Voices" was published in Monday's issue of the Times and in the Internet edition of the Guardian newspaper. It marks a growing division within the Jewish community over the nature of its ties to Israel. "We come together in the belief that the broad spectrum of opinion among the Jewish population of this country is not reflected by those institutions which claim authority to represent the Jewish community as a whole," said the letter, which was signed by 140 people, including actors Stephen Fry and Zo Wanamaker, playwright Harold Pinter, fashion designer Nicole Farhi, film director Mike Leigh, and academics Eric Hobsbawm and Jacqueline Rose. However, the letter continued, the nation's Jewish leadership has "consistently put support for the policies of an occupying power above the human rights of an occupied people." Uncritical support of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians has "undermined" the "battle against anti-Semitism," they argued. "British Jews should take the moral high ground in the Israel/Palestinian dispute, reclaiming "the tradition of Jewish support for universal freedoms, human rights and social justice." The coalition has scheduled a public meeting in London to be chaired by television presenter Jon Snow for February 19, seeking to recruit support from the community. A similar dispute arose in the United States after publication of an American Jewish Committee essay last month entitled "Progressive Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism." In the foreword, AJC executive director David A. Harris wrote that what had been surprising and distressing in a recent upsurge in rhetoric was "the very public participation of some Jews in the verbal onslaught against Zionism and the Jewish state." While "A Time to Speak Out" did not name names, Oxford University philosopher Brian Klug singled out the Board of Deputies of British Jews and British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. In an article accompanying the declaration published in the Guardian, Klug said the Board of Deputies had become a mouthpiece for the Israeli government, devoting "much of the time and resources of its international division to the defense of Israel." He also criticized Sacks for telling a pro-Israeli rally last year: "Israel, you make us proud." "Others felt roughly the opposite emotion," said Klug, the author of 2004's "The Myth of the New Anti-Semitism." Supporters of the declaration said justice required they act. Prof. Susie Orbach of the London School of Economics said she had endorsed the declaration because, "as a Jew, I feel a particular duty to oppose the injustice that is done to Palestinians." Dr. David Goldberg, rabbi emeritus of London's Liberal Jewish Synagogue, said that "when Israel's Jewish supporters abroad don't speak out against disastrous policies that neither guarantee safety for her citizens nor produce the right climate in which to try and reach a just peace with the Palestinians - but seek instead to justify those policies by turning a blind eye to flagrant human rights abuses in the occupied territories - then they are betraying millennial Jewish values and acting against Israel's own long-term interests." The Board of Deputies did not respond to requests for comment. \|\|\|\|\| We will not accept the vilification of those who protest at injustices carried out in the name of the Jewish people. February 5, 2007 07:15 AM \| Printable version If there is one thing on which Jews can agree, it is this: it's good to argue. Jewish culture has thrived on argument - frank, sincere disagreement - ever since Moses disputed with God. But today an oppressive and unhealthy atmosphere is leading many Jews to feel uncertain about speaking out on Israel and Zionism. People are anxious about contravening an unwritten law on what you can and cannot discuss, may or may not assert. It is a climate that raises fundamental questions: about freedom of expression, Jewish identity, representation, and the part that concerned Jews in Britain can play in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to find their way to a better future. As the situation in the Middle East deteriorates yearly, more and more Jews watch with dismay from afar. Dismay turns to anguish when innocent civilians - Palestinians and Israelis - suffer injury and death because of the continuing conflict. Anguish turns to outrage when the human rights of a population under occupation are repeatedly violated in the name of the Jewish people. No one has the authority to speak for the Jewish people. Yet during Israel's war with Lebanon last summer, Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, told an American audience: "I believe that this is a war that is fought by all the Jews." His belief is not based on evidence: it is an article of faith, a corollary of the doctrine that Israel represents Jewry as a whole - in Britain included. This is a fallacy; and, moreover, a dangerous one, since it tars all Jews with the same brush. Yet this misconception is reinforced here by those who, claiming to speak for British Jews collectively or allowing that impression to go unchallenged, only ever reflect one position on the Middle East. On its own account, the Board of Deputies of British Jews (which calls itself "the voice of British Jewry") devotes much of the time and resources of its international division to "the defence of Israel". When a "solidarity rally" was held in London last July in the midst of the conflict with Lebanon, it was the board that organised it. All of which suggests that British Jewry, speaking with one voice, stands solidly behind the Israeli government and its military operations. Two things are wrong with this suggestion. First, it's false. Jews were deeply divided over Israel's campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon last year. Certainly, there were those who shared the sentiment of the chief rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, who, addressing the rally, said: "Israel, you make us proud." Others felt roughly the opposite emotion. Second, the board has no business taking a partisan position on the Middle East. Let groups such as the Zionist Federation or perhaps the Israeli embassy organise solidarity rallies. The role of the board is to promote the welfare of British Jews in all their variety, not to defend Israel. Similarly, the chief rabbi is entitled, ex officio, to bring a religious perspective to political matters, but it is not his role to act as political spokesman for his flock. Faced with this state of affairs, a group of Jews in Britain has come together to launch Independent Jewish Voices (IJV). We come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life. Some of us are religious, some not. A number feel a strong attachment to Israel as Jews, others feel none. We do not all share the same vision for the Middle East. We are a network of individuals, not a movement or political party. But we are united by certain fundamental commitments. These are set out in our launch statement, published today on the Guardian's Comment is Free website and in advertisements placed in the Jewish Chronicle and the Times. They include: putting human rights first; giving equal priority to Palestinians and Israelis in their quest for a peaceful and secure future; and repudiating all forms of racism aimed at Jews, Arabs, Muslims or whomever. We believe that these commitments - not ethnic or group loyalties - define the limits of legitimate debate. We invite like-minded Jews in Britain to add their names to the list of IJV signatories. Jews abroad who are confronted with the same climate are taking similar steps to make their voices heard. The Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians has been formed to promote "an alternative public Jewish voice" on Israeli policies. Last July "concerned South African Jews" appealed to "all who share our commitment to a common humanity" to call for Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon. In the past few years, Jewish groups speaking out against Israel's violations of human rights have proliferated, notably in the United States, but especially in Israel itself. We are not setting ourselves up as an alternative to the Board of Deputies or any other body. But we challenge the standard concept of "the Jewish community" as a collective entity for which the board is the secular voice and the chief rabbi the religious voice. This system was developed in another era - though it is being used today as a template for other minorities. It pictures "the Jewish community" as a single bloc that, whatever its internal complexity, presents a common face to the outside world via its ambassadors. There is an affinity between our initiative and the New Generation Network, which was launched in the Guardian last November. A diverse group of Britons questioned the idea that the pie of British society (or that portion consisting of "minorities") can be divided into neat ethnic or religious slices: discrete "communities" with authoritative "leaders". For many of us, this model is suffocating and goes against the grain of our experience. Among other things, it places a premium on keeping disagreement "in the family". For Jews, this ethos is especially stifling if the subject is Zionism or Israel. Some people, rightly condemning demonisation of the Jewish state, do not hesitate to demonise fellow Jews who, when expressing their views on these subjects in public, cross an invisible line of acceptability. We reject any attempt to suppress legitimate public debate and we abhor the culture of vilification. The slur of "traitor" or "self-hating Jew" is especially noxious. For, if we feel compelled to protest against injustice to Palestinians, this is partly because of the lessons of our own history: the Jewish experience of marginalisation and persecution. Furthermore, when the language of human rights is spoken, many of us (secular and religious) hear the voices of those Hebrew prophets, rabbis, writers, activists and other Jewish figures down the centuries for whom Judaism means nothing if it does not mean social justice. So, when we speak out against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, or the bombing of Lebanon, or discrimination against Palestinians within Israel itself, we are not turning against our Jewish identity; we are turning to it. Some of us, recalling that nearly 40 years have passed since Israel's occupation began, hear a resonance. This was the length of time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, near the end of which Moses gave them a directive: "Justice, justice shall you pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20). It is a compass bearing for all humanity, especially when we are trying to find our way - or help others to find theirs - to a better future. Click here for a full list of articles in the Independent Jewish Voices debate. del.icio.us \| Digg it \| Tailrank \| Reddit \| Newsvine \| Now Public \| Technorati \|\|\|\|\| A group of prominent British Jews has formed a new organisation which rejects uncritical support of Israel. The Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, actor Stephen Fry and film director Mike Leigh are among almost 150 high-profile figures who have joined Independent Jewish Voices (IJV). advertisement Other signatories to the group’s founding declaration, calling for freer debate about the Middle East, include the fashion designer Nicole Farhi and the historian Eric Hobsbawm. The group’s website declares: “The initiative was born out of a frustration with the widespread misconception that the Jews of this country speak with one voice - and that this voice supports the Israeli government’s policies. “Our project is to create a climate and a space in which Jews of different affiliations and persuasions can express their opinions about the actions of the Israeli government without being accused of disloyalty or being dismissed as self-hating.” The IJV’s principles also include the belief that both Palestinians and Israelis have a right to peace and security, and the condemnation of Islamophobia as well as anti-Semitism. One of the signatories to the declaration has explicitly criticised the Board of Deputies of British Jews, seen as the mouthpiece of Britain’s Jewish community, for devoting “much of the time and resources of its international division to the defence of Israel”. Brian Klug, the Oxford University philosopher, also criticises Britain’s chief rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, for telling a pro-Israeli rally in London last year: “Israel, you make us proud.” “Others felt roughly the opposite emotion,” Mr Klug writes in an article today for The Guardian’s Comment Is Free website.	A group of almost 150 prominent British Jews has launched a new organisation, Independent Jewish Voices, and criticized the British Jewish establishment for its uncritical views on Israel. An open letter titled "A Time to Speak Out: Independent Jewish Voices" was published in Monday's edition of the ''Times of London'' and reprinted on the ''Guardian'''s online site, stated that the group has "come together in the belief that the broad spectrum of opinion among the Jewish population of this country is not reflected by those institutions which claim authority to represent the Jewish community as a whole" and that the leaders of Britain's Jewish community, the Board of Deputies, has "consistently put support for the policies of an occupying power above the human rights of an occupied people," referring to Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza strip areas, which have been occupied and illegally settled by Israel since 1967. The letter was signed by over 140 prominent writers, actors, academics and intellectuals including author and writer Stephen Fry, academic Brian Klug, historian Eric Hobsbawm and film director Mike Leigh. Klug, in an article published in ''the Guardian'' announcing the launch of the group, argues for its necessity by asserting that the Board of Deputies actions in defence of Israel "suggests that British Jewry, speaking with one voice, stands solidly behind the Israeli government and its military operations," despite the fact that, according to Klug, "Jews were deeply divided over Israel's campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon last year." The launching of the new group comes on the heels of a dispute within the American Jewish community after the American Jewish Congress published an essay titled "Progressive Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism" in which criticism by liberal Jews of Israel was criticized as facilitating antisemitism.
Chantelle Houghton said she was 'living the dream' The "fake" celebrity beat entertainer Michael Barrymore into second place in the live final on Friday night. The 22-year-old was allowed to stay in the Channel 4 show after fooling fellow housemates she was a famous singer. Chantelle took 56.4% of viewers' votes, with entertainer Michael Barrymore polling 43.6% to come second. Former Baywatch actress Traci Bingham and singers Pete Burns, Preston and Maggot were also finalists. Chantelle, a model from Essex, said she believed the public had voted for her because she was "down to earth". I'll never change. I'm just little old me Winner Chantelle Houghton In pictures: Big Brother Final A visibly shocked Chantelle walked away with a cash prize because she entered the show as a non-celebrity. The other contestants would have seen any winnings going to their chosen charity. More than £450,000 was raised for charity during the contest, with three million votes cast by the public by phone and text message. When asked at a press conference what she would do with her winnings Chantelle replied: "That's a lot of money, a hell of a lot of money. I really don't know. It hasn't sunk in that I'm actually getting it. "First I will be able to pay the debts I owe my mum; once that's out of the way I don't know, go shopping. "Make up, clothes, orange lipstick - I need one of them, I love that. I've got to make sure I get a stock of that. "I would like to take my mum and everyone on holiday because that would be a nice thing to do." Not ashamed Respect MP George Galloway was booed by the crowd when he returned for the final on Friday. The politician, who had caused controversy by appearing on the reality show, was evicted on Wednesday. Mr Galloway later defended his appearance, telling the BBC he had done nothing to be ashamed of. Mr Galloway had defended his appearance on the show Mr Barrymore returned to the UK to take part in the show having left to live in New Zealand following the media furore surrounding the death of Stuart Lubbock in his swimming pool in 2001. During the series, an attempt was made to serve Mr Barrymore with documents relating to a legal action being brought over the death, but producers Endemol refused to accept them. After leaving the Big Brother house, he was close to tears when interviewed by host Davina McCall. He said he did not know what his plans for the future were, but added: "I've got me back. This is all extras." The other celebrities who took part in the series included glamour model Jodie Marsh, former Football Association secretary Faria Alam, actress Rula Lenska and US basketball player Dennis Rodman. \|\|\|\|\| Latest News Chantelle - You Are A Winner! Day 23, 22:18Friday 27 JanuaryYou are having a larrrfff! First in, last out. With a whopping 56.4 per cent of your votes, Chantelle has won this year's Celebrity Big Brother.Chantelle walked into the Big Brother house three weeks ago as a Paris Hilton lookie-likey and girl band faker. And tonight, she walks out a bona fide star. The non-celeb that won Celebrity Big Brother - ooh, the irony.Over the past three weeks the Essex girl has charmed her way to the nation's heart - with her note-imperfect rendition of 'Kandyfloss' I Want It Right Now, her four-times-daily costumes changes, not to mention her blossoming friendship with li'l ol' Preston.But this blonde ain't dizzy - as she's batted away Pete's insults and taken no shit from Big Bad Dennis like a seasoned celeb. Mental!So tonight, we wave farewell to Chantelle. At last she's reuinited with her much-missed mum. As Chantelle would say, that must be wicked-on-the-decks! \|\|\|\|\| First came the celebrities who were famous for being famous. Now, thanks to Chantelle Houghton, we have a celebrity who is famous for not being famous. Late last night, the 22-year-old from Wickford in Essex won Celebrity Big Brother - the irony being that the nearest she had come to celebrity before the series was by appearing in pubs as a Paris Hilton look-alike. Article Length: 749 words (approx.)	Chantelle Houghton has won the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother. Michael Barrymore came in second place. Houghton, 22, was the only non-celebrity on the show and was given a secret mission for four days by Big Brother to convince the other housemates she was a member of the fictional band "Kandy Floss". The television show, aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom is a spin off of the popular series shown around the world. This series of the show started on 5 January 2006 and lasted for 23 days. There were 11 housemates, six of whom were evicted on the 27 January 2006. Unknown to either the audience nor the winner until her exit interview, Houghton won £25,000 for winning the show and not being a Celebrity. Also evicted on the 27th were: Chantelle Houghton (non-celebrity promotions girl and Paris Hilton look-a-like) - Winner Michael Barrymore (television broadcaster and comedian) - Runner Up: 2nd Place Maggot (member of Goldie Lookin' Chain) - Runner Up: 3rd Place Samuel Preston (lead singer of The Ordinary Boys) - Runner Up: 4th Place Pete Burns (former Dead or Alive singer) - Runner Up: 5th Place Traci Bingham (actress from Baywatch and model) - Runner Up: 6th Place
Trends tailored just for you. Trends offer a unique way to get closer to what you care about. They are tailored for you based on your location and who you follow. \|\|\|\|\| FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 file photo,Radio personality Don Imus interviews Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by telephone during his debut show on the Fox Business Network in New York. Disc jockey Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to radio stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. He was 79.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 file photo,Radio personality Don Imus interviews Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by telephone during his debut show on the Fox Business Network in New York. Disc jockey Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to radio stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. He was 79.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) NEW YORK (AP) — Radio personality Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died. He was 79. Imus died Friday morning at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, after being hospitalized since Christmas Eve, according to a statement issued by his family. Deirdre, his wife of 25 years, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, with his son Zachary Don Cates returning from military service overseas. He died of complications from lung disease. Imus survived drug and alcohol woes, a raunchy appearance before President Clinton and several firings during his long career behind the microphone. But he was vilified and eventually fired after describing a women’s college basketball team as “nappy headed hos.” His April 2007 racist and misogynist crack about the mostly black Rutgers squad, an oft-replayed 10-second snippet, crossed a line that Imus had long straddled as his irascible rants catapulted him to prominence. The remark was heard coast to coast on 60 radio stations and on a simulcast aired each morning on MSNBC. At the time, his “Imus in the Morning” show was home to presidential hopefuls, political pundits and his favorite musicians, a must-listen in the media and political corridors of New York and Washington. Ten years earlier, Time magazine had named him one of the 25 most influential Americans. But the remark made him an immediate pariah and he was dropped by CBS Radio and MSNBC. Imus apologized repeatedly, calling his remark “completely inappropriate ... thoughtless and stupid,” and met with the team to hear how his comment hurt them. Although he returned to radio, and the Fox Business Network simulcast his show for a number of years, he never approached the same influence before retiring in 2018. The incident “did change my feelings about making fun of some people who didn’t deserve to be made fun of and didn’t have a mechanism to defend themselves,” Imus told CBS News upon his retirement. Imus’ unsparing on-air persona was tempered by his off-air philanthropy, raising more than $40 million for groups including the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He ran a New Mexico ranch for dying children, and often used his radio show to solicit guests for donations. A pediatric medical center bearing Imus’ name was opened at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Joe Scarborough, who replaced Imus in MSNBC’s morning lineup, tweeted that “Morning Joe” owed its format to Imus. “No one else could have gotten away with that much talk on cable news,” Scarborough wrote. “Thanks for everything, Don, and Godspeed.” Yet even in death, he was a polarizing figure. Several African Americans on Twitter were unforgiving, saying, in effect, “good riddance.” The Huffington Post headlined its obituary, “Don Imus, racist radio show host, dead at 79.” Even though Imus was unsparing in mocking politicians of all stripes — he called former Vice President Dick Cheney a “war criminal” — he was praised on Twitter Friday by conservative media personalities Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham said he was responsible for her radio career. “Love him or hate him — & he gave his audience cause to do both — he was a giant in radio,” tweeted CBS’ Anthony Mason, who interviewed Imus at the time of his retirement. Imus, born on a Riverside, California cattle ranch, was the oldest of two boys — his brother Fred later became an “Imus In the Morning” show regular. The family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where Imus joined the Marines before taking jobs as a freight train brakeman and uranium miner. Only at age 28 did he appear on the airwaves. His caustic persona, though it would later serve him well, was initially a problem: Imus was canned by a small station in Stockton, California, for uttering the word “hell.” The controversy only enhanced his career, a pattern that continued throughout the decades. Imus, moving to larger California stations, earned Billboard’s “Disc Jockey of the Year” award for medium-sized markets after a stunt where he ordered 1,200 hamburgers to go from a local McDonald’s. He moved to Cleveland and by 1971, was doing the morning drive-time show on WNBC-AM in New York, the nation’s largest and most competitive radio market. He brought along a destructive taste for vodka. He was a “shock jock” before the term was coined, and listeners flocked to hear what outrageous things he’d say, like phoning people to wake them up and ask, “Are ya naked?” He played characters like the radio evangelist Rev. Billy Sol Hargis. His demons also made it an open question many mornings whether he’d show up for his 6 a.m. shift. Imus was fired by WNBC but returned in triumph two years later adding a new vice: cocaine. While his career turned around, his first marriage, which produced daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth and Toni, fell apart. Imus struggled with addiction until a 1987 stint at a Florida alcohol rehabilitation center, coming out just as WNBC became the fledgling all-sports station WFAN, which retained Imus’ non-sports show as its morning anchor. His career again soared. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and MSNBC signed up his simulcast when the network started in 1996. He mixed comedy with A-list guests like Senators John Kerry and John McCain. Media personalities like NBC’s Tim Russert and Frank Rich of The New York Times were regulars. A book plug on Imus’ show guaranteed sales, and authors were soon queuing up for a slot on the show. Imus rarely missed a chance to get in trouble, even in the good times. He engaged in a long-running feud with shock jock Howard Stern, who usurped Imus’ position as the No. 1 morning host in New York City. But as he retired, Imus called Stern one of the top five radio personalities of all time. He gave himself the same rank, adding Arthur Godfrey, Wolfman Jack and Jack Benny. “He had a big problem with me,” Imus said about Stern. “I didn’t with him.” In 1996, Imus outraged guests at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner in 1996, cracking wise about President Clinton’s extramarital activities as the first lady sat stone-faced nearby. “We all know you’re a pot-smoking weasel,” Imus said at another point about Clinton. A White House spokesman called Imus’ bit “fairly tasteless.” One year later, he was sued by a Manhattan judge after ripping the jurist on air as a “creep” and “a senile old dirtbag.” Critics carped over the show’s content, with Imus deflecting most complaints by claiming he was an all-inclusive offender. However, one show regular was fired in 2005 after a particularly vile crack about cancer-stricken singer Kylie Minogue. A February 2006 profile in Vanity Fair contained the quote that might best serve as Imus’ epitaph. “I talk to millions of people every day,” he said while riding home in a limousine after one show. “I just like it when they can’t talk back.” Imus remarried in December 1994, to the former Deirdre Coleman. They had one son, Wyatt, and adopted Zachary after he attended one of his camps for cancer-stricken children. \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more \|\|\|\|\| Controversial former radio host Don Imus dead at age 79 The former "shock jock" host was 79 years old. Controversial American radio host Don Imus died Friday, according to a statement from his family. He was 79 years old. Imus died at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, where he had been hospitalized since Christmas Eve, according to a family. "Deirdre, his wife of 25 years, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, and his son Lt Zachary Don Cates is returning from military service overseas," the family said in a statement. His show, "Imus in the Morning," was on the air from June 1, 1968, until March 29, 2018. Imus worked for WABC radio from 2007-2018. Imus got into trouble in 2007 after he directed derogatory remarks toward the Rutgers University women's basketball team, calling them "rough girls" when talking about the NCAA women's basketball championship. The "shock jock" was also known for his charity work, which included helping sick and dying children at his ranch. Radio personality Don Imus appears on his last "Imus in the Morning" program, on the Fox Business Network, in New York, May 29, 2015. Richard Drew/AP, FILE The Imus family said it would hold a small private service for "The I-Man" in the coming days. \|\|\|\|\| Andrea Mandell, Bill Keveney USA TODAY, NorthJersey.com Legendary radio personality Don Imus died Friday at the age of 79. Known for his outspoken comments and off-color humor, he hosted "Imus in the Morning" in New York for nearly 50 years. His caustic commentary helped him soar to great heights before leading to a career crash after an on-air racial slur in 2007, one of numerous remarks that resulted in unwanted headlines over his long career. Imus, who was also known for his charitable work, died at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, after being hospitalized since Christmas Eve, publicist Matthew Hiltzik confirmed to USA TODAY. Imus' wife of 25 years, Deirdre, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, according to a statement from his family. "Don loved and adored Deirdre, who unconditionally loved him back, loved spending his time watching Wyatt become a highly skilled, champion rodeo rider and calf roper and loved and supported Zachary (Cates), who first met the Imus family at age 10 when he participated in the Imus Ranch program for kids with cancer, having battled and overcome leukemia, eventually becoming a member of the Imus family and Don and Deirdre’s second son," read the family's statement. Cates is returning from military service overseas, according to the statement. Imus is also survived by his four daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth, and Toni. A California native, Imus hosted radio shows in California, New York and Cleveland, attracting fans with his sharp-edged style during a career punctuated by firings. He overcame alcohol and drug issues before rising to his biggest career fame when “Imus in the Morning” on New York’s WFAN became nationally syndicated in 1993 and started simulcasting on MSNBC in 1996. Crossing the line:Legendary shock jock Don Imus: 5 incendiary moments heard 'round the world Born John Donald Imus Jr., Imus was long known for attention-getting, shock-jock antics that spurred controversies and criticism, but his show became a political salon of sorts with Washington heavy hitters and other power brokers making appearances. His guests spanned the ranks of politicians, including Senators John McCain and John Kerry, pundits, such as Tim Russert, and entertainers, from Harry Connick Jr. to John Mellencamp. The radio host continued on both platforms until 2007, when he was fired by WFAN and dropped by MSNBC after making racist and misogynistic comments about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, calling them "rough girls" and “nappy-headed hos.” Despite repeated apologies, Imus — just 10 years earlier named one of Time Magazine's 25 most influential Americans — became a pariah for a remark that he acknowledged was "completely inappropriate ... thoughtless and stupid." In the ensuing furor, CBS canceled the "Imus in the Morning" show. Imus then sued CBS for wrongful termination and won a $40 million settlement. Meanwhile, a Rutgers basketball player, Kia Vaughn, brought a defamation suit against Imus (she later dropped it). After that debacle, Imus resumed hosting on another New York station, continuing to share candid opinions about elected officials and spur anger, as he did with a racially charged reference about NFL cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones in 2008. He ended the show in early 2018. Imus, who struggled with addiction until a 1987 stint at a Florida alcohol rehabilitation center and in 2009 revealed he had Stage II prostate cancer, was also known for his charitable work on behalf of children with cancer and wounded Iraq war veterans. He raised more than $40 million for groups including the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, ran a New Mexico ranch for dying children and often used his radio show to "solicit" guests for donations. Imus also did many radio-thons for the Tomorrow's Children Fund, now based at New Jersey's Hackensack University Medical Center, netting it over $30 million. There is now a Don Imus-WFAN Pediatric Center at the hospital. Fellow radio and TV hosts mourned Imus' passing and offered condolences. Fox News Channel star and fellow radio personality Sean Hannity said he is "heartbroken. I knew the REAL Don Imus. Imus adored his wife and son and his adopted son and had a heart of gold. The work he did for children with cancer will live on forever. Every email he ever sent me made me laugh." Another Fox News host, former syndicated radio talker Laura Ingraham, praised Imus' skill and acknowledged his contribution to her career. "In his heyday Imus was the best interviewer—an epic talent. Many great on-air memories in his Astoria studios, and (sorry, haters) responsible for my 17-year radio career," she wrote in a tweet. Joe Scarborough, whose "Morning Joe" political chat show has Imus' former MSNBC slot, paid tribute, too. "Morning Joe obviously owes its format to Don Imus. No one else could have gotten away with that much talk on cable news. Thanks for everything, Don, and Godspeed." The family will hold a small private service in the coming days and request that any donations be made to the Imus Ranch Foundation which which supports families of children suffering from cancer and other illnesses during their times of need. Contributing: The Associated Press, Jim Beckerman, NorthJersey.com	United States radio personality, television host, and philanthropist , known to fans as the I-Man, died on Friday at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in , Texas after being hospitalized since , his family reported. Associated Press reported his cause of death as complications from . He was 79. Don Imus publicity photo Imus' syndicated radio show '''' aired on various networks from 1968 until his retirement in 2018. The show was simulcast on MSNBC television from 1996 until a racial incident in 2007 and for several years up to 2015 on the Fox Business Network. He was once named one of ''Time'''s 25 most influential Americans, and was inducted into the . Known as a who made controversial comments, Imus was dropped in 2007 by MSNBC and after he referred to the Rutgers University as " ." He later apologized for the comment. Imus is survived by his second wife , their two sons Wyatt and Zachary, and four daughters, Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth, and Toni, from his previous marriage. The family's statement on the death read: "Don loved and adored Deirdre, who unconditionally loved him back, loved spending his time watching Wyatt become a highly skilled, champion rodeo rider and calf roper and loved and supported Zachary (Cates), who first met the Imus family at age 10 when he participated in the Imus Ranch program for kids with cancer, having battled and overcome leukemia, eventually becoming a member of the Imus family and Don and Deirdre's second son". Longtime ''Imus in the Morning'' writer and performer tweeted: "He was a rebel, an unapologetic decrier of bullshit, a harsh critic of human behavior & yet an unfailing champion of the underdog, especially sick children. A hermit and humanitarian. Brilliant and maddening & someone you loved to hate and hated to love but when you told him you did he’d say you were a phony. Every professional success I’ve enjoyed is a direct result of my association with the I-Man. I‘m beyond grateful to him for being my boss, my mentor, & my friend. My heart breaks for Deirdre, Wyatt & Zach. Rest easy Cowboy. You’ve earned it." The account for ''The Bernie and Sid Show'', which replaced ''Imus in the Morning'', hosted by and , who both worked for Imus, tweeted: "I-Man. We salute you. You paved the way for us and many more. A radio legend indeed. RIP #Imus". As of today, former coworker and long time rival shock jock , with whom Imus feuded, has not commented on the death on his Twitter account. However, earlier this year, Stern said in an interview with '''' he was open to having Imus as a guest on his show. The family said they planned to have a private funeral service for Imus and asked for donations to the Imus Ranch Foundation, which provides support for families with children suffering from serious diseases.
ANALYSIS We reported earlier this week that the Russians are sending the Lebanese army a gift of 10 MiG-29s. This will more than double the size of the Lebanese air force's fixed wing strike force, currently composed of four Hawker Hunters and four Fouga Magisters. Those existing eight planes are several decades old and the acquisition by the Lebanese air force of the MiG-29s will provide the Lebanese military with far more modern and sophisticated fighter jets than anything the Lebanese armed forces has ever had in its arsenal. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- A suicide bomb detonated Thursday inside a mosque in violence-wracked northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 12 people, including children and soldiers, and wounding 25, military officials said. A policeman stands in front of a damaged vehicle at a suicide blast site Thursday in Hub, Pakistan. more photos » The attack happened in Kohat, outside Peshawar in the North West Frontier province. Earlier attacks around Pakistan killed at least 35 people and wounded 47 Thursday -- adding to the recent surge in violence wracking Pakistan, authorities said. Violence has increased in northwestern Pakistan since a bloody siege at Islamabad's Red Mosque -- which ended last week -- that pitted radical Islamists against Pakistan's military government forces. See images of Pakistani violence » Earlier Thursday, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed car into the gates of a police training center in Hangu -- 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Kohat -- killing at least eight people and wounding 22, a police official said. Also Thursday, in southern Pakistan, police said a bomb explosion near a bus stop killed at least 27 people and wounded 25 in Hub, a town in gas-rich Baluchistan province near the port city of Karachi. Don't Miss Attack kills 16 in Pakistan military convoy Attack kills 16 in Pakistan military convoy Deadly bomb blast at Pakistan rally The attack targeted Chinese engineers who were passing through the area, authorities said. Since late last week, attacks targeting Pakistani security forces have killed more than 100 people, authorities said. On Wednesday, the Pakistani army said at least 16 soldiers were killed when militants attacked an army convoy in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. At least 10 others were wounded in the attack. Tensions across the predominantly Muslim country -- flanked by its nuclear rival India on one side and war-torn Afghanistan on the other -- have been simmering. The fresh wave of violence in Pakistan was triggered by the recent events at Islamabad's Red Mosque, where the military squared off with Islamic extremists holed up in the mosque. That event ended with a bloody military siege on the mosque, killing dozens of people in a weeklong standoff. Adding to the tension, a suicide bomber on Tuesday attacked the site in Islamabad of a scheduled rally supporting the country's suspended chief justice and killed at least 12 people, sources said. Hospital sources said that at least 35 others were wounded in the attack, which occurred where a rally was to be held for the Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf removed Chaudhry from his post on March 9, accusing him of misusing his powers. The dismissal sparked widespread, largely peaceful demonstrations by the country's attorneys and those who believe Musharraf abused his authority in suspending Pakistan's top judge. Militants linked to the Taliban in the area near the Afghan border have said the truce reached with the Pakistani government last September is off. That deal has been blamed for an increase in attacks on U.S. troops over the border in Afghanistan, as Taliban fighters were able to prepare, train and rebuild weapons supplies without interference from the Pakistani government. The Taliban is the former Afghan regime that sheltered al Qaeda until the U.S.-led war following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Now, U.S. intelligence officials say al Qaeda has established a "safe haven" in Waziristan, just over the border in Pakistan -- and that Osama bin Laden is believed to be in the area. The series of bombings in recent days in northwestern Pakistan, after the collapse of a truce between the government and tribal militants has been spreading fears in the region and the West. U.S. officials have expressed concern over Pakistan's stability and effectiveness in suppressing terrorism. Declassified portions of the National Intelligence Estimate released Tuesday reported that al Qaeda has "protected or regenerated key elements" of its capability to attack the United States while in this safe haven. On Wednesday, a co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group said that U.S. forces should go into Pakistan to rout al Qaeda from the mountainous tribal region on the border with Afghanistan. Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who also was vice chairman of the 9/11 commission, said, "I am very concerned that you have a safe haven in Pakistan today where they [al Qaeda] can regroup, rethink, and get ready for more attacks." Watch Hamilton advocate U.S. action in Pakistan » Under increased pressure to cap the spread of Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions, Musharraf has vowed to "fight against extremism and terrorism no matter what province." E-mail to a friend CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Kelli Arena and Pam Benson contributed to this report. All About Al Qaeda • The Taliban • Pakistan \|\|\|\|\| We spoke to four people about the impact losing a loved one has had on them, and about their search for answers in a country with the worst death toll per capita of any of the world’s large economies	Map showing location of North and South Waziristan in northern Pakistan and bordering on Afghanistan. At least 17 Pakistani troops were killed Thursday when their convoy was bombed and attacked by al-Qaeda militants on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in North Waziristan, and the U.S. says that they may attack targets inside Pakistan, if they see them as being "actionable." "We never take options off the table, and if we find actionable targets, we're going to hit them. Terrorist hideouts are something that's absolutely going to have to be addressed. There's no doubt that more aggressive steps need to be taken against the terrorists," said Tony Snow, the White House's Press Secretary, during a press conference today. The U.S. believes that terrorists, who are loyal to al-Qaeda's leader Osama bin laden are currently seeking shelter in the regions near the borders of the two countries. At least 35 civilians and 9 police officers were killed and nearly two dozen were injured in a separate bombing when a suicide car bomber blew up a Chinese military convoy in Pakistan's southwest industrial district. None of the Chinese military personnel were injured or killed. "The bomber driving a Mazda car blew himself up," said Tariq Khosa, the police chief of Baluchistan province who also added that the area was "very crowded."
LONDON, September 24, 2013 —A new World Bank and IFC report finds legal and regulatory barriers to women’s economic inclusion have decreased over the past 50 years globally, but many laws still hinder women’s participation in the economy. Laws restricting women’s economic activity are currently most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The third in a series, Women, Business and the Law 2014: Removing Restrictions to Enhance Gender Equality monitors regulations affecting women entrepreneurs and employees in 143 economies. This edition highlights reforms carried out over the past two years, examines the evolution of women’s property rights and legal decision making ability since 1960 and expands coverage to examine legal protections addressing violence against women. “The ideal of equality before the law and equality of economic opportunity isn’t just wise social policy: It’s smart economic policy,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “When women and men participate in economic life on an equal footing, they can contribute their energies to building a more cohesive society and a more resilient economy. The surest way to help enrich the lives of families, communities and economies is to allow every individual to live up to her or his fullest creative potential.” “Our latest edition of Women, Business and the Law shows that many societies have made progress, gradually moving to dismantle ingrained forms of discrimination against women,” said Kim. “Yet a great deal remains to be done.” This report finds 44 economies have made 48 legal changes, thus increasing women’s economic opportunities over the past two years. Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Philippines and the Slovak Republic had the most reforms. Among the reforms, husbands can no longer unilaterally stop their wives from working in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, the Philippines has lifted restrictions on night work for women, and the Slovak Republic increased the percentage of wages paid during maternity leave. The report finds economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have the most extensive lists of jobs women cannot do. For example, in the Russian Federation women cannot drive trucks in the agricultural sector, in Belarus they cannot be carpenters and in Kazakhstan they cannot be welders. These restrictions may have arisen from a desire to protect women, but can limit their employment options. The report shows economies with the most job restrictions on women have lower female participation in the formal labor force. "Progress on gender equality under the law is accelerating," said Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director, Global Indicators and Analysis, World Bank Group. “Our data shows that over the past 50 years countries everywhere have started removing long-standing restrictions on women's ability to participate more fully in the economy. Although the progress has been uneven across the world, there is widespread recognition that the economic empowerment of women is crucial for competitiveness and prosperity." Between 1960 and 2010, more than half the restrictions on women’s property rights and ability to conduct legal transactions were removed in the 100 economies examined. Restrictions in three regions – Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and East Asia and the Pacific – were cut in half. While some restrictions were removed in South Asia and in the Middle East and North Africa, these two regions reformed the least. Another major innovation in the report is new data on the existence and scope of laws on two areas of violence against women: sexual harassment and domestic violence. Covering 100 economies, the data show that prohibitions against sexual harassment in the workplace are widespread – 78 economies have legislation and over half of these criminalize the behavior. Legislation on domestic violence is also widespread –76 economies have laws prohibiting domestic violence. The region with the fewest laws on domestic violence is the Middle East and North Africa. The report shows lower gender legal parity is associated with fewer women participating in firm ownership, while policies encouraging women to join and remain in the labor force are associated with greater income equality. Even though the report offers signs of improvement for women’s economic opportunities globally, it shows economies can do more to ensure women’s participation in economic life. About the Women, Business and the Law Report series: Women, Business and the Law measures how laws, regulations and institutions differentiate between women and men in ways that may affect women’s incentives or capacity to work or to set up and run a business. It analyzes legal differences on the basis of gender in 143 economies, covering six areas: gaining access to institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit, and going to court. The project provides a clear picture of gender gaps based on legal differences in each economy, but it does not capture the full extent of the gender gap, nor does it indicate the relative importance of each aspect covered. This year’s report was published by Bloomsbury Publishing. About the World Bank Group The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and development expertise for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in pursuing the World Bank Group’s mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org. \|\|\|\|\| Finland makes broadband a 'legal right' Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen. From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection. Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015. In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law. The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed. Broadband commitment Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained the thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment. "Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said. It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online and that only about 4,000 homes still need connecting to comply with the law. In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%. The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally binding ruling. "The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that plan tough action on illegal file-sharing. Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet connections of people who persistently download music or films for free. The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach. "We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms Linden. A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that almost four in five people around the world believed that access to the internet is a fundamental right. \|\|\|\|\| Women make up fewer than 8 per cent of the world’s country leaders. But with Julia Gillard’s election to prime minister of Australia things seem to be improving. She brings the tally of simultaneous female premiers to a record 16. Four female leaders, including Gillard, have taken the highest office in countries around the world so far this year. In 2009, female leaders were elected in Iceland, Croatia and Lithuania. Elsewhere, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is Liberia's president, and the only elected a female leader on the African continent. Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, is a major player on the European political stage. While Iceland’s president, Johanna Sigurdardottir, is not only the country’s first female leader, but is also the world’s first openly gay head of state. Despite Britain's progressive approach to most things, this country seems to have been stilted by Margeret Thatcher’s somewhat dubious legacy. The UK's first and only female prime minister came to power over 30-years ago, and yet, just one female Labour MP, Dianne Abbot, is willing to stand for party leader in 2010. Even with 'Blair's babes' and an affirmative action approach for women in politics, there are still only 143 women in parliament out of a total 650 MPs. So, in an effort to highlight the rarity, as well as the achievements, of female heads of state, The Independent Online has compiled a brief guide to the 16 women taking over the world. Click here or on the image to launch our guide \|\|\|\|\| Finland picks new prime minister Mari Kiviniemi Continue reading the main story Related Stories Finland's parliament has appointed Centre Party leader Mari Kiviniemi as the country's new prime minister. The 41-year-old is set to replace Matti Vanhanen, also of the Centre Party, who resigned last week. Once her nomination is approved by the president, Ms Kiviniemi will become Finland's second female prime minister. Mr Vanhanen, who had been prime minister since 2003, announced in December that he would resign because of leg surgery. The Centre Party's popularity has been dented by a funding scandal in 2009 that left it trailing behind its coalition partners in the opinion polls. It is part of a four-party centre-right coalition that includes the National Coalition Party, the Greens and the Swedish People's Party. Ms Kiviniemi replaced Mr Vanhanen as Centre Party leader earlier this month. She has been in parliament for 15 years, serving recently as a minister for local government and public administration. Parliament approved her appointment by 115 votes to 56, with 24 people absent or abstaining.	Earlier this week the World Bank released the 2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development. The report noted relatively high numbers of women participating in Finnish politics, and credited the Council for Equality between Men and Women in Finland with progress. Pictured in 2003 during a state visit to Brazil, Tarja Halonen was Finland's first lady President. Finland bucks the global trend; the report notes globally "the number of women holding parliamentary seats is very low, and progress in the last 15 years has been slow." Female representation in national parliaments has risen from 10% in 1995 to 17% in 2009. By contrast, Finnish female parliamentarians accounted for 38.5% of new members in 1991, rising to 42.5% in 2011. Finland was one of just nine nations whose total female cabinet members stood at more than 40% in 2008. Globally, females accounted for 17% of ministers, representing a rise from just 8% in 1998. Although not specifically mentioned by the report, since the millennium the positions of and have both been held by women; Tarja Halonen became the nation's first female President in 2000 and in 2010 was selected to be the second female Prime Minister. Women gained suffrage in 1906 with little opposition, ahead of the US and UK. Students at a maths lecture at the The cross-party Council for Equality between Men and Women in Finland dates back to the 1970s; the World Bank dismisses its role at that time as "primarily symbolic" with little in the way of staff, funding, or influence. In the 1980s it was handed statutory power for gender equality issues and has gone on to press for reforms in areas including , job training, and quotas on political representation. The report calls the council a "success". Education, however, showed gender segregation by subject at the tertiary level; Finland was one of several countries singled out as examples of high gender segregation in economically developed countries, compared to lower levels of segregation in less well-developed nations. Finland is one of the four members of the with the highest segregation by subject alongside Croatia, Japan, and Lithuania. Finland has very high levels of education enrollment for both boys and girls, at almost 100% at level. Females are ahead of men in tertiary education enrollment, with 46% of men in the relevant age group enrolling in 1991 and 52% of women. By 2009 these numbers stood at 82% and 101% respectively. Boys and girls were neck and neck with high scores in their 2009 maths tests, both averaging around 540. Literacy also produced very high scores but with a gender gap; boys averaged around 510 while girls averaged around 560. Internet access in Finland is high with men slightly ahead; for men and women alike access stands at around 85%. Finns have a legal right to a 1Mbps broadband connection and authorities plan to have 100Mbps connections for every citizen by 2015. The proportion of women at least 25% of the time has risen from around 7% in 2000–1 to 9% in 2005; the male figure was at 9% in 2005 and is now 15–20%. Rapid teleworking growth is a global trend but the report notes the female figures generally grew faster. Marketplace activities also show gender disparity in Finland. Of activities performed by men and women, the female share stands at 41%, versus 63% for domestic activities such as housework. From 2006–9 services accounted for 87% of female and 56% of male employment. 10% of women and 37% of men were employed in industry and agriculture was only a minor employer, with 6% of male employment and 3% of female employment. Life expectancy for Finnish men has risen from 71 years in 1990 to 77 years in 2009; in the same period, women's life expectancy increased from 79 years to 83 years. The population stands at 5 million, representing a 0.4% annual growth rate from 2000 to 2010.
Countdown Report *Please reload this page for the latest on the launch. KIZUNA (WINDS) separation February 23, 2008 18:23 JST An updated status of the KIZUNA (WINDS) will be given on JAXA's website. This is the end of the Countdown Report. Thank you for visiting our website. X + 1'00" February 23, 2008 17:56 JST Liftoff! February 23, 2008 17:55 JST Automatic countdown sequence start February 23, 2008 17:50 JST X-30 (=T-30) minutes February 23, 2008 17:20 JST X-60 (=T-60) minutes terminal countdown February 23, 2008 16:50 JST JAXA live launch webcast will start at 16:20 JST. Third Go/NoGo decision - "Go" February 23, 2008 16:50 JST The launch time was rescheduled February 23, 2008 16:41 JST New launch time is 17:50 JST. The launch time has been changed February 23, 2008 15:30 JST Attitude control system flight slew test completed February 23, 2008 14:47 JST Radio frequency system checks completed February 23, 2008 11:35 JST First stage and second stage liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks fully loaded February 23, 2008 11:28 JST Attitude control system flight slew test completed February 23, 2008 9:25 JST Access restriction to be imposed inside a 3000 meters radius from the launch pad February 23, 2008 8:44 JST Pre-cooling operations started February 23, 2008 7:40 JST Terminal countdown operations started February 23, 2008 7:04 JST Access is restricted inside a 400 meters radius from the launch pad. Second Go/NoGo Decision - "Go" February 23, 2008 6:37 JST H-IIA F14 arrives at the launch pad February 23, 2008 4:00 JST Launch vehicle and pad facility connection operation starts. H-IIA F14 on the way to the launch pad February 23, 2008 3:30 JST The launch vehicle, mounted on a mobile launcher, will travel approximately 500 meters from the VAB to the launch pad. This takes approximately 30 minutes. First Go/NoGo Decision - "Go" February 23, 2008 0:30 JST The weather conditions were checked and the green light given, for transportation of H-IIA F14 from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to the launch pad. The scheduled launch window of today February 23 is from 16:20 to 17:55 JST. \|\|\|\|\| 9:23 GMT (4:23 am EST): Successful separation of KIZUNA. 9:22 GMT (4:22 am EST): Second stage engine shutdown. The rocket has done its work and KIZUNA will be separated in about one minute. 9:19 GMT (4:19 am EST): The second stage reignited and will burn for about 3 minutes. 9:07 GMT (4:07 am EST): Shut-down of the upper stage. The rocket now enters a cruise phase. The second stage engine will be fired for the second time in about 12 minutes. 9:01 GMT (4:01 am EST): Main engine cutoff and separation of the first stage. The second cryogenic stage ignited. The upper stage will now make its first burn for over 5 minutes. 8:59 GMT (3:59 am EST): The payload fairing is jettisoned. As the rocket reached over 160 kilometers altitude and left the dense atmosphere, this cover is no longer needed. 8:57 GMT (3:57 am EST): The last two SSBs are burnt out and all boosters have been jettisioned. The cryogenic core stage continues to push to rocket skywards. 8:56 GMT (3:56 am EST): The first two small solid rocket boosters have done their work and the second pair is ignited. 8:56 GMT (3:56 am EST): The SRBs are burnt out and jettisioned. 8:55 GMT (3:55 am EST): 10 seconds into the flight, the solid strap-on boosters (SSB) were ignited. 8:55 GMT (3:55 am EST): Liftoff of the H-IIA rocket carrying KIZUNA into GTO. 8:54 GMT (3:54 am EST): T-1. Switched to onboard power. Everything is ready for the launch of the H-IIA rocket. The main engine will be ignited 6 seconds before liftoff to ensure proper operation. 8:50 GMT (3:50 am EST): The countdown is resumed. 5 minutes until launch at 8:55 GMT. 8:47 GMT (3:47 am EST): Countdown is on hold for 5 minutes. That would target the launch at the end of the launch window at 8:55 GMT. 8:45 GMT (3:45 am EST): 5 minutes remaining until the launch. 8:35 GMT (3:35 am EST): 15 minutes remaining until the launch. 8:10 GMT (3:10 am EST): Additionally to the strong winds, there seems to have been a boat inside the security perimeter. 8:00 GMT (3:00 am EST): The launch has been delay due to too strong ground winds. The new launch time is set to 8:50 GMT (3:50 am EST) near the end of today’s launch window. 7:48 GMT (2:48 am EST): There seems to be another delay. 7:45 GMT (2:45 am EST): 10 minutes remaining until the launch. Everything is currently on go. Winds are quite strong today. 7:05 GMT (2:05 am EST): The launch time has been set now to 7:55 GMT (2:55 am EST). 50 minutes remaining until the launch. 6:20 GMT (1:20 am EST): T-1 hour: The guidance systems will now be updated with today‚Äôs launch parameters. Everything so far looks good for the launch in 60 minutes. 1:20 GMT (8:20 pm EST): T-6 hours. Fueling of the H-IIA has commenced. The core and upper stage are both powered by cryogenic propellants, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. February 23, 2008 February 22, 2008: The H-IIA rocket stands ready with the super high-speed Internet satellite “KIZUNA” (WINDS) on its Yoshinobu launch pad in Tanegashima. The “KIZUNA” is a communications satellite that enables super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps It has a mass of about 2,700 kilograms and will generate at least 5 kilowatts of power at the end of the designed life of 5 years. The H-IIA, vehicle number 14, will fly in its 2024 configuration: The core stage is surrounded by six solid rocket boosters, two of them big 154 tonnes heavy boosters burning for 2 minutes, and four of them smaller, 62 tonnes heavy, so called solid strap-on boosters (SSB) for additional thrust during one minute of the lift-off phase. The rocket stands 54 metres tall and weighs 348 tonnes. The payload fairing is 4 metres wide and 12 metres long. The launch window opens for 95 minutes at 7:20 GMT on February 23 (2:20 am EST). The injection orbit will be a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 250 kilometres and a apogee of 35,976 kilometres. Feel free to discuss this article in the forum… \|\|\|\|\| Japan's 'high-speed' satellite Japan's space agency has launched a communications satellite designed to enable super high-speed data transmission. A domestically developed H-2A rocket carrying the satellite, "Kizuna", lifted off from the southern island of Tanegashima, according to a live internet broadcast by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The initial lift-off was successful despite a one-and-a-half hour delay due to strong winds and an unexpected ship entry in restricted waters near the space centre. \|\|\|\|\| By Teruaki Ueno TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan launched an experimental communications satellite on Saturday as part of an ambitious space program that could help ensure super high-speed Internet access in remote parts of Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The H-2A rocket carrying the 2.7 tonne "KIZUNA" (WINDS) communications satellite took off into over the tiny island of Tanegashima, about 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tokyo, at 5.55 p.m. (0855 GMT). The launch had been briefly delayed after a ship strayed into restricted waters. The KIZUNA, equipped with three antennas targeting Japan, Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions, is referred to as the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite or WINDS. The geostationary satellite will be used to conduct experiments on large-volume, high-speed data communications on remote mountains and islands with little Internet access. Japan's scientists say the 52.2 billion yen ($490 million) launch of WINDS will help the country build one of the world's most advanced information and telecommunications networks. The launch comes 12 years after the project started, due mainly to technical glitches involving launch vehicles. "The WINDS will help develop a society with no digital divide where everyone can enjoy high-speed communications equally no matter where they live," said an official at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Continued... \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Japan launched a rocket Saturday carrying a satellite that will test new technology that promises to deliver "super high-speed Internet" service to homes and businesses around the world. A rocket carrying a super-fast Internet satellite lifts off from its launch pad on the Japanese island of Tanagashima. The rocket carrying the WINDS satellite -- a joint project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -- lifted off its pad at 5:55 p.m. (0855 GMT). If the technology proves successful, subscribers with small dishes will connect to the Internet at speeds many times faster than what is now available over residential cable or DSL services. The Associated Press said the satellite would offer speeds of up to 1.2 gigabytes per second. The service initially would focus on the Asia-Pacific region close to Japan, a JAXA news release said. "Among other uses, this will make possible great advances in telemedicine, which will bring high-quality medical treatment to remote areas, and in distance education, connecting students and teachers separated by great distances," JAXA said. The rocket was launched from Japan's Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center. 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.	right A Japanese H-IIA carrier rocket has successfully launched the Wideband InterNetworking test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS) experimental communication satellite. WINDS, also known as Kizuna, is a Japanese spacecraft intended to relay Internet access to homes and organisaa
WASHINGTON After four years pursuing one former Army scientist on a costly false trail, F.B.I. agents investigating the deadly anthrax letters of 2001 finally zeroed in last year on a different suspect: another Army scientist from the same biodefense research center at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. Over the last 18 months, even as the government battled a lawsuit filed by the first scientist, Steven J. Hatfill, investigators built a case against the second one, Bruce E. Ivins, a highly respected microbiologist who had worked for many years to design a better anthrax vaccine. Last weekend, after learning that federal prosecutors were preparing to indict him on murder charges, Dr. Ivins, a 62-year-old father of two, took an overdose of Tylenol with codeine. He died in a Frederick hospital on Tuesday, leaving behind a grieving family and uncertainty about whether the anthrax mystery had finally been solved. The apparent suicide of Dr. Ivins, a Red Cross volunteer and amateur juggler who had won the Defense Department’s highest civilian award in 2003, was a dramatic turn in one of the largest criminal investigations in the nation’s history. The attack, the only major act of bioterrorism on American soil, came in the jittery aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. It killed five people, sickened 17 others and set off a wave of panic. \|\|\|\|\| Apparent suicide in anthrax case Bruce E. Ivins, a scientist who helped the FBI investigate the 2001 mail attacks, was about to face charges. FOR THE RECORD: Anthrax investigation: An article in Friday's Section A about the 2001 anthrax mailings said that suspect Bruce E. Ivins had worked for the last 18 years at the government's elite biodefense research laboratories at Ft. Detrick, Md. It should have said the last 28 years. — Ivins, whose name had not been disclosed publicly as a suspect in the case, played a central role in research to improve anthrax vaccines by preparing anthrax formulations used in experiments on animals. Regarded as a skilled microbiologist, Ivins also helped the FBI analyze the powdery material recovered from one of the anthrax-tainted envelopes sent to a U.S. senator's office in Washington.Ivins died Tuesday at Frederick Memorial Hospital after ingesting a massive dose of prescription Tylenol mixed with codeine, said a friend and colleague, who declined to be identified out of concern that he would be harassed by the FBI.The death -- without any mention of suicide -- was announced to Ivins' colleagues at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, or USAMRIID, through a staffwide e-mail."People here are pretty shook up about it," said Caree Vander Linden, a spokeswoman for USAMRIID, who said she was not at liberty to discuss details surrounding the death.The anthrax mailings killed five people, crippled national mail service, shut down a Senate office building and spread fear of further terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks.The extraordinary turn of events followed the government's payment in June of a settlement valued at $5.82 million to a former government scientist, Steven J. Hatfill , who was long targeted as the FBI's chief suspect despite a lack of any evidence that he had ever possessed anthrax.The payout to Hatfill, a highly unusual development that all but exonerated him in the mailings, was an essential step to clear the way for prosecuting Ivins, according to lawyers familiar with the matter.Federal investigators moved away from Hatfill -- for years the only publicly identified "person of interest" -- and ultimately concluded that Ivins was the culprit after FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III changed leadership of the investigation in late 2006.The FBI's new top investigators -- Vincent B. Lisi and Edward W. Montooth -- instructed agents to reexamine leads or potential suspects that may have received insufficient attention. Moreover, significant progress was made in analyzing genetic properties of the anthrax powder recovered from letters addressed to two senators.The renewed efforts led the FBI back to USAMRIID, where agents first questioned scientists in December 2001, a few weeks after the fatal mailings.By spring of this year, FBI agents were still contacting Ivins' present and former colleagues. At USAMRIID and elsewhere, scientists acquainted with Ivins were asked to sign confidentiality agreements in order to prevent leaks of new investigative details.Ivins, employed as a civilian at Ft. Detrick, earlier had attracted the attention of Army officials because of anthrax contaminations that Ivins failed to report for five months. In sworn oral and written statements to an Army investigator, Ivins said that he had erred by keeping the episodes secret -- from December 2001 to late April 2002. He said he had swabbed and bleached more than 20 areas that he suspected were contaminated by a sloppy lab technician."In retrospect, although my concern for biosafety was honest and my desire to refrain from crying 'Wolf!' . . . was sincere, I should have notified my supervisor ahead of time of my worries about a possible breach in biocontainment," Ivins told the Army. "I thought that quietly and diligently cleaning the dirty desk area would both eliminate any possible [anthrax] contamination as well as prevent unintended anxiety at the institute."The Army chose not to discipline Ivins regarding his failure to report the contamination. Officials said that penalizing Ivins might discourage other employees from voluntarily reporting accidental spills of "hot" agents.But Ivins' recollections should have raised serious questions about his veracity and his intentions, according to some of those familiar with the investigation. For instance, although Ivins said that he swabbed areas near and within his personal office, and bleached surfaces to kill any spores, and that some of the swabs tested positive, he was vague about what should have been an essential next step: \|\|\|\|\| Scientist In Anthrax Case Dead Of Apparent Suicide Q&A;: Behind The Anthrax Investigations Who was Bruce Ivins, and why was he a target in the FBI's investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks? Here, a look at the questions surrounding the case. Timeline: Anthrax Attacks Read a chronology of who was infected in the anthrax attacks and the FBI's pursuit of the culprit. Peace Order Mental health counselor Jean C. Duley requested that the court in Frederick County, Md., issue a type of restraining order against Ivins. Ivins' address has been blacked out to protect his family's privacy. Read The Request Filed Against Ivins In July 2008 A senior government scientist who helped investigate the deadly anthrax attacks in 2001 died this week of an apparent suicide amid reports that the Justice Department probe had shifted to him. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, died Tuesday at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Maryland, according to an obituary in Ivins' hometown newspaper, The Frederick News-Post. The scientist died after taking a massive dose of prescription Tylenol mixed with codeine, according to an unidentified colleague of Ivins' quoted in the Los Angeles Times' Friday editions. Ivins, who had worked for 18 years at the government's biodefense labs at Fort Detrick, Md., apparently had been notified that he was to be prosecuted for the deaths connected to the anthrax attacks. Court documents filed in Frederick County, Md., indicated prosecutors may have planned to seek the death penalty. Ivins' attorney, Paul F. Kemp, said in a statement that his firm had represented the scientist for more than a year. Kemp maintained that Ivins was innocent and said the pressure of the government investigation led to his client's suicide. "We assert his innocence in these killings, and would have established that at trial. The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation. In Dr. Ivins' case, it led to his untimely death," Kemp said in a statement. But there were indications that Ivins was psychologically unstable. Mental health counselor Jean C. Duley requested that the court in Frederick County, Md., issue a "peace order" — a type of restraining order — against Ivins earlier this month. The Justice Department, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a statement saying sophisticated scientific tools have resulted in "significant developments" in the investigation of the anthrax attacks. However, the release said no details could be provided because of obligations to the victims and a court seal preventing disclosure of some information. Court documents submitted by Duley indicate Ivins had a long history of "homicidal actions, threats and plans." Notes attributed to Duley on a copy of the peace order obtained by NPR indicated she had been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 1 and that the FBI was going to charge Ivins with five capital murders. The anthrax was sent through the mail to media organizations and politicians shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, crippling mail service, shutting down a Senate office building and spreading fear of further terrorism. Five people were killed and 17 were sickened by anthrax that was mailed to lawmakers' Capitol Hill offices, television networks in New York and a newspaper office in Florida. Two postal workers in a Washington mail facility, a New York hospital worker, a Florida photo editor and an elderly Connecticut woman were killed. Kemp's statement said Ivins had cooperated with the probe for more than six years, using his expertise as a scientist to help the government. A renowned microbiologist, Ivins had published numerous scholarly works on anthrax. He helped the FBI analyze materials recovered from one of the anthrax-tainted envelopes sent to a U.S. senator's office in Washington, the newspaper said. Earlier, suspicion centered on another government scientist, Steven Hatfill, who worked in the same Fort Detrick laboratory as Ivins. In 2002, federal law enforcement officials, including Attorney General John Ashcroft, called Hatfill a "person of interest" in the investigation. A year later, Hatfill sued various Justice Department officials, including Ashcroft. Earlier this year, the Justice Department agreed to pay Hatfill a multimillion-dollar settlement. Federal investigators began to suspect Ivins in late 2006 after a change in leadership at the FBI prompted a re-examination of the evidence, according to the Times report. Ivins was facing forced retirement in September, a longtime colleague told the Times. The colleague said Ivins was emotionally fractured by the federal scrutiny. On July 24, Ivins was released from a facility operated by Sheppard Pratt Health System where he was reportedly being treated for depression. He is survived by his wife of 33 years and two children.	NBC anthrax letter sent to Tom Brokaw.A man about to be indicted by the United States Department of Justice died Tuesday. His lawyer has called the death a suicide. Bruce Edwards Ivins, 62, was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick, Maryland, where he died of an overdose of Tylenol and codeine, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported Friday. Ivins, who worked at the biodefense laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland for 18 years, was about to be charged by the Justice Department in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks, which killed five people and infected 17 others. Ivin's lawyer, Paul Kemp, insisted that his client had no role in the attacks, which targeted politicians in Washington DC, and members of the media in New York City and Florida. "For six years, Dr. Ivins fully cooperated with that investigation, assisting the government in every way that was asked of him," Mr. Kemp told the ''New York Times''. "The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation. In Dr. Ivins’ case, it led to his untimely death." Both the ''New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times'' report that Ivins assisted the FBI and other agencies in the investigation after the 2001 attacks. The ''Los Angeles Times'' reports that Ivins was reinvestigated beginning in 2006 after FBI Director Robert Mueller changed the case's leadership. Before then, the only labeled "person of interest" was Steven J. Hatfill. He has since been cleared and paid between $4.6 and $5.82 million by the U.S. Government as part of a settlement stemming for 2003 law suits filed against the Justice Department and government officials, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft. The ''New York Times'' also reported that a spokesman for Hatfill said that rushing to judgment in the case is a mistake. “Everybody is jumping to the conclusion that because this guy committed suicide, he must be the anthrax killer,” Mr. Clawson told the ''New York Times''. “That is a lousy premise. The pressure of these F.B.I. investigations on individuals is phenomenal, and it is quite likely that this guy cracked under that pressure but had nothing to do with the killings.” The ''New York Times'' reports that Ivins had been undergoing psychiatric treatment within the last month and had a restraining order placed on him by a woman he was allegedly stalking and threatening. According to National Public Radio (NPR), mental health professional Jean C. Duley requested that Frederick County court issue a "peace order", a type of restraining order, against Ivins in July. Duley submitted documents to the court which show a history of "homicidal actions, threats and plans." The ''New York Times'' also reports that Ivins was a religious man. Members of his congregation gathered early Friday to pray for him at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Frederick. The Associated Press cites one of Ivins' colleagues who said he had been removed from his work area as he was thought to be a potential threat to others. According to NPR, one colleague said he was "emotionally fractured by the federal scrutiny."
Wiggins had performed well in the time trials on the Tour Moreni, who was Italian champion in 2004, tested positive for testosterone following last Thursday's 11th stage. Wiggins, the reigning Olympic pursuit champion, was lying 138th - two hours 42 minutes and 20 seconds off the lead. "I don't want to continue in the Tour de France anyway, it is not supposed to be like this," he told the Guardian. "It is completely gutting to have to quit the Tour but everyone knows where I stand on doping. I have nothing to hide. "It's pure stupidity on the part of Moreni. I don't know how he can have slipped through the net. "It makes you think about your future as a professional cyclist. It makes me question the whole thing, but then you think why not continue because I get a lot of pleasure out of it." Cofidis team president Francois Migraine said: "It's the only thing to do in such circumstances." Wiggins finished fourth in the prologue, which was held in London, and fifth in last Saturday's 54km time-trial in Albi. The 27-year-old would have expected to do well in next Saturday's time-trial between Cognac and Angouleme. 606: COMMENT The best start ever to a Tour de France - that is what the organisers were saying in London 18 days ago; it seems like a long time ago now BBC Sport's Phil Sheehan Wiggins' trainer Shane Sutton told Five Live: "Bradley has always been clean from day one and he will be very disappointed. "One mindless individual has put everybody at risk and it is a shame." London's mayor Ken Livingstone, who watched Wiggins in the prologue, said: "This is deeply disappointing for Bradley Wiggins, who has had a fantastic Tour de France. "As a steadfastly clean rider, he is well-known for his vocal condemnation of drug use in his sport, and has been a tremendous ambassador for London and cycling." Cofidis are one of 11 teams not to win a stage yet. Their voluntary withdrawal leaves 19 teams in the race after Astana were asked to withdraw following Alexandre Vinokourov's positive test. Vinokourov, a pre-race favourite, tested positive for blood doping after winning last Saturday's time-trial stage. The Kazakh rider reportedly had two different kinds of red blood cells, indicating he has taken blood from someone of a compatible group. Just 24 hours later, Moreni became the second competitor to fail a drugs test. The Italian was questioned by police and Cofidis team manager Eric Boyer told Reuters: "He accepted his wrongdoing and did not ask for a B-sample." \|\|\|\|\| Rasmussen extended his lead to over three minutes The race leader was followed by rivals Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer for the whole day, but left them standing on the Col d'Aubisque. In a day marred by Alexandre Vinokourov's failed dope test, Rasmussen extended his lead to over three minutes ahead of Contador. Carlos Sastre led for much of the day, but found the last climb too much. After the overnight news had left the race reeling once again, riders from eight teams, who have formed the Movement for a Credible Cycling, began the day with a protest against doping, delaying the start by 13 minutes. Once the stage got underway, Stephane Auge, Vincente Garcia-Acosta, Gorka Verdugo and Christophe Rinero made an early break, and established a lead of nearly nine minutes by the time they reached the first climb of Port de Larrau. Looking to leapfrog Rasmussen at the top of the polka dot jersey competition, Juan Mauricio Soler broke off from the front of the peloton and was joined by sixth-place Sastre and Amets Txurruka. The trio caught the breakaway on the approach to the second major climb of the day, the Col de la Pierre St-Martin, and with Sastre leading the way, built a lead of almost five minutes by the summit. Sastre got himself to within two minutes of Rasmussen's overall lead when the Dane's Rabobank team-mates responded at the front of the peloton. They gradually reeled in the escapees, and by the time the race reached the final, hors category climb of the Col d'Aubisque, it had become a four-way battle between the top-placed riders overall - Rasmussen, Contador, Leipheimer and Cadel Evans. In an epic mountain duel on the previous stage's finish on the Col de Peyresourde, Contador had relentlessly attacked Rasmussen but here, despite help from team-mate Leipheimer, the Colombian could not wear the Dane down. And in the final kilometre of a gruelling climb, Rasmussen stood up on his pedals and powered away from his rivals to win the stage and all but seal his grip on the yellow jersey. Aferwards, Rasmussen admitted that he had used a different strategy to handle Contador's attacks: "On Monday I was finding it tough to follow him," he said. "So I decided to use a different strategy and go at my tempo," he added. "It worked perfectly because he blew up." Stage 16 result: Orthez to Gourette-Col d'Aubisque (218.5km) 1. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank, 6 hrs, 23 mins, 21 secs 2. Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel, @ 26 secs 3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel, @ 35 secs 4. Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto, @ 43 secs 5. Juan Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld, @ 1 min 25 secs 6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, @ 1 min 52 secs 7. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir, @ 1 min 54 secs 8. Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC, @ 2 mins 12 secs 9. Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, @ 2 mins 27 secs 10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, same time. Selected others: 25. Charlie Wegelius (GB) Liquigas, @ 7 mins 50 secs 135 Bradley Wiggins (GB) Cofidis @ 41 mins 49 secs 137 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld same time 138 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval same time Overall standings: 1. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank, 76 hrs, 15 mins, 15 secs 2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel, @ 3 mins 10 secs 3. Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto, @ 5 mins 3 secs 4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery Channel, @ 5 mins 59 secs 5. Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC, @ 9 mins 12 secs 6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, @ 9 mins 39 secs 7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, @ 13 mins 28 secs 8. Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile, 14 mins 46 secs 9. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel, @ 16 mins 10. Juan Mauricio Soler(Col) Barloworld, @ 16 mins 41 secs. Selected Others: 48 Charlie Wegelius (GB) Liquigas @ 1 hrs 44 mins 15 secs 76 David Millar (GB) Saunier Duval @ 2 hrs 34 mins 24 secs 131 Bradley Wiggins (GB) Cofidis @ 3 hrs 24 mins 29 secs 148 Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld @ 3 hrs 42 mins 7 secs. \|\|\|\|\| Rasmussen... Again Michael Rasmussen has endured tough times during his days in the yellow jersey. He copped a grilling by journalists at a Rabobank press conference in Pau on the second rest day but responded by winning his second stage in the 2007 Tour de France while clad in the yellow jersey. The Dane was attacked by his rivals on the road between Orthez and the Col d’Aubisque with Carlos Sastre taking a gamble and attacking on the first of five mountain passes of what many believed was the toughest day of the 94th edition. By the finale on the ‘hors category’ mountain, Sastres advantage was whittled away to naught; he was caught passed and stood no chance of matching an elite trio of climbers who would go on to contest the battle for stage honors. It looked like being a Discovery Channel coup when Yaroslav Popovych disposed of all but three men with a powerful turn of pace at the base of the Aubisque ascent. Cadel Evans, Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador and Michael Rasmussen remained after the Ukrainian’s effort ended. The two Disco recruits bludgeoned the other pair with one-two punches in the final five kilometers; this served to drop Evans but Rasmussen remained. In the final kilometer he made one decisive move and was never seen again until after throwing his first victory salute in the ‘maillot jaune’. The 218.5km 16th stage of the 2007 Tour de France, from Orthez to Col d’Aubisque, began at 10.58am. There were 151 riders at the sign-on. The Astana team forfeited its place in the race at the request of the organizers following the positive doping control of Alexandre Vinokourov for a homogulous blood transfusion on the day of his time trial “win” in Albi. There were five climbs on the itinerary: the ‘hors categorie’ ascent of the Port de Larrau (at 79km), the cat-3 Alto Laza (at 93km), the cat-1 Col de la Pierre St-Martin (at 131km), the cat-1 Col de Marie-Blanque (at 180.5km) and the final ascent to the Col d’Aubisque. The two intermediate sprints were in Mauleon-Licharre (36km) and Laruns (200km). Four Escape After Brief Protest Riders from seven teams staged a small protest at the site of the ‘depart fictif’: the representatives from C.A, FDJ, COF, A2R, BTL and GST remained idle on the line while other squads rolled away at 10.40am. It was a gesture of solidarity from the riders who are part of MPCC (Mouvement pour un cyclisme crédible). At the 8km mark an escape group formed: Auge (COF) attacked and was joined by Verdugo (EUS), Rinero (SDV) and Garcia-Acosta (GCE) at 9km. By the 15km mark, the peloton was 2’00” behind and the advantage grew rapidly: 19km – 4’20”; 21km – 6’40”; and, 30km 8’50”. The average speed for the first hour was 40.4km/h. Barloworld came to the front of the peloton. Port de Larrau & Alto Laza Barloworld led the peloton to the base of the first climb. The deficit at the foot of the Port de Larrau was 8’55”. Cardenas led Soler for the first kilometer and then the rider wearing the polka-dot jersey accelerated ahead of the peloton. He was chased down by Sastre (CSC) and shortly afterwards by Mayo (SDV). With 4km to climb, Verdugo and Garcia-Acosta dropped Auge and Rinero. There were no attacks in the peloton and four Rabobank riders – including Rasmussen – led the main pack to the summit. At the top Sastre’s trio was 3’05” behind and Rasmussen’s group (of 28 riders) was at 4’35”. At the top of the second climb Garcia-Acosta again claimed 1st place by outsprinting Verdugo. Auge was at 2’00”, Rinero at 2’10”, Sastre’s group at 2’35” and the yellow jersey’s peloton at 5’40”. Col de la Pierre St-Martin Sastre, Soler, Mayo, Rinero and Auge - has caught Verdugo and Garcia-Acosta at the 110km mark. The peloton was 4’10” behind. With 14km to go to the third summit, Rinero swung over and let the six others go ahead without him. Auge also got dropped early. With 5km to climb the five led Auge by 2’45”, Rinero by 3’00” and the peloton by 4’10”. The two Frenchmen were caught by the peloton at the 150km mark (the peloton was 4’50” behind). Col de Marie-Blanque Dekker rode from the top of the 3rd climb to the base the Col de Marie-Blanque. The deficit for the peloton to the five escapees dropped to 3’15” when he pulled over to let Menchov and Boogerd take over the pace-setting duties. The first to drop from the lead group was Garcia-Acosta with 4km to climb. The peloton was 3’00” behind with 3km to climb. Sastre was at the front of the lead group for the majority of the climb while Soler marked him closely. With 1km to climb, Verdugo was dropped from the lead group and the peloton, reduced to Periero, Arroyo, Valverde, Schleck, Evans, Horner, Menchov, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Zubeldia, Halgand, Leipheimer, Contador, Popovych and Cobo… who were 2’40” behind. At the top Soler took first place points, Garcia-Acosta was at 1’25” and the peloton was led by Rasmussen 2’25” behind the rider in the virtual lead of the mountains classification. Approaching The Aubisque With 25km to go in the stage, the escape group’s advantage on the yellow jersey was 1’25”. Garcia-Acosta dropped out of the lead group and helped set the pace until the base of the final ascent when the advantage of the four escapees was just 45”. Verdugo was caught and passed by Rasmussen’s group at the foot of the Aubisque. Rasmussen Races Onward A Salute In Yellow… Soler and Sastre tried to maintain their advantage but a powerful turn of pace by Popovych in the first 5km of the final ascent would be the beginning of the end for the escapees. They were caught with 9.5km to go and dropped immediately by an elite selection that had been whittled down to just Rasmussen, Contador, Leipheimer and Evans. The Spaniard attacked three times but he was chased down each time. The decisive blow for Evans would come from the American. With 4.5km to go, the Australian was out of contention. In the last kilometer Rasmussen raced into the lead and onward to victory. He increased his advantage in the general classification but lost the lead of the mountains classification to Soler. Rasmussen will wear the yellow jersey in stage 17.	__noTOC__ Stage 16 profile Michael Rasmussen of Denmark has won stage 16 of the 2007 Tour de France in a time of 6h 23' 21". Rasmussen increased his overall lead by 35" over Alberto Contador of Spain, who finished third. After a rest day, the riders faced the third-longest, 218.5 km, and arguably the Tour’s hardest, stage. The first challenge was the brutal Port de Larrau (14.7 km climb at 8.1%), which is just 79km into the stage. The race dips into Spain for some 50 kilometres at the summit, the fourth country visited in this year’s Tour. From there, there was little reprieve for the riders, hitting the Alto Laza and the Col de la Pierre St Martin (14.2 km climb at 5.2%) before descending to the start of the difficult, and very steep, first-category Col de Marie-Blanque (9.3 km climb at 7.4%). The riders then climb the infamous Col d'Aubisque (16.7 km climb at 7%), which will reward out-and-out climbing ability and punish the legs of all the major contenders. The entire Astana Team withdrew from the Tour prior to this stage due to Alexander Vinokourov testing positive for blood doping. Some riders staged a protest against doping at the start. Another doping scandal hit the Tour today. Cristian Moreni of Italy tested positive for testosterone in a test conducted after Thursday's stage 11. Moreni was questioned by police. Cofidis team manager Eric Boyer told ''Reuters'': "He accepted his wrongdoing and did not ask for a B-sample." Like Astana did, Cofidis has withdrawn its entire team from the Tour. François Migraine, the team president and CEO of the sponsoring insurance company, Cofidis, said: "It's the only thing to do in such circumstances."
The death toll after three days of violence in Mumbai rose past 150 as shroud-wrapped bodies were ferried last night from the smouldering remains of a luxury hotel and an ultra-orthodox Jewish centre freed from the clutches of Islamist militants. More than 300 people were injured in the battles that began when gunmen took to the streets of India's financial capital late on Wednesday, spraying bullets and throwing grenades to spread terror across the city. They ended up invading several Mumbai landmarks: two luxury hotels and a Jewish house of prayer - a new phenomenon for India, but a familiar pattern from attacks inspired by militant Islamism. Yesterday the death toll of foreigners reached 16, including a father and daughter from the US in India for a yoga retreat. British officials said at least 100 Britons were caught up in the attacks, with more than 40 held hostage or forced to hide in their rooms to save their lives. Last night Indian forces fired grenades at the Taj Mahal hotel where at least one gunman continued to elude Indian commandos through the maze of corridors and rooms. The militant was believed to have been using human shields to taunt and evade Indian security forces, and a bag captured from the gunmen revealed a stockpile meant for a long siege: 400 rounds of ammunition, grenades, identity cards, rations, $1,000 (£650) in cash and international credit cards. A member of India's elite marine commando unit said the scene inside the hotel was grim. The commander, his face disguised by a black scarf and sunglasses, said he had seen 50 bodies, including 12 to 15 in one room. "Bodies were strewn all over the place, and there was blood everywhere," he said. Indian commandos had cleared the last of the gunmen from the Oberoi-Trident hotel early yesterday afternoon, freeing 200 exhausted guests. Special forces had less luck in the battle for the Jewish centre. Their raid on the premises began with a team abseiling from a helicopter on to the roof of the apartment complex but ended with five hostages dead. Television pictures last night showed dead bodies spread across beds in the building. Ehud Barak, Israel's defence minister, said last night the bodies of three women and three men were found, including some who had been bound. India pointed the finger of blame at Pakistan, with the foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, saying "initial evidence" showed "elements with links to Pakistan are involved". India has long blamed its neighbour for nurturing jihadi groups to fight in the disputed Kashmir region. In 2006 another coordinated bombing spree on Mumbai's railway killed more than 180 commuters. Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist group patronised by Pakistan in the past, was blamed at the time. But Indian ministers yesterday appeared to be saying that they were accusing Pakistan-based groups of staging the attack, and not the state itself. Pakistan has denied involvement and condemned the attacks. The country's president, Asif Ali Zardari, telephoned India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, to reassure him of his support in the battle against terrorism. Zardari condemned the attacks, saying "non-state actors" were responsible. In an unprecedented step, Pakistan agreed to let the head of the its military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency go to India to share information with investigators there. The British government, meanwhile, was investigating whether two of the attackers could be British citizens of Pakistani origin. Asked about the possibility of any British link to the Mumbai attacks, Gordon Brown said it was "too early" to reach any conclusions. Taj Mahal hotel By yesterday the five-star hotel was into its third day as the centre of a war zone with ambulances parked outside to ferry away the dead and the injured. One military chief said up to 15 bodies may be inside one room alone. Special forces were firing into the old part of the hotel building, and were having to take cover from gun and grenade attacks from terrorists still at large. All day, gun battles broke out between commandos trying to flush out the last terrorists in the building. The terrorists were so well equipped that, more than 48 hours after the siege began, they were able to return fire and lob grenades at the Indian forces trying to kill and capture them. The number of terrorists still holed up in the Taj was unclear. They were believed to be on the first floor of the old building and medics at the scene said that hostages were being held and used as human shields. Outside, troops took cover behind vehicles and trees as gun battles continued for hours and smoke billowed from the hotel. Ambulances parked outside the Taj were waiting for the casualties. Neville Bharucha, of the Parsi ambulance service, said bodies were inside the hotel but could not be recovered because terrorists were still at large. He had been briefed by security officials about the situation inside, he said: "There are dead bodies in the old Taj building. They are all lying there, they are the guests. We can't recover the bodies because of the terrorists. They are still holding human shields." The chief of an Indian commando unit at the hotel said the terrorists were "very determined and remorseless", and ready for a long siege. He said the Taj was filled with terrified civilians, making it very difficult for the commandos to fire on the gunmen. "To try to avoid civilian casualties we had to be so much more careful," he said, adding that the hotel was a grim sight. Sajjad Karim, 38, a Tory MEP staying at the hotel who hid from the gunmen in a barricaded basement room, landed back in Britain yesterday, describing the ordeal as "one you can never prepare yourself for". Speaking at Manchester airport, as he hugged his children aged eight and six, he said: "Seeing that you weren't alone in the situation and there were very many other people with you in the same desperate circumstances - you give one another strength." Oberoi Trident Indian special forces yesterday ended the siege at the Oberoi hotel and said 24 bodies had been found. Commandos killed two militants and freed 143 guests, including Britons and other foreign nationals. About 40 Britons were believed to have been caught up in the attack on the Oberoi, and consular officials quickly took them away from the scene as the siege ended. "I'm going home, I'm going to see my wife," said Mark Abell, with a huge smile on his face after emerging from the hotel. He had locked himself in his room during the siege. "These people here have been fantastic, the Indian authorities, the hotel staff," he said. JK Dutt, director general of India's elite national security guard, said: "The hotel is under our control." Well-dressed foreigners and Indians, some dragging their suitcases, were escorted into waiting buses and cars. One foreign member of the hotel staff left holding a baby in his arms, others wept as police showed them photographs of dead relatives for identification. As the evening wore on some relatives were allowed into the Oberoi to search for missing loved ones. A delegation from the United States consulate also entered the hotel to search for its nationals. Jewish centre Throughout the day crowds grew around Nariman House, Mumbai's Jewish centre, jostling for a view of the yellow five-storey building. Every hour or so police cleared the street, and just as quickly people filled back into the spaces along the alleys, lanes, rooftops and roads. They came to watch Indian commandos dropping from a helicopter about 20 metres on to the roof and the deadly denouement of an assault on the terrorists who lay within. A pattern had emerged early on with bursts of gunfire from pistols, machine-guns and sniper rifles lasting 15 minutes, cascading into the facade and windows of the building before an eerie silence was restored for half an hour. This continued until evening fell. Then the commandos finally entered the shell of the building. Snipers continued shooting before a succession of rockets were fired. At 5.30pm there was a huge explosion on the fourth floor, sending the crowds to the ground. Commandos then proceeded into the flat, emptying ammunition clips in quick succession. The siege of Nariman House was over. Outside the street filled with cheering people chanting "India is free" and "long live mother India". Six young Israelis from Zaka, the group responsible for mopping up blood and body parts from the scenes of suicide attacks in Israel, arrived. It was then confirmed that five hostages were dead. They included Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, the Brooklyn-based directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Mumbai. The remains of two gunmen were also found. \|\|\|\|\| Login Enter your details below to login Email address Password Keep me logged in information Keeps you logged in for a rolling 15 days or until you logout Forgot your password? \|\|\|\|\| Indian commandos prepare to attack from the rooftop of Nariman House in Mumbai Gunfire, blasts at Mumbai hotel as militants fight to death MUMBAI (AFP) — Indian commandos were locked in heavy fighting inside a Mumbai hotel Saturday as they battled to end two-day-old assault by Pakistan-linked militants which has left up to 155 dead, including foreigners. Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked the historic Taj Mahal hotel, where a tiny group of heavily armed gunmen were engaged in a fight to the death some 56 hours after the start of the killing spree across India's financial capital. Elite troops had already stormed a Mumbai Jewish centre and killed two gunmen -- but also found five dead Israeli hostages, including a US-based rabbi and his wife, who were murdered as the commandos closed in. The other luxury hotel that was attacked, the Oberoi/Trident, was declared clear of militants late Friday, with scores of trapped guests rescued and 24 bodies found. "They were the kind of people with no remorse -- anybody and whomsoever came in front of them they fired," an Indian commando leader said of the young gunmen who slipped into Mumbai on Wednesday evening. "We could have got those terrorists but for so many hotel guests," he said. Indian media reports said up to 155 people were dead and 327 others wounded. TV channels described the attacks as "India's 9/11." Around 18 foreigners were among those killed, including the Israelis, two Americans, two French nationals, a German, a Japanese, a Canadian, two Australians, a British Cypriot, an Italian and a Singaporean. Nine militants were confirmed dead and one captured. Indian intelligence sources said the detained gunman had confessed to coming from Pakistan. One group entered the city by boat, while others were believed to have been inside the city -- stockpiling arms and explosives -- well before the attacks were launched. A government minister said the overall toll could rise further as more corpses are recovered. "Once the bodies are collected, the number of deaths might go up to 200," India's Minister of State for Home Affairs Sri Prakash Jaiswal told the Press Trust of India. The crisis risked escalating into a major crisis between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee saying that "some elements in Pakistan are responsible " for the assault. A number of Indian officials suggested the militants were from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- notorious for a deadly assault on the Indian parliament in 2001 that almost pushed New Delhi and Islamabad to war. But Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani insisted his country had "nothing to do with the attacks" and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi appealed to India not to get drawn into a "blame game" that could spark a dangerous confrontation. The two countries have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Survivors have given terrifying accounts of the carnage in the hotels. Many said they hid in the dark for hours, barricaded in rooms or hiding under beds, inside wardrobes or bathrooms. "I cannot believe what I have seen in the last 36 hours. I have seen dead bodies, blood everywhere and only heard gunshots," said Muneer Al Mahaj after he was rescued. South African security guard Faisul Nagel was having dinner with colleagues at a restaurant in the Taj hotel when the assault began. They barricaded the restaurant and moved everyone into the kitchen. "We basically put the lights off in the restaurant just to create an element of surprise. And we armed ourselves with kitchen knives and meat cleavers," he told AFP. They ended up helping around 120 people escape -- including a 90-year-old woman who had to be carried in her chair down 25 flights of stairs. Witnesses also said the attackers had specifically rounded up people with US and British passports. Both the United States and Britain expressed condolences and offered to help investigate the assault on Mumbai, which has been hit by terror attacks before. Nearly 190 people were killed in train bombings in 2006. US President George W. Bush said he was "deeply saddened," and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was sending police to help with the probe. India's newspapers laid much of the blame at the door of the intelligence agencies, which they said had failed spectacularly in allowing a handful of gunmen to slip in by boat and wreak such havoc and devastation. The Indian Express singled out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he bore "special responsibility" because he had been "partly distracted" by modernising the country's foreign policy and its economy. On Saturday, the capital area of New Delhi was holding state elections, with the polls seen as a key political indicator ahead of national elections dues by May next year. The opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been citing the attacks as proof that Singh's governing Congress party is weak on terrorism. \|\|\|\|\| Italian chef Emanuele Lattanzi carrying his daughter walks out after being rescued from Oberoi Trident Hotel where suspected militants are holed up in Mumbai, India, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. Masked Indian commandos dropped from helicopters Friday onto the roof of a Jewish center in Mumbai where Muslim militants were holed up, possibly with hostages, as sharpshooters kept up a steady stream of fire at the five-story building. The attack came as commandoes scoured two luxury hotels room-by-room for survivors and holed-up militants, more than a day after a chain of attacks across India's financial center by suspected Muslim militants left people dead. (AP Photo) Mumbai survivor: 'There were bodies everywhere' MUMBAI, India (AP) — At first, waiter Joseph Joy Pulithara thought the blasts were rows of liquor bottles exploding for some reason behind the Mumbai hotel's sleek bar. Running to the scene, he found a woman screaming — and a young man spraying gunfire. The gunman was a member of a team that was well-armed, well-prepared and had just begun a two-day siege that would shut down India's financial and entertainment capital, leave more than 150 people dead and 370 injured, and turn the city's ritzy seaside district into a scene of horror. There was almost no time to escape. "Within two minutes, they were on us," Andreina Varagona of Nashville, Tenn., said from her hospital bed in the intensive care unit. Wounded in the right leg and right arm, her curly brown hair was still caked with a friend's blood two days later. An Indian commando said the attackers were indiscriminate. "Whoever came in front of them, they fired." There were 10 targets across the city, including two five-star hotels, a train station, a popular restaurant and an ultra-orthodox Jewish center. Inside the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi hotels, with their hundreds of rooms, the gunmen often seemed to have the advantage. "These people were very, very familiar with the hotel layouts and it appears they had carried out a survey before," said an unidentified member of India's Marine Commando unit, his face wrapped in a black mask. The gunmen moved skillfully through corridors slick with blood, thwarting efforts to pin them down, and switched off lights and plunged the rooms into darkness to further confuse the commandos. The militants were ready for a long siege. One backpack the commandos found had 400 rounds of ammunition inside. Some of the gunmen carried almonds. They also had dollars, rupees and credit cards from local and international banks. One gunman, who was still roaming the Taj Mahal nearly 48 hours after the assault began, was hiding in a ballroom, said army commander Lt. Gen. N. Thamburaj. "He is moving in two floors. There is a dance floor area where he has cut off all the lights. Sometimes he gets holed up in the rooms and makes that area dark," Thamburaj said. The commandos were hampered, too, because they could not use overwhelming force for fear of hitting the hundreds of civilians who were caught in the hotels. Many guests hid in their rooms until they were rescued. Others were not so lucky. The gunmen "appeared to be a determined lot, wanting to create and spread terror," a commando said. Pulithara found panicked diners and staff running through the hotel bar. In the chaos, it took him a moment to realize he had been shot. "My friend said there was a hole in my pants, and I was bleeding," said Pulithara, 22, who was hit in the leg. He saw another colleague shot in the head — "She died on the spot," he said — but he said he managed to pull a tourist to safety through a fire exit. Then he ran down a flight of stairs, and was free. For hundreds of others inside the hotels, however, the ordeal was just beginning. Varagona, 45, a meditation teacher, says on her Web site she had taken the name Rudrani Devi, Sanskrit for "one who takes the pain away from others," in 2002. She was having dinner with friends in the Oberoi's plush restaurant when the gunshots rang out. Survivors said the gunmen checked passports and looked for Americans and Britons, but Varagona said they just sprayed the room and didn't seem to care who they killed. "They might have been targeting Westerners, but they still shot the wait staff," she said. "They were of Indian, Asian descent. There wasn't a foreigner among them." Varagona said the gunmen kept firing, and bodies fell to the floor, at least a dozen. "There were bodies everywhere. I felt like I was in a movie," Varagona said. She dragged herself past the bodies and into the restaurant kitchen, where employees were huddled for safety. They picked her up, she said, and carried her out. "If it wasn't for the wait staff, I wouldn't have made it out," she said. Among those killed was a friend on the meditation retreat who had been dining at Varagona's table, Alan Scherr, 58, of Faber, Va., of the Synchronicity Foundation. Also slain was his 13-year-old daughter, Naomi. \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| MUMBAI, India Indian commandos took control of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, the last nest of terrorist resistance, on Saturday morning, after a lengthy assault that left three terrorists dead and sections of the hotel in flames, the head of the commando unit said in a televised news conference. Soldiers were still combing the hotel, going room to room in search of remaining gunmen, but the siege appeared finally to have ended, J. K. Dutt, director general of the National Security Guard, an elite commando force, said in the news conference at 9 a.m. Firefighters were permitted to begin pouring water over the flames that had burned out of control in the hotel’s lower floors for as much as an hour while the commandos battled the terrorists. Image An Indian commando loaded his gun on Friday before an attack on militants holed up in a Jewish center in Mumbai. Commandos slid down ropes from a helicopter, and stormed the building. Credit... Michael Rubenstein for The New York Times It was the third day of a siege that has shaken India, raised tensions with neighboring Pakistan and prompted questions about the failure of the authorities to anticipate the tragedy or to react swiftly enough as it unfolded. All told, after attackers were cleared from a second hotel and a Jewish center on Friday, more than 150 people had died. Most of the dead were apparently Indian citizens, but at least 22 foreigners were killed. Among the dead reported were a rabbi from Brooklyn and his wife, who ran the Jewish center. The main success for the authorities on Friday came at the second hotel, the Oberoi. The authorities said that two gunmen had been killed and 93 foreigners some of them wearing Air France and Lufthansa uniforms had been rescued, though 30 bodies were found. Survivors offered harrowing accounts of their ordeal, trapped on the upper floors of the high-rise hotel while gunmen prowled below. The National Security Guard said it recovered two AK-47s, a 9-millimeter pistol and some grenades. Image A crowd in Mumbai gathered at a barricade down the street from Nariman House, the Jewish center. The dead included the centers rabbi, who held dual American and Israeli citizenship. Credit... Michael Rubenstein for The New York Times For the first time, after several veiled accusations that Pakistan was involved, Indian officials specifically linked the attacks to their neighbor and longtime nemesis. India’s foreign minister blamed “elements in Pakistan” for the attacks , spreading the repercussions of the attacks beyond India’s borders. American intelligence and counterterrorism officials said Friday that there was mounting evidence that a Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has long been involved in the conflict with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir was responsible. The Indian authorities were beginning to face sharp questions about why operations to flush out a handful of assailants at the Jewish center and at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower had not moved more rapidly. And many other basic questions remained for a crisis that unfolded so publicly, on televisions, Web sites and Twitter feeds across the world. Who were the attackers? The police tally was at least 11 killed and one captured alive, but could so few militants have caused such mayhem? Indian commandos said the attackers at the hotels were well trained, with one carrying a backpack packed with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and they seemed to know the buildings’ layout better than the security forces, indicating a high degree of preparation. Some were seen arriving by boat; others may have been guests at the hotels for days.	Police forces in India have ended the hostage sieges which followed the Mumbai attacks, which began on Wednesday in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. It ended when commandos finally caught up with a lone gunman, who had played a cat-and-mouse game in the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, nearly 56 hours after the attacks began. Sites of the attacks According to Indian television and radio, 155 people have been killed and 327 others wounded. Local media have described the attacks as "India's 9/11." CNN is reporting over 160 dead and 370 injured. Eleven gunmen killed are not counted in these totals. Police say that they are in control of both the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident hotels. Nearly 300 people have been freed. The siege of Nariman House, an outreach post of the orthodox-Jewish sect Chabad-Lubavitch, ended when at least eight Black Cats commandos entered the building by rope from a helicopter. No hostages or attackers survived the assault, though details are still unclear. "These people were very, very familiar with the hotel layouts and it appears they had carried out a survey before," said an unidentified commander of MARCOS, India's elite marine commandos. The commandos were hampered because they feared injuring hotel guests if they used overwhelming force. "Bodies were strewn all over the place, and there was blood everywhere," he said. The commander also noted that his unit found a backpack belonging to one of the gunmen. Inside they found dried fruit, 400 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, four grenades, Indian rupees and American dollars, and seven credit cards from some of the world’s leading banks and a national ID card for the island nation of Mauritius. "Once the bodies are collected, the number of deaths might go up to 200," said India's Minister of Home Affairs Sri Prakash Jaiswal. "We came up against highly motivated terrorists," said Vice-Admiral J.S. Bedi, whose commandos led the assault against the militants. India's foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said, "Preliminary evidence indicates that elements with links to Pakistan are involved," stirring a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan. Observers have said that the attacks bear the hallmarks of Lashkar-e-Toiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed, both of which are believed to be based in Pakistan and also responsible for previous attacks on India. However, Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gillani said that Pakistan had "nothing to do with the attacks." "It is unfair to blame Pakistan or Pakistanis for these acts of terrorism even before an investigation is undertaken," Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, said in a statement. "Instead of scoring political points at the expense of a neighboring country that is itself a victim of terrorism, it is time for India's leaders to work together with Pakistan's elected leaders in putting up a joint front against terrorism."
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- At least one person was killed and 32 injured during a twin bombing in Thailand's southern Muslim-majority Yala province Tuesday morning, police said. The first bomb went off in Yala, the provincial capital, near a motorcycle shop around 8 a.m. (0000 GMT). There were no casualties in the initial attack. As police, emergency services and journalists responded to the scene, a second, much larger blast occurred. The lone death involved a Thai police officer. Among the wounded were two journalists. Bombings occur on a regular basis in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where an Islamic insurgency that flared in January 2004 has resulted in the deaths of about 2,000 people. E-mail to a friend All About Yala Province • Thailand • Terrorism \|\|\|\|\| Bomb kills one, injures 20 in Yala Yala - A bomb ripped through at an intersection in the heart of Yala Tuesdsay morning, killing one police officer and wounding at least 20 people, including three journalists, who were at the scene to investigate a smaller blast about half an hour earlier, police said. The bomb appeared to have been targeting the police and forensic officers who were lured by an earlier bomb that was much smaller. Authorities were ill prepared as they carried out their investigation. There were no fire fighters or medical personnel in waiting. The blaze from the bomb set one officers from an ordinance unit on fire. His colleague desperately tried to put out the fire that had engulfed his entire body. The use of second bomb by insurgents has become a common occurrences in the restive region where more than 2,300 people have died since January 2004. The blast ripped through shop houses and convenient stores at a major intersection across the street from the train station. The bomb also rip up several motorbikes that were parked next to a public taxi stand for passengers travelling on the Yala-Bethong route. The first bomb was hidden inside a helmet and placed on the motorbike's basket at the time it went off. The second one, much more powerful, appeared to have been set off remotely after several officers arrived at the scene. Police Sgt. Subin Pruekmongkol, who was severely wounded, was later pronounced dead at the Yala Hospital. Two other police officers suffered serious injuries, while three local reporters were also hospitalised. Thirteen passers-by, apparently permitted to observe too close to the crime scene, suffered minor injuries. Insurgents often use one bomb to lure authorities to a scene where they then trigger a second blast, police said. Bombings and drive-by shootings have become virtually a daily occurrence in Thailand's far south since an Islamic insurgency flared there in January 2004. The conflict has left more than 2,300 people dead. The Nation \|\|\|\|\| Govt extends emergency law in the deep south The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to extend enforcement of emergency law in the restive south for another three months after the current round expires on July 20, a government deputy spokesman said. The extension of the enforcement enable security officials on the ground to contain violence erupted in the predominantly Muslim region since the beginning of 2004, said deputy spokesman Natthawat Sutthiyothin. The emergency law came into force since 2005 authorised the government to announce the renewable state of emergency for three months time in the unrest area and empower officials to have more certain level of liberty to deal with the situation. Under the law, officials could detain suspects without charge for maximum 30 days. About 350 suspects have been rounded up and detained under the law in the past few weeks. \|\|\|\|\| Bomb kills one, injures 20 in Yala Yala - A bomb ripped through at an intersection in the heart of Yala Tuesdsay morning, killing one police officer and wounding at least 20 people, including three journalists, who were at the scene to investigate a smaller blast about half an hour earlier, police said. The bomb appeared to have been targeting the police and forensic officers who were lured by an earlier bomb that was much smaller. Authorities were ill prepared as they carried out their investigation. There were no fire fighters or medical personnel in waiting. The blaze from the bomb set one officers from an ordinance unit on fire. His colleague desperately tried to put out the fire that had engulfed his entire body. The use of second bomb by insurgents has become a common occurrences in the restive region where more than 2,300 people have died since January 2004. The blast ripped through shop houses and convenient stores at a major intersection across the street from the train station. The bomb also rip up several motorbikes that were parked next to a public taxi stand for passengers travelling on the Yala-Bethong route. The first bomb was hidden inside a helmet and placed on the motorbike's basket at the time it went off. The second one, much more powerful, appeared to have been set off remotely after several officers arrived at the scene. Police Sgt. Subin Pruekmongkol, who was severely wounded, was later pronounced dead at the Yala Hospital. Two other police officers suffered serious injuries, while three local reporters were also hospitalised. Thirteen passers-by, apparently permitted to observe too close to the crime scene, suffered minor injuries. Insurgents often use one bomb to lure authorities to a scene where they then trigger a second blast, police said. Bombings and drive-by shootings have become virtually a daily occurrence in Thailand's far south since an Islamic insurgency flared there in January 2004. The conflict has left more than 2,300 people dead. The Nation \|\|\|\|\| Thailand's new premier: "It won't be fun but I like it" BANGKOK, Jan 28 (TNA) - People Power Party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej, responding to a salvo of questions from the media shortly after being elected Thailand's 25th prime minister by the lower house of Parliament on Monday, said he was fully aware that his new task at the helm of the kingdom's administrative branch would not be fun but "I like it." 28 January 2551 15:53:28 (GMT + 7) More Detail \|\|\|\|\| Bomb kills one, injures 18 in Thai south Related News Rebels block roads in Thai south Bangkok on high alert amid fears of attacks by rebels Rail service cut as Thai rebels sabotage tracks Thailand to extend emergency rule in Muslim south YALA, Thailand - One policeman was killed and 18 other people wounded in twin bomb attacks near a busy railway station Tuesday in Thailand's restive south, police said. The first bomb, hidden in the front basket of a motorcycle, went off during the morning rush hour in Yala, one of three insurgency-torn provinces bordering Malaysia, local police said. As police rushed to the scene, a more powerful bomb exploded, injuring 19 people including eight policemen and four local reporters. A 48-year-old police sergeant major later died from his injuries. The second explosive was hidden inside the same motorcycle, and insurgents detonated it using a remote control, police said. Also in Yala province, a 28-year-old Muslim man was shot dead by militants at a tea shop early Tuesday, and a 27-year-old Muslim man was killed in a drive-by shooting in the province late Monday. More than 2,400 people have been killed and thousands more injured in separatist violence that has rocked southern Thailand for three years. The region was an autonomous Malay sultanate until it was annexed a century ago by Buddhist Thailand. - AFP/ir	A police sergeant was killed and at least 18 people were injured in a pair of bomb blasts today in southern Thailand. Taking place in Yala, the capital of one of Thailand's three southernmost provinces, the first blast, at around 8 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), resulted in no injuries, but drew police and journalists to the scene. Then, about 30 minutes after the initial blast, a second, more powerful bomb went off. The explosion tore through shops and a motorcycle taxi stand at a major intersection across the street from the city's railway station. Police Sergeant Subin Pruekmongkol, 48, who lost his arms and legs in the blast, was taken to Yala Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At least eight other police officers were wounded, two of them seriously, while four local journalists were also taken to hospital. The injury tolls varied widely, with local news reports saying at least 18 people were injured, while CNN reported that up to 32 people had been hurt. Police said the first bomb was hidden inside a motorcycle helmet and placed in the front basket of a motorbike. The second blast was set off remotely after people had flocked to the blast site. This tactic of using a smaller bomb as a lure, followed by a second stronger bomb, has become more common in the south Thailand insurgency. Since attacks by separatists in Thailand's Malay Muslim-majority provinces flared up in January 2004, there are have about 2,000 people killed in bombings and almost-daily drive-by shootings. In a separate violence earlier today in Yala Province, a man was fatally shot in front of a tea shop in Yaha District. In Bangkok, the central government's Cabinet agreed to extend an emergency law in the southern provinces for another three months. The current round expires on Friday. The emergency powers, which are set for three-month periods, were first enacted in 2005. Among other powers, the decree allows officials the authority to detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge. About 350 suspects have been rounded up and detained under the law in the past few weeks, according to ''The Nation'' newspaper.
Tsvangirai to contest run-off 10/05/2008 10:36 - (SA) Pretoria, South Africa - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday he would contest a second-round run-off in his country's presidential elections. "The MDC has decided that we will contest the run-off election," Tsvangirai told a press conference here, flanked by the leadership of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. Tsvangirai said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he did not face Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in the run-off. Tsvangirai has said previously he won the first round outright and that official figures showing a second round is necessary are fraudulent. Opposition officials and independent human rights activist have accused Mugabe of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round on March 29. They also have questioned whether a second round could be free and fair. \|\|\|\|\| Tsvangirai to run in second round Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he will contest a presidential run-off, despite fears of widespread poll violence. Speaking in South Africa, he said people would feel "betrayed" if he did not run, and vowed to return shortly. Mr Tsvangirai called for an end to violence, as well as full access by international monitors and media. Official first-round results put him ahead of President Robert Mugabe, but not by enough votes to win outright. Mr Tsvangirai had earlier insisted he had secured more than 50% of the vote, and that there was therefore no need for a second round. On Saturday, he told reporters that his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had faced a "very difficult" decision but that after consulting supporters in Zimbabwe, it had decided to take part. "I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round," he said. The opposition leader went on to demand "unfettered access of all international observers" and journalists covering the vote. No choice for Tsvangirai Accounts of violence Militias 'to rig election' He also called for the deployment of southern African peacekeepers to curtail any violence. The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the announcement was not a big surprise, as boycotting the poll would have meant handing victory to President Mugabe by default. Our correspondent says Mr Tsvangirai has to get home soon - as long as he remains outside Zimbabwe, it will be hard to maintain the support he needs to win the run-off. The MDC leader said he expected to return to Zimbabwe in the next two days. Beatings The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet set a date for the run-off. Mr Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May - within three weeks of the first-round results being declared. Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for close to 30 years According to these official declarations, he won 47.9% of the vote, against 43.2% for Mr Mugabe. Although the first round was largely peaceful, the results were not announced until 2 May. The MDC says the delay gave the authorities time to rig the counting and carry out attacks on its supporters in anticipation of a run-off. A trade union official on Thursday said that 40,000 farm-workers and their relatives had fled their homes because of violent attacks The MDC says at least 25 of its supporters have been killed since the first round, and hundreds have been forced from their homes in rural areas. But police and officials from Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have accused the MDC of staging attacks, while accusing the MDC of exaggerating the scale of the violence. Mr Mugabe has been in office since independence in 1980. Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you support Mr Tsvangirai's decision? Send your comments 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 E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| By Phumza Macanda PRETORIA (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's opposition leader said on Saturday he would return home within two days to contest a run-off election against President Robert Mugabe and deal him a "final knock-out" after almost three decades in power. But chances of a speedy end to a tense political stalemate since a disputed March 29 election appeared remote, after the justice minister rejected Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai's preconditions for taking part in a run-off. Tsvangirai said he would only participate if international observers and media were given full access to ensure the vote is fair. He said the country's electoral commission was discredited and should be revamped, and called on the regional SADC grouping to send peacekeepers to instill public confidence in the vote. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa shrugged off the demands. "The run-off will be held within the framework of the constitution and the electoral laws. There will be no conditionalities that will be outside this framework," he told Reuters. After weeks of equivocation, Tsvangirai said he would contest a new round of voting although he believes he won outright in the first round. The MDC accuses the ruling ZANU-PF of intimidating and attacking voters. "The MDC ... will contest the run-off. I am ready, and the people are ready for the final round," Tsvangirai told a news conference in South Africa. Official results showed ZANU-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980, and that Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the presidential poll, but not by enough votes to avoid a run-off. Both the government and opposition have challenged some of the results. Continued...	Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has said today that he will be standing for the presidential run-off election against incumbent Robert Mugabe. "The MDC has decided that we will contest the run-off election," he told reporters at a conference in Pretoria, South Africa, where he has been staying for the last month. He said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he didn't stand and that the people are "ready for the final round". Despite the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's (ZEC) official declaration that Mr. Tsvangirai won 47.9% against Mr. Mugabe's 43.2% in the first round, the MDC claims that they won it outright, gaining over 50%. They are sure that Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have used the time since the first round to rig votes and intimidate the electorate. The MDC has also called for "unfettered access of all international observers," eventhough Mr. Mugabe has imposed bans on journalists from outside Zimbabwe reporting within the country. The ZEC has yet to announce when the run-off will take place, but Mr. Tsvangirai said it should take place by 23 May.
ABC News Utah Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Wife Utah Man Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder of Wife After She Discovered His Lies Mark Hacking is shown in this police photo released on Aug. 2, 2004. Hacking pleaded guilty Friday to killing his wife Lori last year, shooting her in the head as she slept after she discovered he had been lying about his career plans and their future together. (AP Photo/Salt Lake Police, HO) By PAUL FOY Associated Press Writer The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY Apr 15, 2005 A man accused of killing his wife after she found out he lied about getting into medical school pleaded guilty to murder Friday, making a simple declaration to the judge: "I intentionally shot Lori Hacking in the head with a .22 rifle." Prosecutors say Mark Hacking carried out the attack while his wife slept last July and then threw the body of the 27-year-old woman in a trash bin. Volunteers scouring a landfill found her decomposed remains about three months later. The victim's father, Eraldo Soares, said hearing Hacking admit guilt in court "was just like a knife going right through my heart. I could not imagine that he could do that to Lori." Prosecutors said the sentencing range will be from six years to life for Hacking, who appeared in court Friday with his hands cuffed behind his back and with a look of resignation. Prosecutors said they will push for the maximum sentence, and the possibility of Hacking getting the low end of the sentencing range was extremley remote. Sentencing was scheduled for June 6. "Under this charge, there is no possibility of probation. He will be going to prison," prosecutor Bob Stott said. "He pleaded guilty to murder, and that's what we were looking for. We were looking for the life sentence." Hacking, a 28-year-old hospital orderly, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He also was charged with obstructing justice by disposing of the body, the gun and a bloody mattress, but those charges were dropped as part of Friday's deal. Prosecutors were unable to determine if Lori Hacking was five weeks' pregnant, as she had told friends. That meant the husband could not be charged with a capital crime. Defense attorney Gil Athay repeated in a Friday interview with Salt Lake television station KUTV his earlier claim that Hacking may have suffered "brain trauma" after a fall from a rooftop. "He fell in a roofing accident some years ago and suffered some substantial brain trauma," Athay said, adding that he plans to present that evidence at sentencing. "I think it plays heavily in where this case is." \|\|\|\|\| Stories Video Background Timeline Lori Hacking's Disappearance Photo Essay The Search for Lori Hacking Video Hacking on Surveillance Tape Cops Announce Hacking Arrest Profile Lies Catch Up to Mark Hacking Stories Select One Aug. 7: Report Says Mark Hacking Asked Patients to Call Him 'Franz' Aug. 6: Hacking's Attorney to Challenge Confession Aug. 6: Hacking's Dad Says Mark 'Just Snapped' Aug. 5: Mark Hacking Told Jailers He Used Alias Aug. 4: Mark Told Psych Ward Patient He Killed Lori Aug. 3: Tape Shows Mark After Alleged Murder Aug. 2: Mark Hacking Arrested on Murder Charge July 31: Lab Evidence May Help Solve Hacking Case July 30: Police Say Lori May Have Never Gone Jogging July 29: Source Says 'Rage Killing' in Hacking Home July 27: Co-Workers Say Lori Got Upsetting Phone Call July 25: Bloodstains Found in Hacking Apartment July 24: Dad Confronted Mark Hacking at Hospital July 23: Jogger's Family Says She Was Deceived July 21: Pregnant Woman Disappears While Jogging Lori's mother, Thelma Soares, wept as she talked to reporters after the hearing. "I still have a lot of questions that are, have never been, addressed, and I need to get some answers from Mark," Soares said. "But that will have to be between Mark and me in the future at some point." Hacking reported his wife missing on July 19, 2004, telling friends and family she had gone out for a jog and hadn't returned. That same day, hours after making a televised plea for his wife's return, Hacking was spotted running around a local motel naked. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. As a massive search for Lori Hacking's body was under way, a string of lies Mark Hacking had told his wife and family came to light. Investigators discovered that not only had Hacking not been admitted to medical school, he had never even graduated from college. They also discovered Lori Hacking's car keys and wallet, discounting Mark Hacking's claim that she had driven out to a nearby park to jog. It was also found that Hacking had dumped the couple's mattress and had purchased a new one just before he phoned police to report his wife missing. Family members and friends were stunned at the revelations. A little more than a week after Lori Hacking disappeared, Mark Hacking confessed to his brothers that he killed her. Two-and-a-half months later, Lori Hacking's remains were found in a Salt Lake county landfill. There was speculation after Hacking was arrested that he would plead innocent by reason of insanity. But according to local newspapers, none of the possible key witnesses in the case were ever contacted by defense attorneys, signaling Hacking decided to avoid going to trial some time ago. Before the hearing, Lori Hacking's brother Paul Soares said he was not looking forward to seeing his brother-in-law. "For 12 years this was a person I got along with, a person I loved," Soares told FOX News. "Now, looking back at what he's done, it's going to be really hard." Erin Galbraith Huband, a close friend and former roommate of Lori Hacking, said earlier on Friday she was relieved at news of the plea deal. "It was good to hear that maybe he might step up and say, 'This is what I've done and I'm willing to take responsibility, finally,'" she told FOX News. FOX News' Jane Roh and Adam Housley and The Associated Press contributed to this report. \|\|\|\|\| Today's Top News Stories • Body found near home of missing Fla. girl - • Anti-Japanese protests continue despite government warnings - • Church wraps up official mourning period for pope - • Eleven detainees escape; Sunnis take 70 Shiites hostage - • Economic chiefs pledge to aid global economic problems - • Add USATODAY.com RSS feeds E-Mail Newsletters Sign up to receive our free Daily Briefing e-newsletter and get the top news of the day in your inbox. E-mail: Select one: HTML Text Breaking News E-Mail Alerts Get breaking news in your inbox as it happens Hacking pleads guilty to murder of wife SALT LAKE CITY (AP) He lied to his wife and family about getting into medical school and his plans to become a doctor. But standing before a judge and facing a life sentence for murder, Mark Hacking finally told the truth. Sentencing for Mark Hacking was scheduled for June 6. AP file "I intentionally shot Lori Hacking in the head with a .22 rifle on July 19," he said Friday, pleading guilty to first-degree murder. (Related: Utah v. Hacking) Hacking, a hospital orderly, did not explain why he attacked his 27-year-old wife while she slept last July, then threw her body in the trash. Police scouring a landfill found her decomposed remains almost three months later. Lori Hacking's parents said they hope he sits down with them after he is sentenced. "I still have a lot of questions ... and I need to get some answers from Mark," said Lori's mother, Thelma Soares. "But that will have to be between Mark and me in the future at some point." Hacking, 28, appeared in court with his hands cuffed behind his back and with a look of resignation. Prosecutors said Hacking faces a sentence from six years to life. Authorities plan to seek the maximum sentence, and the possibility of Hacking getting the low end of the sentencing range was remote. Sentencing was scheduled for June 6. Hacking also was charged with obstructing justice for disposing of his wife's body, the gun and a bloody mattress, but those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement. Lori Hacking's colleagues at a Wells Fargo brokerage house have said she broke down sobbing after learning of her husband's deception. She became aware of the lies after making calls to school administrators in North Carolina, where Hacking claimed he was enrolled for medical school and where the couple planned to move. Police affidavits say the couple argued after she confronted him. Mark Hacking had also lied about graduating from the University of Utah. After the argument, Lori Hacking went to bed. He stayed up late playing video games for an hour. Then, sorting through his belongings, he found his deer rifle, went into the bedroom and shot his young wife, according to investigators. The victim's father, Eraldo Soares, said hearing Hacking plead guilty "was just like a knife going right through my heart. I could not imagine that he could do that to Lori." Prosecutors were unable to determine if Lori Hacking was five weeks' pregnant, as she had told friends. That meant her husband could not be charged with a capital crime. His defense lawyer, Gilbert Athay, repeated in an interview with Salt Lake television station KUTV his earlier claim that Hacking may have suffered "brain trauma" after a fall as a roofer. "He fell in a roofing accident some years ago and suffered some substantial brain trauma," said Athay, who plans to present that evidence at sentencing. "I think it plays heavily in where this case is." Hacking had reported his wife missing to police, saying she had not returned from a morning jog. The news prompted a weeklong search for the former stockbroker's assistant by thousands of volunteers — a search that echoed another sensational Salt Lake crime, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom. Hacking was in a psychiatric hospital after suffering a breakdown when he confessed to his brothers that he killed his wife. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.	Salt Lake City (Utah) resident and hospital orderly Mark Hacking pleaded guilty Friday to killing his wife Lori, and placing her body in a dumpster. Mrs. Hacking’s disappearance last summer touched off an intense, weeklong search in Salt Lake County which a wire service report said was similar to the other sensational Salt Lake crime, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart from her own bedroom. After Hacking admitted details of his crime to his family, earlier, he suffered a breakdown and was placed in a psychiatric hospital. He was seen in court Friday with his hands cuffed behind his back. He admitted to the judge that he killed his wife while she slept. His motives, according to prosecutors, were his anger and despondency when she discovered that he was not accepted into a North Carolina medical school as he had claimed, but would remain a hospital orderly. Mrs. Hacking is reported to have broken down sobbing at her workplace, a Wells Fargo brokerage, after discovering her husband’s deception. She had placed a call to the medical school’s administrators and been told he was not enrolled. He had lied to her about graduating from the University of Utah as well. Mrs. Hacking’s mother and father were in the courtroom to hear their son-in-law declare: “I intentionally shot Lori Hacking in the head with a .22 rifle.” They said it was like a “knife in the heart” to hear that, but were happy he owned up to the crime. The attack occurred last July. Volunteers scouring a landfill found her decomposed remains after three months of searching.
Dec. 5: Secretary of Defense nominee Robert Gates was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, after telling senators that the U.S. is not winning the war in Iraq. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reports. WASHINGTON - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm Robert Gates, 63, as defense secretary, with Democrats and Republicans portraying him as the man who will help overhaul President Bush's Iraq policies. The 95-2 vote was a victory for Bush, who named Gates to replace Donald H. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon on Nov. 8, a day after voters gave Democrats control of Congress for next year. Even so, much of Gates' support stemmed from his pledges to consider new options in Iraq. The vote coincided with the release of an independent study lambasting Bush's approach to the war, increasing pressure on the White House to change course. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement Previously, Democrats said they would probably support Gates if for no other reason than his confirmation meant the ouster of Donald H. Rumsfeld, a polarizing figure in the administration and architect of the unpopular Iraq war. But Gates' public declaration that the nation was not winning the war -- contradicting President Bush's Oct. 25 statement that "Absolutely, we're winning" -- helped warm even Bush's sharpest critics. 'Nation has turned a corner' "That gives me hope that with this nomination and with the Iraq Study Group report, this nation has turned a corner," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. The Iraq Study Group, led by Republican James Baker III and Democrat Lee Hamilton, on Wednesday said U.S. troops should begin to take a back seat in combat in Iraq, pushing Iraqi troops to the front lines with the goal of pulling out by early 2008. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said he thought Gates "recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." GATES AT A GLANCE NAME: Robert M. Gates. AGE: 63 BIRTH DATE AND BIRTHPLACE: Sept. 25, 1943, Wichita, Kan. EXPERIENCE: CIA intelligence analyst, 1966-1974; National Security Council staff, 1974-1979; director of executive staff for CIA director, 1981-1982; deputy director for intelligence, 1982-1986; chairman of the National Intelligence Council, 1983-1986; deputy director of CIA, 1986-1989; acting director, 1986-1987; deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs, 1989; assistant to the president and deputy for national security affairs, 1989-1991; CIA director, 1991-1993; interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, 1999-2001; president of Texas A&M University, 2002-present EDUCATION: B.A. from College of William and Mary, 1965; M.A. Indiana University, 1966; Ph.D. Georgetown University, 1974. FAMILY: Gates and his wife, Becky, have two children. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he thought Gates agreed with Democrats that "only a political settlement by the Iraqis can end the violence in Iraq, and that the military force that we have there cannot do that for the Iraqis." Unanimous committee confirmation After five hours of nonconfrontational questions, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 24-0 on Tuesday to recommend Gates be confirmed. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., congratulated Gates on his "exemplary performance", and other lawmakers offered strong praise. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he voted for Gates because he is convinced he will help correct the problems in Iraq. "I am confident that Dr. Gates fully understands the need for victory in Iraq," Cornyn said after the committee's vote. "Failure in Iraq would lead to increased terrorist activity by al-Qaida and regional instability as Iran tries to extend its sphere of influence." Gates told the committee he is confident President Bush will listen to his ideas about forging a new war strategy. He also pledged to give "most serious consideration" to the view of senior military officers, a comment that appeared directed at those among Rumsfeld's critics who accused him of bullying the generals and denigrating or ignoring their advice. That is a charge that Rumsfeld strongly denies. At the outset of an afternoon session of questions about Iraq and other subjects, Gates began by telling the committee he wanted to expand upon his remark about not winning in Iraq. He did not withdraw the remark but said, "I want to make clear that that pertains to the situation in Iraq as a whole." Call for more federal participation He said he did not want U.S. troops to think he believes they are being unsuccessful in their assigned missions. "Our military wins the battles that we fight," Gates said. "Where we're having our challenges, frankly, are in the areas of stabilization and political developments and so on." He said other federal agencies should do more in Iraq. On other high-priority subjects, Gates said he worried about the prospect of growing Iranian influence in Iraq; he would be open to the idea of direct talks with Iran and Syria about stabilizing Iraq; he was uncertain whether the Army and Marine Corps needed to expand, as many in Congress advocate, and he was "sympathetic to the notion" of adding more U.S. or allied troops in Afghanistan. Iraq dominated the hearing, which began with Gates saying, "I am under no illusion why I am sitting before you today -- the war in Iraq." Without mentioning Rumsfeld by name, Gates made clear that he hopes to find a way forward that is more effective in Iraq than the current Pentagon approach. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| (Updates with details) By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly confirmed Robert Gates as the next defense secretary, replacing Donald Rumsfeld, an architect of the increasingly unpopular Iraq war. The Senate voted to approve President George W. Bush's nominee only 24 hours after Gates won the unanimous endorsement of the Armed Services Committee -- and just as a long-awaited bipartisan report arrived, urging more diplomacy and fewer U.S. troops in Iraq. Senators from both parties praised the ex-CIA chief's candor; Gates had bluntly told them the United States was not winning the war in Iraq. "Dr. Gates spoke with candor -- a candor that has been sorely missing from the Department of Defense under this administration," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat. "He recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." But senators also emphasized the daunting task before Gates in addressing Iraq, and their awareness that he must work with Bush. "Dr. Gates is poised to take an extraordinarily difficult job at one of the most dangerous times in American history," Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, said. "We see the possibilities of a new chapter ... but it is up to the commander in chief to structure a change in policy," added Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican. Gates must be sworn in before taking up his duties at the Pentagon, where he says Iraq will be his first priority; he plans to travel to Baghdad soon, where he hopes to talk to U.S. commanders. Bush nominated Gates, a former CIA director during the administration of the president's father, a day after voters swept Republicans out of power in an election driven in large part by frustration over the Iraq war. In the more than three years since the U.S.-led invasion, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 2,900 Americans and at least tens of thousands of Iraqis. Bush has said he will consider alternatives, including those offered on Wednesday by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Gates said he believed all options were on the table.	Robert Gates The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly today to confirm as the new , replacing outgoing Secretary of Defense . The vote came a day after the Armed Services Committee voted unanimously to recommend Gates's confirmation. Senators from both parties praised Gates for bluntly stating that the United States was not winning the war in Iraq, and that new strategies were needed. "Dr. Gates spoke with candor — a candor that has been sorely missing from the Department of Defense under this administration," said Senator (-MA). "He recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." Senator of Pennsylvania said that Senators saw "the possibilities of a new chapter ... but it is up to the commander in chief to structure a change in policy." Gates was approved by a vote of 95-2, with dissenting votes coming from Republican Senators of Pennsylvania and of Kentucky. named Gates, now aged 63, who had served as Director of the under his father, President , the day after Democrats won control of both houses of the incoming 110th Congress in an election marked by frustration over the continuing war in Iraq.
Two men, aged 19 and 32, have been injured in a car accident on the Isle of Man. Police said a Renault Laguna and Toyota Celica were in collision near Greeba Castle on Sunday at about 2150 GMT. Both drivers were taken to Nobles Hospital with injuries that officers said were not life-threatening. Emergency services closed the road for about five hours to deal with the incident. Any witnesses are urged to contact Peel police station. \|\|\|\|\| Two men were taken to hospital last night after a serious accident on the main road between Douglas and Peel. It happened around 9.50pm close to Greeba Castle and involved two cars, a Renault Laguna being driven by a 32-year-old from Douglas and a Toyota Celica being driven by a 19-year-old from Peel. Both suffered injures described as 'non-life threatening'. The Peel man had to be cut out of his car by the emergency services. The road was closed for almost five hours while police, fire crews and Department of Transport workers dealt with the incident. The force of the collision caused the engine of the Laguna to fly out of it and smash through the garage door of a house nearby. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Peel police on 842208.	British Isles with the Isle of Man highlighted in blue.Two people have been injured in a road traffic accident involving two vehicles on the Isle of Man. One of the two men was driving a Toyota Celica and the other a Renault Laguna. Police reported that the collision occurred at around 2150 GMT on Sunday near to the location of Greeba Castle. The two men, who were aged 32 and 19, were both injured, with the 19-year-old man having to be physically cut out of his Toyota by workers from the emergency services. Both gentlemen had to be transported to Nobles Hospital; however, police officers noted that neither of the two suffered from life-threatening injuries. The road which the collision occurred on had to be closed for roughly five hours.
Billy Grady and his family, tourists from Georgia, returned to the park this weekend solely to catch the show after it had been canceled Friday. The father of three said he was moved by the tribute, which included photos of Brancheau hugging and swimming with killer whales. "It brought tears to my eyes. She died doing what she loved," Grady, 33, said. Young children in the audience recognized Brancheau in the pictures, while some adults sniffled and fought back tears. Despite Brancheau's shocking death, Grady said, the show needs to continue to educate people about animal conservation. That's what he thinks Brancheau would want as an animal lover. "If it stopped, I don't think she'd be happy. She's looking down on us, and she's happy it went on," Grady said. "If she had a second chance and she was still alive, I don't think she would give up." Yoouhenky Hickman, an Orlando resident who comes to the show regularly, was teary as she exited the stadium. Hickman, who described herself simply as "a big fan" of the killer-whale show, said that watching the animals and trainers interact Saturday reinforced her belief that Brancheau's death was a tragic accident. "It's amazing all the things these animals do," she said. Change happens There was no Tilikum on Saturday morning, so the 6-ton orca didn't provide his crowd-pleasing, clothes-soaking splashes as part of the show. Officials have said that the male killer whale will return, but they are not sure in what capacity. Trainers also stayed out of the water, feeding the whales with buckets of fish on the ledges of the pool. In what has become a signature for the park, the trainer-orca interaction has provided Shamu fans with incredible images of beautiful lifts out of the middle of the pool, with the trainer emerging from the water standing on the nose of a jumping orca. But because of the continuing investigation into Brancheau's death, fans had to settle for the whales taking direction from above the surface. Other precautions were obvious, with more staff on hand throughout the stadium and the female trainers tying their hair up in buns. These adjustments will also take effect at the parks in San Diego and San Antonio. Some things never change Although trainers, who were greeted with a standing ovation, stood on the sidelines this weekend, Grady said the show wasn't disappointing. Using hand signals, trainers instructed the whales to leap, twirl and wave to the audience, while also providing plenty of big splashes for the audience. Tilikum has long been known as the whale with the biggest splash, prompting many to buy ponchos outside the stadium so that they could sit in the front row and take all that the orca had to offer. On Saturday, the dreary weather kept many from entering the splash zone, but Tilikum's back-ups still left plenty with wet clothes to air out as visitors walked around the park. "They still put on a great show. I don't feel let down," Grady said. His family planned to attend a second show Saturday. They don't 'Believe' The emotional return of 'Believe' did not change the minds of people who have long thought SeaWorld should not force animals to perform in shows. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sponsored a protest at the the park, with less than a dozen holding signs at the main gate. PETA has called for SeaWorld to free its captive whales and warned that more human deaths will occur if frustrated, unhappy animals are not let go. "In the wild, orcas and other dolphin species swim up to 100 miles a day," said Amanda Fortino, a PETA spokeswoman, lamenting that animals at SeaWorld are kept in tanks "that to them are just like the size of a bathtub." PETA claims that 42 killer whales are held captive in the U.S.. Marine mammal-rights activist Russ Rector said Saturday that killer whales such as Tilikum should not be kept in tanks or put in shows. "Captivity just dements these males, makes them monsters," said Rector, a former dolphin trainer. "They treat them like props. It's a shame, absolutely a shame." The main attraction But it would be a shame if the park lost its marquee performers, said the Christopherson family of Ridgeland, Wis. It was the family's first vacation in Orlando, and even though they planned their trip around the Walt Disney World theme parks, they said the orca show lured them to SeaWorld. "We were scared the show wasn't going to open," said mother Kelly Christopherson, 38. They wanted to teach their three daughters, ages 10, 8 and 4, about sea animals, which they don't get a chance to see back home in the Midwest. "Where else can you see killer whales [close up]?" said father Tim Christopherson, 41. Although she wants to see trainers and whales back together in the water in future shows, tourist Deborah Osuch said SeaWorld officials are right to take their time in reviewing their procedures, with trainer safety being the most important. "Until the dust settles, they need to do what's right," said Osuch, of Fairhaven, Mass. Following in Dawn's footsteps Brancheau, according to her mother, found her love for orcas on a family vacation to SeaWorld when she was about 10 years old. On Saturday morning, a young Kissimmee girl was chosen from the crowd to be the guest trainer, spending about a minute on a plank near the tank. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, the dark-haired girl simply replied: "A Shamu trainer." \|\|\|\|\| A female trainer was killed today at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla., by a 12,000-pound killer whale that had twice before been involved in the deaths of humans, according to police and local media. There is still confusion about how a killer whale killed a SeaWorld trainer. Dawn Brancheau, 40, an experienced trainer at the tourist attraction, was pulled into the tank by the killer whale, Chuck Tompkins, head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks, said this evening. Tompkins told ABC News Orlando affiliate WFTV that Brancheau was rubbing down the whale after an afternoon show, when the incident occurred. "She was pulled in and she drowned," he said. Earlier, police had said Brancheau slipped or fell into a tank holding the killer whale, Tillikum, and witnesses described the animal coming to the surface to attack the woman. "Brancheau was pronounced dead at the park after being recovered from the pool. Orange County Sheriff's Office homicide investigators continue to investigate the death of the trainer who was reported to have 16 years of experience working with killer whales," the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in an e-mailed release. Tillikum, a male or bull whale, has lived at the park since 1992, and is one of eight killer whales there. "Currently, deputies with the full cooperation of SeaWorld have secured the scene and homicide detectives have been requested to respond and conduct a death investigation follow-up, along with our forensics unit," said Capt. Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in a statement. One witness, park visitor Victoria Biniak, told WKMG-TV that she watched the whale grab Brancheau. "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent," Biniak said. The whale "took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off," she said. Visitors were evacuated and the park closed following the attack. \|\|\|\|\| SeaWorld in San Diego has canceled its Shamu whale show at least for Wednesday after an Orlando SeaWorld employee was killed in an encounter with a whale at that theme park. "We're terribly saddened by the loss of the member of our SeaWorld family, it doesn't matter what park," said SeaWorld San Diego spokesman David Koontz. "We have canceled our afternoon Shamu show here today." Koontz said park officials had yet to make a decision about to whether to cancel Thursday's show. Orlando SeaWorld officials are not revealing the identity of the victim, although a local TV station is reporting that a female employee was killed after she was grabbed by one of the theme park's whales at the start of a public show. Park guest Victoria Biniak told the station that the trainer was a veteran of SeaWorld and had just finished explaining to the audience the show they were about to see.At that point, Biniak said, the whale came up from the water and grabbed the woman. "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent," Biniak said. Read more on the story from the Orlando Sentinel. -- Amina Khan Photo: Dolphins at SeaWorld San Diego. Credit: EPA	A trainer and a whale similar to the whale involved in the incident during a SeaWorld show on February 17, 2010. Dawn Brancheau, a whale trainer, died in an accident at the SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, at around 14:00 local time. The incident involved an 18-year-old killer whale, Tillikum, also called Tilly. The Orange County Sheriff's Office report that trainer Brancheau has 16 years of experience. Brancheau was reported dead after being recovered from the pool. Witness to the incident Victoria Biniak told WKMG-TV, "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent. The whale ...took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off." In response to this accident, SeaWorld San Diego canceled its Shamu show, a show involving the whales at the San Diego location. "We're terribly saddened by the loss of the member of our SeaWorld family, it doesn't matter what park," David Koontz, a spokesperson for SeaWorld San Diego said.
New Episode. A game changing decision gets all the teams guessing. Tactics are in play, room reveal is just around the corner, and a hunky new builder is just the distraction one team needs. S5 Ep5 20:30 The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days Of Future Past. The beloved characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past, X-Men: First Class, in order to change a major historical event and fight an epic battle that could save our future. Starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence. (2014) \|\|\|\|\| Tue 27 Mar 2007 Drugs giant faces court after girls' Ribena test THE global drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline faces a court case today for misleading advertising after two 14-year-olds from New Zealand found the blackcurrant drink Ribena contained almost no vitamin C. In a high school science experiment, Anna Devathasan and Jenny Suo tested the drink against advertising claims that "the blackcurrants in Ribena have four times the vitamin C of oranges" in 2004. They found that the syrup-based drink contained almost no vitamin C and that one commercial orange juice brand contained almost four times more vitamin C than Ribena. They also found that blackcurrants, the essential ingredient of Ribena, made up 5 per cent of the drink. Now the drink's makers, UK-based GlaxoSmithKline, is being taken to court in New Zealand after admitting misleading consumers for more than 50 years. Today, GlaxoSmithKline's New Zealand division faces 15 charges brought by the New Zealand Commerce Commission, the country's corporate watchdog, of making misleading representations about Ribena. If found guilty, the firm faces fines of up to NZ$3 million (£1.091 million). GlaxoSmithKline admitted to authorities in Australia and New Zealand that it misled consumers by implying the drink contained four times as much vitamin C as comparable orange juice drinks. GlaxoSmithKline Australia has admitted that it may have misled consumers about Ribena's vitamin C content, and has reported the discrepancies of the claims to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The firm also admitted that advertising and packaging which implied Ribena fruit drinks contained four times the vitamin C of comparable orange juice products were incorrect. It said the nutritional information panel of Ribena ready-to-drink fruit drinks claimed the products contained a higher amount of vitamin C than they actually did. Television advertising and claims on drink bottles and packets have since been changed to drop the false claims. The result is a sweet victory for the two Auckland schoolgirls, then aged 14, who the company initially ignored. "We did the study for a bit of fun," said Anna, who embarked on a series of experiments on vitamin C in fruit juices in 2004 for a science competition. Jenny added: "When we got no response [to a letter and e-mail], we telephoned them, but they didn't take us seriously because we were just 14." The girls eventually reported the firm to the Commerce Commission, which brought the prosecution. It forced the company's Australian headquarters to approach the Australian corporate watchdog to volunteer that its marketing was misleading and give an undertaking to explain the true nutritional make-up of Ribena on its packaging, website and future advertising. Graeme Samuel, chairman of the ACCC, said: "It is extremely important that companies use appropriate calculation methods when making claims about the contents of food or beverage products, especially when claims relate to nutrition." At the Consumer Commission's request, GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to make only claims which can be verified by valid testing methods, to stop false representations about Ribena's vitamin C content and to place notices in shops advising of any misleading information. HOW IT BECAME A WARTIME FAVOURITE RIBENA was originally made by the Bristol food and drink company Carters as a blackcurrant cordial. The drink was launched in the 1930s and called Ribena, from the botanical name for the blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum. Blackcurrants are a rich source of Vitamin C. It came into its own during the Second World War, when other fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, were hard to obtain because of enemy attacks on shipping and the priority being given to the import of war goods. As a result, blackcurrant cultivation was encouraged by the Ministry of Food and the yield of the UK crop increased significantly. From 1942, almost the entire British crop was turned into blackcurrant syrup (or cordial), almost all of it manufactured by Carters, and it was distributed to the nation's children for free.	The makers of blackcurrant-flavoured drink Ribena, GlaxoSmithKline, are in a New Zealand court today after it was discovered that the company's 55-year advertising campaign is misleading to consumers. Ribena had promoted the drink as being rich in vitamin C, with four times as much as oranges, and claimed the "Ready to Drink" Ribena had 7mg of vitamin C per 100ml. Tests have shown that "Ready to Drink" Ribena does not have any detectable vitamin C content. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), an international leading healthcare company second only to Pfizer, pleaded guilty to all 15 charges laid against them by New Zealand's Commerce Commission in Auckland's District Court. GSK did, however, fight the expected fine of up to $350,000 and corrective advertisements, proposing instead a $60,000 fine with no corrective advertisements. In the end, they were fined $217,000 for their breaches of New Zealand's fair trading act, and will have to publish correcting advertisements. It was first revealed that Ribena did not contain any traces of vitamin C when two 14-year-old Pakuranga College students did tests. At first Anna Devathasan and Jenny Suo thought they had conducted their tests incorrectly, so they tried again, but the same result came up. They contacted the firm three times, and approached the Commerce Commission after receiving no response. Ms Devathasan said, "We did the study for a bit of fun." A study in January 2007 also revealed that the drink contains only 5% actual blackcurrant juice.
News :: Bill Sweetenham cleared of bullying allegations 5th January 2005 Australian coach Bill Sweetenham has been cleared by an independent inquiry of bullying allegations made last year by former British table tennis player Matthew Syed. Syed had accused Sweetenham of damaging British swimming and causeing the retirement of 13 senior British swimmers. Sweetenham has been the performance director for British swimming since November 2000, when he took over from Deryk Snelling. His contract, which was recently renewed, runs up till the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Syed's claims had been denied by Sweetenham, British Swimming and many of the swimmers involved. Despite this and the result of the inquiry some of the swimmers maintain that the inquiry was not thorough enough. The inquiry will be published later in the month when Sweetenham returns from Australia. Sources BBC News - "Sweetenham is cleared of bullying" - 4th January 2005 Swimnews - "Sweetenham to be Cleared of Allegations" - 4th January 2005 \|\|\|\|\| The Times claimed the 55-year-old Australian had contributed to the retirement of 13 Olympic athletes. But swimming chiefs have given their backing to Sweetenham, appointed in 2000, following a three-month inquiry. "Broadly speaking, the report suggests allegations of bullying are not proven," said the official statement. Sweetenham still faces some tough questioning when he returns to this country after spending the festive period in his homeland. David Sparkes, chief executive of British Swimming, told BBC Five Live he planned to meet the Queenslander to discuss the repercussions of the investigation. "We will sit down with Bill at the end of the month to see if any lessons can be learned," said Sparkes. SWEETENHAM FACTFILE Took over from Deryk Snelling as British performance director on 1 November, 2000 Recently signed a new contract that will take him up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing Four times Australia's Olympic head coach; eight years as Australia's national coach; four years as Hong Kong's national head coach Sparkes also defended the independent inquiry carried out by former police officer Bill Roberts. One of Sweetenham's main accusers, former British 100m and 200m breaststroke record-holder Jaime King, said she thought it was not as thorough as it should have been. "If you are going to do an inquiry, things need to be done properly," said King, who claimed she was humiliated by Sweetenham at the 2003 World Championships. King said Roberts had failed to interview her in person and said she ended up making her comments in an e-mail. "In my mind I had him coming down to see me and doing it formally rather than doing it haphazardly over the internet," she said. But Sparkes rejected King's claims, praising Roberts for the professional, detailed and open way he handled his investigation. "He received representation by e-mail, by phone and by letter from a number of people who contributed to his investigation," said Sparkes. I just think some of his ways are wrong and the way he treats people sometimes is wrong Jaime King "I can only assume in the case of Jaime King that he looked at what she had put in her e-mail and felt he got enough from that. "I know that he sent her a copy of the submission he was going to put in the report and invited her to add to it or subtract from it." King said she would accept the outcome of the inquiry but felt she had achieved her objective of opening up Sweetenham to scrutiny. She also conceded that Sweetenham had "done a lot of good" for British swimming but reaffirmed her belief that he did not always handle his swimmers the right way. "I just think some of his ways are wrong and the way he treats people sometimes is wrong," she said. Sweetenham vigorously defended himself at the time the inquiry was launched but later said he had come close to resigning. "I've been coaching for 30 years - males, females, all levels - and I've never had a problem," he said. "All of a sudden now, because I set high standards and try to move British swimming on, I'm a bully. I've never been a bully." \|\|\|\|\| Sweetenham to be Cleared of Allegations Jan 4, 2006 An independent inquiry has cleared Bill Sweetenham, Britain's performance director, of bullying accusations levelled at him by swimmers and a former table tennis player last year. The inquiry, to be published later this month, has concluded that several retired Olympians cited in the article by Matthew Syed, a former table tennis player for Britain who now writes a sports column for the paper, do not consider themselves to have been bullied. According to the British media today, Sweetenham "has no case to answer". Syed alleged that Sweetenham was a bully, had damaged British swimming and caused the retirements of 13 senior Britain team members. The claim was denied by Sweetenham, many of the swimmers involved and the national federation. A source close to Sweetenham said: "It was always going nowhere. It was bullshit from the beginning. There are issues in British swimming but bullying is not one of them. Bill has been a great asset to Britain and taken the sport on in leaps and bounds. Athens was disappointing but then it took more than 25 years for Australia to get from a dark place to where it is today. Bill's been in Britain just five years. Give it time. You had a situation here where one day the paper ran a whole page accusing Bill. The next day, Craig Lord the swim reporter for the London Times, told us all that David Davies, Graeme Smith and lots of others on the current team backed Bill. Guess who we trust? I think the table tennis player should go back to the sport he knows something about. He clearly knows nothing about swimming." The inquiry recommendations will be published after Sweetenham returns from his native Australia later in January and attends a meeting with his bosses at British Swimming.	Australian coach Bill Sweetenham has been cleared by an independent inquiry of bullying allegations made last year by former British table tennis player Matthew Syed. Syed had accused Sweetenham of damaging British swimming and causing the retirement of 13 senior British swimmers. Sweetenham has been the performance director for British swimming since November 2000, when he took over from Deryk Snelling. His contract, which was recently renewed, runs up till the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Syed's claims had been denied by Sweetenham, British Swimming and many of the swimmers involved. Despite this and the result of the inquiry some of the swimmers maintain that the inquiry was not thorough enough. The inquiry will be published later in the month when Sweetenham returns from Australia.
Pakistani intelligence officials say at least four people have been killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in the militant stronghold of North Waziristan. Officials say missiles hit a house and a vehicle near Miranshah, Friday. The region is near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The attack comes a day after President Asif Ali Zardari warned that U.S. drone strikes were undermining Pakistan's "national consensus" in his country's war against militants. However, visiting U.S. lawmakers told Pakistani officials the U.S. could not afford to abandon the controversial missile strikes. Meanwhile, Pakistani officials say at least eight suspected militants have been killed in an explosion at their safehouse in the commercial center of Karachi. Investigators say the suspected militants accidentally detonated the explosives Friday, destroying the safehouse. Bomb squads helped search through the rubble. Police say some of the victims are militants and at least two suspects have been arrested. Officials also recovered guns, grenades, suicide vests and other explosives from the scene. Interior Minister Rehman Malik says some of the men in the house were from the country's Swat Valley. Pakistan's military launched a massive offensive there last April to drive out the Taliban, causing millions of people to flee their homes. Elsewhere, Pakistani officials say at least five people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the northwestern Khyber district. Investigators say the bomber targeted members of a rival Islamist extremist group. Officials say the bomber blew himself up after a security guard stopped him outside a building belonging to Ansarul-Islam. Ansarul-Islam has long clashed with another militant group in the region, called Lashkar-e-Islam. Some information for this report was provided by AP. \|\|\|\|\| Pakistani officials reported Friday the death of five people after US drone attacked the northwestern area of North Waziristan. The attack targeted the village of Tappi in the strife-torn area, AFP reported. "The US drone fired two missiles on a house. The house was completely destroyed," a senior security official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity. Local officials, commenting on the incidents, usually request anonymity, citing the 'sensitive' nature of the raids carried out on the Pakistani tribal belt which borders Afghanistan. In 2009, the attacks, launched by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in cooperation with the Pentagon, reportedly killed more than 700 civilians in the country. They have also fueled anti-American sentiments in the Muslim Pakistan. In an allusion to the issue, the visiting US Senator John McCain said in Islamabad, "friends don't always agree on every issue." "We will continue to try to find common ground with the Pakistani government as we have to do everything we can... to protect Americans from the attacks of terrorists who may be based here and operate out of Pakistan." HN/SAR/MD	Pakistani intelligence officials said today that at least four people have been killed in a suspected US drone strike in the North Waziristan province. Officials say missiles hit a house and a vehicle near the town Miranshah. The region is near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. "The US drone fired two missiles on a house. The house was completely destroyed," said an unnamed security official. The attack comes a day after Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari warned that US drone strikes were undermining Pakistan's "national consensus" in his country's war against rebel groups in the area. However, visiting US lawmakers told Pakistani officials the US could not afford to abandon the controversial missile strikes.
Two Democrats in Congress are pressing for investigations into how a Washington reporter who used a pseudonym managed to gain access to the White House and had access to classified documents that named Valerie Plame as a C.I.A. operative. The Democrats, Representatives John Conyers Jr. of Michigan and Louise M. Slaughter from Rochester, wrote yesterday to Patrick Fitzgerald, the independent prosecutor appointed in the Plame case, seeking an investigation into how the reporter, James D. Guckert, who used the name Jeff Gannon, had access to classified documents that revealed the identity of Ms. Plame. Until Wednesday when he resigned, Mr. Guckert worked for TalonNews.com, a Web site operated by Robert Eberle, a Texas Republican. Mr. Guckert said in a March 2004 interview with his own news service, in which he was referred to as Mr. Gannon, that the classified document had been "easily accessible." The two Democrats questioned how a person with "dubious qualifications" had access to such a document. The Democrats also wrote to the Secret Service seeking an explanation of how someone using a pseudonym was cleared to enter the White House daily press briefings as well as a presidential news conference last month. They said in their letter that allowing such a person in "appears to deviate significantly from heightened security measures you have employed recently." Mr. Guckert resigned from Talon saying he had been harassed by liberals on the Internet. Bloggers grew suspicious of him after President Bush called on him at the news conference and the reporter suggested that Democrats had "divorced themselves from reality." Spearheaded by a Web site called Media Matters For America, the bloggers discredited him. \|\|\|\|\| White House reporter's credentials questioned Man worked for Web site owned by Republican activist WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A New York congresswoman asked the White House to explain Wednesday why a man who worked for a news Web site owned by a GOP activist was able to obtain White House press credentials under an assumed name. James Guckert, who reported from the White House for the Talon News Service under the name "Jeff Gannon," announced he was quitting the business "in consideration of the welfare of me and my family." "Because of the attention being paid to me, I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News," he said in a statement posted Wednesday on his Web site. In a letter to President Bush, Rep. Louise Slaughter, a Democrat, questioned why Guckert routinely received credentials for White House news briefings. Slaughter linked Guckert's case to recent revelations that two conservative columnists who supported Bush administration policies had received government money. "It appears that 'Mr. Gannon's' presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your administration," Slaughter wrote. The White House had no comment. The House and Senate press galleries declined Guckert's request for credentials in 2003. Julie Davis, chairwoman of the Senate press gallery's executive committee, said Guckert could not demonstrate any separation between Talon News and GOPUSA, a Republican consulting group. Both organizations are run by Bobby Eberle, a Texas GOP activist. Many Talon News articles also appeared as news releases on the GOPUSA Web site, said Davis, a reporter for The Sun newspaper of Baltimore, Maryland. In a statement on the Talon Web site, Eberle referred to "Gannon's" resignation and said, "I understand and support Jeff's decision." Slaughter said she was writing at the request of senior editors of the Niagara Falls Reporter in her Buffalo-area district. The newspaper ran an open letter questioning "how a partisan political organization and an individual with no credentials as a reporter -- and apparently operating under an assumed name -- landed a coveted spot in the White House press corps." During White House press secretary Scott McClellan's regular briefings, Guckert routinely offered administration-friendly questions. He became the focus of liberal and media Web sites after Bush called on him during his news conference January 26. Guckert asked Bush how he could deal with Democratic congressional leaders "who seem to have divorced themselves from reality." Guckert told The Washington Post in an article published Tuesday that his political leanings were "admittedly" conservative "and that point of view is not represented in the briefing room at all." "Call me partisan, fine, but don't let my colleagues off the hook," he said. "They're partisan too, but they don't admit it." Slaughter said ideology had nothing to do with the dispute. "It doesn't matter whether he's a conservative reporter. The question is, is he a reporter?" she said. She told CNN that she believed the White House gave Guckert credentials to get a friendly questioner into the room during White House briefings. "I don't want to be fed propaganda from this White House," she said. "I don't want people to be paid to give it to me. We deserve the facts, or this democracy will suffer." Last month, conservative commentator Armstrong Williams apologized for not disclosing that his company had received $240,000 from a public relations agency hired by the Department of Education to promote Bush's No Child Left Behind education overhaul. Syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher also apologized to her readers for not disclosing a $21,500 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to help create materials used to promote Bush's $300 million initiative encouraging marriage to strengthen families. At the January 26 news conference, Bush said he disapproved of such practices and wanted them to stop. "There needs to be independence," he said. "All our Cabinet secretaries must realize that we will not be paying ... commentators to advance our agenda. Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet," Bush said. (Full story) HHS later disclosed that a third conservative columnist, Mike McManus, had received $10,000 to promote Bush's marriage initiative, according to an Associated Press report. His weekly column appears in about 50 newspapers. Several congressional Democrats have introduced a bill to stop what they termed taxpayer-funded "covert propaganda campaigns" that violate a provision included in annual appropriation acts since 1951. Under the new bill, dubbed the Federal Propaganda Prohibition Act of 2005, the prohibition on propaganda would become a permanent part of federal law. Federal agencies would also have to notify Congress about public relations, advertising and polling contracts, and the funding sources of all federally funded public relations materials would have to be disclosed. \|\|\|\|\| Posted: 12 February 2005 By: Jemima Kiss Email: jemima@journalism.co.uk Bloggers are claiming success for their part in exposing 'fake' White House correspondent Jeff Gannon, an unqualified reporter who had White House access and apparently posted Republican propaganda as news stories.Web-based campaign group Media Matters for America became suspicious at a 'soft question' Mr Gannon put forward at a White House press briefing. Investigations by the group revealed that Mr Gannon had lifted chunks of writing from Republican party and White House press releases.Two Democrat representatives are calling for an official investigation into claims that Mr Gannon also had access to a confidential CIA document involved in the Valerie Plame scandal - an undercover agent whose name was leaked.Mr Gannon worked for the Talon News agency, run by Bobby Eberle. Mr Eberle is also president of Texas-based Conservative campaign organisation GOPUSA Media Matters revealed that Jeff Gannon was a pseudonym used by James Guckert, and the story was picked up by a network of bloggers, including DailyKos and Eschaton They discovered that James Guckert was the registered owner of JeffGannon.com - along with Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com and Militaryescortsm4m.com.Blogger, political consultant and former journalist John Aravosis has used his blog to 'synthesize the mounds of data' unearthed by bloggers in the GannonGuckert episode.The mainstream press are still missing the big story, said Mr Aravosis, because the more salacious parts of the story are 'too personal' to report."An anti-gay conservative GOP writer has had clients dealing with gay escort services and gets immediate access to the family-values president of the United States and internal CIA documents concerning one of the biggest scandals of this administration. No story there!"Mr Aravosis told dotJournalism that bloggers were better placed to investigate Mr Gannon's background than mainstream journalists."Mainstream journalists can't afford to tick off the White House, but those of us in the blogger world couldn't care less about what George Bush thinks of us," he said."We know we won't be getting passes to the White House any time soon."In an interview with Editor & Publisher , Mr Gannon would not say whether he saw the confidential CIA files. He said that the sexually oriented sites were registered by him five years ago for a private client, and denied that anyone in the White House press office had planted or suggested questions to him.Mr Gannon resigned from Talon News on 8 February. A message on his site states that he has decided to return to private life out of consideration for his family.More news from dotJournalism: Disgraced NY Times reporter beaten to his own domainMore coverage:Blog coverage: \|\|\|\|\| Friday, February 11, 2005 WASHINGTON A conservative writer who attracted attention by asking President Bush (search) a loaded question at a news conference last month has resigned amid questions about his identity and background. James D. Guckert (search), who wrote under the name Jeff Gannon (search), said on his Web site that he was leaving "because of the attention being paid to me." He had been Washington bureau chief for Talon News (search), a conservative online news outlet associated with another Web site, GOPUSA. Guckert frequently attended White House press briefings over the last two years and asked pointedly conservative questions. Called on by Bush at a Jan. 26 news conference, Guckert said Senate Democratic leaders were painting a bleak picture of the economy and he asked Bush how the president would work "with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality." The question prompted scrutiny, particularly from liberal bloggers. Guckert was linked with online domain addresses suggestive of gay pornography. Guckert, a former resident of Wilmington, Del., told The (Wilmington) News Journal newspaper that he had registered the domain names for a client while he was working to set up a Web-hosting business. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Guckert did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name. ADVERTISEMENTS "He, like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly and so he was cleared two years ago to receive daily passes just like many others are," McClellan said. "In this day and age, when you have a changing media, it's not an easy issue to decide, to try to pick and choose who is a journalist. It gets into the issue of advocacy journalism. Where do you draw the line? There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room." He said he had been unaware of Guckert's affiliation with any sexually suggestive domain addresses. \|\|\|\|\| Mostly outrage is being expressed here about John Edwards' admission of having an affair. A sampling from the previous thread: georgia10: Fuck John Edwards. I have zero respect for his self-serving ass. I don’t really care what he does in his private life. If he wants to screw around, fine. I don’t agree with it, obviously, but it’s ultimately between him and Elizabeth. But he chose to be a presidential candidate, cheating on a wife with cancer, and then running for the Democratic nomination with that fact tucked away waiting to break out as an October surprise. Not only is that an incredibly selfish act, but he could have single-handedly given us another 8 years of Republican rule if he won the primaries. His hubris makes my blood boil. To think that he ran with this thinking he wouldn't endanger not just the presidency but this country too is just repulsive. hekebolos: I'm not going to listen to anyone who says "oh, this is just between him and Elizabeth" because that's not how we treat Newt Gingrich. And second: what if he had become the nominee and this came out? He would have basically handed the presidency to the Republican nominee. Self-serving egomaniac with a distinct lack of moral fiber. pat 208: He had an affair, THEN asked us to nominate him. He's not getting any more invitations to my Christmas parties, that's for sure. I am SO glad he's not our nominee. But he put us all at risk by asking running. And some objections to the expressed outrage: RNinNC WELL over 50% of married people have affairs. Especially men. McCain as well, but there's no massive MSM shock over that one. We can judge and throw rocks all we want, but dismissing someone for an affair is way overblown. I'm stunned to see this place explode like this. MrHinkyDink: Jesus, you'd think JE was the first politician to have an affair, when they've been doing it for thousands of years. Is it wrong? Yes. Does it erase all the good things about JE? No. He's not evil. He just made a huge mistake. It's one he should have to pay consequences for, but it's certainly not an unforgivable sin. And, of course, the top recommended diary right now by David Mizner: This is none of our business. This is an American sickness, this need to know--the belief that we're entitled to know--about the sexual lives of politicians. But but but, you don't have a problem with the sex, you say, you have a problem with his lying about it. Yeah, that's what Ken Starr said too. And a counter-argument to the recommended diary, this comeback by Meteor Blades:	Photo of the White House.Credit: dcJohn A lack of thorough and consistent measures to pick the White House press corps members has led many to question the reason a little-known conservative reporter had access to sensitive documents and the President of the United States. Jeff Gannon, whose real name is James Guckert, has been operating under an assumed name while attending White House press briefings. Gannon/Guckert was a reporter for the news service Talon News, a website believed by some to be a branch of the GOPUSA, up until his recent resignation due to the incidents surrounding him. The spotlight was originally cast on Guckert when called upon in a January 26 news conference. He asked President George W. Bush how he could work with Democratic congressional leaders "who seem to have divorced themselves from reality." Bloggers, seeing this as a "softball" question almost immediately began to question Guckert’s credentials and motives. Guckert supposedly had access to classified documents that named Valerie Plame as a CIA operative as well, which adds more fuel to the fire of the Justice Department’s investigation of the release of her name. Bloggers revealed James Guckert's real name, and that he was the registered owner of JeffGannon.com, Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com, and Militaryescortsm4m.com. The accusations that Guckert has no degree in journalism, reports through a small organiztion funded by a larger conservative news outlet, operated under an assumed name, and is directly linked with pornographic domain names, have many questioning how exactly he received a press pass in the first place. White House press secretary Scott McClellan, when questioned about this event, stated that Guckert did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name. McClellan defended Guckert’s clearance saying that, "He, like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly and so he was cleared two years ago to receive daily passes just like many others are."
Afghanistan's opium trade going strong Cultivators can be seen gathering resin from the crop near the main road through Kandahar. The Associated Press Afghan farmers near Kandahar harvest an opium crop yesterday. Afghan farmers near Kandahar harvest an opium crop yesterday. MAYWAND, Afghanistan - Afghan farmers have begun harvesting this year's opium crop, exposing the limits of a U.S.-sponsored crackdown on the world's largest narcotics industry despite claims by President Hamid Karzai that drug cultivation was down sharply. The sobering harvest news came a day after the arrest in the United States of an Afghan accused of being one of the world's biggest heroin traffickers and of close ties to the ousted Taliban regime. Yesterday morning, farmers could be seen gathering resin from opium poppies near the main road through the southern province of Kandahar, a key growing region belatedly targeted by American-trained eradication teams. "Now even if we do our best, we cannot eradicate it all" in Kandahar, Gen. Mohammed Daoud, deputy interior minister for counternarcotics, said. "It is a bad example for the other provinces and will make our job much harder." Production of opium, the raw material for heroin, has boomed since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Last year, cultivation reached a record 323,700 acres, yielding nearly 80 percent of world supply and buoying the economy. U.N. drug experts have cautioned that cultivation is shifting to more remote areas and rebounding opium prices could encourage a revival in planting next year. advertisement Countries, including the United States and Britain, are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the anti-drug campaign. The cash is being used to train police units to destroy laboratories, arrest smugglers and destroy crops, as well as to fund irrigation systems and other agricultural projects to help farmers grow legal crops. Mohammed Nahim, 40, works in the fields dotted with red and white flowers near the town of Maywand. He said he cultivated about 2 1/2 acres of land with poppy because no assistance had materialized. "A lot of money is coming for our farmers. But we didn't get a penny, not one sack of wheat," Nahim said. He clutched a black plastic bag filled with thick opium paste from his poppy crop. He said opium returns were 10 times higher than those from wheat and were the only way to cover costs of hired tractors and diesel fuel to pump water into fields. \|\|\|\|\| WASHINGTON - Facing opposition from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the United States has set aside plans to use spray planes to fumigate opium crops in Afghanistan (news - web sites), the world's largest drug producing country. Karzai's opposition to spraying has frustrated some U.S. officials who doubt that the vast amount of opium produced in Afghanistan can be significantly reduced without spraying. Opium is the raw material for heroin. The United Nations (news - web sites) says Afghanistan's drug trade has funded terrorists. Some U.S. officials fear it could ultimately lead to the kind of lawlessness that allowed al-Qaida to use Afghanistan as a haven before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Karzai, a close ally of the United States, has called for a "holy war" against Afghanistan's drug business, but believes aerial spraying could harm innocent villagers. U.S. officials say drug spraying is safe. The State Department's top anti-drug official, Robert Charles, said Karzai has indicated that he might allow aerial spraying if other eradication and interdiction strategies fail. "What he essentially signaled was that while that may become necessary, he wants to begin with another sequence," Charles said in an interview. Afghan officials say eradication efforts are already showing results, and forecast a nationwide drop of 30 percent to 70 percent in this year's crop. The State Department had anticipated an aerial spraying campaign when it notified Congress in December of how it planned to spend $312.5 million of $774 million budgeted counternarcotics operations in Afghanistan this year. Charles said about $152 million of the $312.5 million could have been used for aerial spray operations. The department will soon present Congress with a revised spending plan that doesn't include aerial eradication, Charles said. Instead, it will emphasize manual eradication, alternative crop programs, law enforcement targeting laboratories and warehouses, and public information. The chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Rep. Henry Hyde (news, bio, voting record), R-Ill., sent a letter last week to Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) urging no reduction in the $312.5 million figure. In a statement Tuesday, Hyde said until Karzai's government "signals its support for aerial spraying of illicit crops, we need a very robust and effective interdiction strategy to go after the heroin labs and the Afghan narco-terrorist kingpins." Charles said spending "will generally be in the same neighborhood. I don't think anyone has a sense of reduced commitment." In her Senate confirmation hearing (news - web sites) last week, Rice indicated U.S. officials are still interested in aerial eradication. "At this point, manual is all that we can do, but we'll see whether aerial is needed and what we can do in that regard," she said. The United Nations estimated that 323,700 acres in Afghanistan were dedicated to opium last year. That marks a 64 percent increase over the figure for 2003. The U.S. government's estimate was even higher: 5.1 million acres, a 239 percent increase over its 2003 figure. The United Nations says Afghanistan produced nearly 90 percent of the world's opium and the drug accounted for more than 60 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Relatively little Afghan opium, though, reaches the United States, where Colombia has been the largest source of heroin and cocaine. U.S. officials credit an aerial eradication program in Colombia, funded by the United States, with reducing cultivation of opium and coca, the raw material for cocaine. That spraying program has the support of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. \|\|\|\|\| The government is taking measures to tackle the problem Production rose by six percent on last year, to around 3,600 metric tonnes, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime found. Agency director Antonio Maria Costa said the country was at a crossroads and risked falling into the hands of "drug cartels or narco-terrorists". Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of illicit opium. Terrorists take a cut as well. The longer this happens, the greater the threat to security within the country and on its borders Antonio Maria Costa It found that though new measures by Hamid Karzai's administration had helped cut production in some traditional poppy growing areas, cultivation was rapidly spreading in new areas. Afghan opium farmers and traffickers brought home about $2.3bn in 2003, said the report. "Out of this drug chest, some provincial administrators and military commanders take a considerable share," said Mr Costa. "The more they get used to this, the less likely it becomes that they will respect the law, be loyal to Kabul and support the legal economy. "Terrorists take a cut as well. The longer this happens, the greater the threat to security within the country and on its borders." Tajikistan Guards on the Afghan-Tajikistan border say they seized a tonne of narcotics in October, which is an eight-fold increase on the year before. Tajikistan has become a critical export corridor from the Afghan poppy fields to the markets of Europe and the United States, says the BBC's Monica Whitlock who travelled to the region. Afghan opium trade Afghanistan provides around 75% of the world's opium output Two-thirds of all opiate takers use drugs of Afghan origins The 2003 harvest is the second highest recorded in Afghanistan since surveying began in 1994 Men and women works as carriers relaying tiny amounts for the middle men - some of those caught die in prisons forced to swallow the bags they smuggled - and local drug addiction is growing. Mr Costa said he would like to see international military forces in Afghanistan do more to intercept traffickers and dismantle drug laboratories. "Some countries believe that the military should not be involved in the destruction of trafficking," he said. "Other countries think otherwise. "I believe that the war against terrorism, leaving aside addiction, will not be won unless we control the opium economy of Afghanistan". \|\|\|\|\| Bush Will Not Stop Afghan Opium Trade Charles R. Smith Thursday, March 28, 2002 The Bush administration has decided not to destroy the opium crop in Afghanistan. President Bush, who previously linked the Afghan drug trade directly to terrorism, has now decided not to destroy the Afghan opium crop. "The war in Afghanistan will be decided within the next six weeks based on whether or not the poppy crops go to market," stated a U.S. intelligence official who recently returned from Afghanistan. The source, who requested that he not be identified, noted that the opium poppy fields are blooming and ready for harvest. U.S. forces could destroy the crops using aerial spraying techniques, but no such actions are planned. "If the estimated 3,000 tons of opium reaches market, it will lead to a new upsurge in international terrorism and a great loss in international credibility for the Bush administration and the United States' ability to conduct war in the 21st century. America's enemies throughout the world from China to North Korea to Iran will be emboldened by this lack of strategic vision and political will," said the source. U.N. Ban on Opium Trade The U.S. and all its allies signed onto a worldwide ban on opium sales. In January 2002, the U.N. issued a report on the Afghan opium production, noting that allied forces needed to act quickly to destroy the 2002 opium poppy crops before the end of spring. "The global importance of the ban on opium poppy cultivation and trafficking in Afghanistan is enormous," states the January 2002 U.N. report on drug trafficking. "Afghanistan has been the main source of illicit opium: 70 percent of global illicit opium production in 2000 and up to 90 percent of heroin in European drug markets originated from Afghanistan," states the U.N. report. "There are reliable indications that opium poppy cultivation has resumed since October 2001 in some areas (such as the southern provinces Uruzgan, Helmand, Nangarhar and Kandahar), following the effective implementation of the Taliban ban on cultivation in 2001, not only because of the breakdown in law and order, but also because the farmers are desperate to find a means of survival following the prolonged drought," states the U.N. report. This Is Your CIA Several sources inside Capitol Hill noted that the CIA opposes the destruction of the Afghan opium supply because to do so might destabilize the Pakistani government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf. According to these sources, Pakistani intelligence had threatened to overthrow President Musharraf if the crops were destroyed. The threat to overthrow Musharraf is motivated in part by Islamic radical groups linked to the Pakistani intelligence service, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The radical groups reportedly obtain their primary funding through opium production and trade. "Pakistan's intelligence service is corrupt, unreliable, and we don't owe them a damn thing. The CIA has a very checkered past as far as who they choose to get in the sack with. Maybe it's time to stop being clever and do the right thing," stated another source close to the Bush administration. "If they [the CIA] are in fact opposing the destruction of the Afghan opium trade, it'll only serve to perpetuate the belief that the CIA is an agency devoid of morals; off on their own program rather than that of our constitutionally elected government," stated the source. "If we don't take this opportunity to destroy the opium production in Afghanistan, we are no better than the Taliban, who did nothing to stop it despite claims to the contrary," he concluded. This Is Your CIA on Drugs The CIA decision not to stop the Afghan opium production has been greeted silently by U.S. allies. According to intelligence sources, both the U.K. and French governments have quietly given their approval of the American policy by not acting in accordance with the U.N. global ban on opium traffic. However, one foreign intelligence official was quick to point out that the CIA has a history of supporting international drug trafficking. "The CIA did almost the identical thing during the Vietnam War, which had catastrophic consequences – the increase in the heroin trade in the USA beginning in the 1970s is directly attributable to the CIA. The CIA has been complicit in the global drug trade for years, so I guess they just want to carry on their favorite business," noted an allied intelligence official who works closely with U.S. law enforcement. "The sole reason why organized crime groups and terrorists have the power that they do is all because of drug trafficking. Like the old saying, 'those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it,'" stated the official. TV War on Terror According to intelligence sources, a simple grant of $200 a year, no more than $20 million in total, sent to each poorly paid Afghan farmer could stop all opium production. The U.S. war in Afghanistan has already consumed an estimated $40 billion. After spending millions of dollars on a U.S. advertising campaign that linked illegal drug sales to terrorism, the Bush administration has opted not to destroy Afghanistan's opium production over fears that such an act may destabilize Pakistan. Clearly, ending opium production inside Afghanistan could be more effective than spending millions on TV advertising. The lack of action in Afghanistan against the drug trade shows that the Bush administration has adopted a hypocritical and flawed policy in its war on terror. The current U.S. law enforcement tactics aimed at slick TV ads and seizing terrorist money will not stop the flow of illegal drug money flowing into the hands of Osama bin Laden. If the Bush administration is truly interested in ending terrorism, then it must start in the poppy fields of Afghanistan. Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Bush Administration War on Terrorism A product that might interest you: Free E-mail Alerts From NewsMax.com	Opium poppy. Photo by Catherine Giayvia Most heroin sold in Europe comes from Afghanistan's poppies. This past week, the 2005 opium harvest was in full view and going full speed in Afghanistan. The cultivators gathering resin from the crop are operating even near the main road through Kandahar and the farmers are out gathering resin from opium poppies in full view. Last year 80% of the world's opium came from Afghanistan and production is up over 239% since 2003, according to U.S. government estimates. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of illegal drugs. In 2002 ads, the White House sent out the message that "drugs fund terrorists". Doug Wankel, a former U.S. (DEA) official, says the opium industry is "financing terrorism. It's financing subversive activities. It's financing warlordism... And if it's a threat to the government of Afghanistan, it's a direct threat to the national security interests of the United States." "The Bush administration has decided not to destroy the opium crop in Afghanistan," stated a U.S. intelligence official returning from Afghanistan in relation to the 60% smaller 2002 crop. The source, who requested that he not be identified, noted "U.S. forces could destroy the crops using aerial spraying techniques, but no such actions are planned." U.S. plans to spray the crops were canceled at the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has called for or "holy war", but is concerned that aerial spraying could be harmful to the health of Afghan villagers. The U.S. claims that the spraying would be safe, but is granting Karzai's request. Karzai has indicated that he may change his mind if other U.S. strategies fail to halt the opium. Congress budgeted $774 million for anti-drug operations in Afghanistan just this year. Black tar (raw) opium seized in Afghanistan, spring 2005. Photo by Bentlogic. ==== Estimating the value of the crop ==== The CIA reports in ''From Flowers to Heroin that'' it takes 10 kg of opium to make 1 kg of 90% pure heroin. The CIA states that impurities are introduced into the processed heroin before it hits the street, making the purity of the end consumer product about 40%. That implies that 10 kg of opium makes about 2.25 kg of 40% pure heroin. The Guardian reports that the 2002 opium harvest was 3400 metric tons. Using the conversion supplied by the CIA, 2002's 3400 opium harvest could be converted into 765 metric tons of heroin. According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the 2003 opium harvest was 3600 metric tons. Using the estimated 239% increase of the present harvast over 2003, it means that the 2005 harvest is about 8600 metric tons. The 2002 street price of heroin in the UK was about 60 £ per GRAM, or (assuming the present 1.89 USD to 1 £ exchange) 113.40 USD per GRAM. As the supply goes up the price will come down some, so for this calculation only the 2002 figures will be used. If all the opium harvest is converted into heroin and all of it is sold at the UK street price, the total street value of the harvest is 86.7 billion USD. (765 metric tons x 1000 kg/metric ton x 1000 grams/kg x 113.4 USD/gram = about 86.7 billion USD.) To the extent the 2002 numbers are valid today, the street value of the 2005 harvest should be roughly twice the street value of the 2002 harvest, about 173 billion USD. To put these numbers in perspective, the total market capitalization of Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler combined is about 76 billion USD. The total market capitalization of Toyota and Honda combined is about 167 billion USD. ==== No Statement by the Financial Action Task Force ==== The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was formed to promote harmonization of international antimoney laundering (AML) laws. Despite the fact that tens of billions of USDs are generated from the Afgan opium harvest alone, the FATF has not added Afghanistan to its blacklist of uncooperative nations. One has to wonder, therefore, what the poppy farmers are doing with their share of the money that escapes the notice of the banking system and the FATF.
STOCKHOLM, July 28 (Reuters) - The Swedish government said on Tuesday it had asked Venezuela for information on how Swedish-made weapons exported to the South American country had found their way to rebels in neighbouring Colombia.Colombia authorities said on Monday they had seized anti-tank weapons purchased in Europe by Venezuela in the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. [ID:nN27540288]"It is correct that they have found these weapons to be Swedish-made," said Jens Eriksson, a top political adviser at the Foreign Ministry to Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling."We are working together with Colombian authorities to investigate the matter further and we have contacted Venezuelan authorities to clear up how these arms ended up in Colombia."Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami denied on Monday the weapons found in the hands of FARC, which has been fighting for a socialist revolution since the 1960s and is labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States, had come from Venezuela.Eriksson said "a smaller quantity" of arms, mainly ammunition, had also been found in rebel hands.A Swedish Foreign Ministry official said the anti-tank weapons had been exported to Venezuela in the 1980s but that some shipments of ammunition for the weapons systems had occurred at a later date.No licenses have been issued for arms exports to Colombia while no shipments of weapons to Venezuela under a 2006 licence has been carried out in recent years, Eriksson said. (editing by Robert Woodward) \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- Shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons purchased by Venezuela have ended up in the hands of guerrillas, Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos said. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro talks on the phone with President Hugo Chavez in Caracas Monday. In an interview with Caracol Radio Monday, Santos addressed local reports of anti-tank weapons manufactured in Sweden being seized from members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and traced to Venezuela. "This is not the first time that this happens," Santos said. "In several operations in which we have recovered weapons from the FARC, we have found powerful munitions and powerful equipment, including anti-tank weapons, from a European country that sold them to Venezuela and that turned up in the hands of the FARC." The weapons have been identified as AT4 shoulder-fired rockets manufactured by Saab Bofors Dynamics in Sweden, according to Jane's Defence Weekly. They were seized in 2008 from a guerrilla base, the Colombian magazine Semana reported. Jan-Erik Lovgren, the Swedish official who oversees weapon exports, told Radio Sweden on Monday that his country stopped selling weapons to Venezuela in 2006. Venezuela on Monday denied allegations that they gave the weapons to the guerrilla group. "To me it seems that this is a new attack against our government based on lies," Venezuelan Minister of the Interior and Justice Tareck El Aissami said at a news conference Monday. "We absolutely deny that our government or our institutions are providing assistance to criminal and terrorist organizations," El Aissami told reporters. "It's laughable, it sounds like a cheap film made by the American government." Previous instances of Venezuela's government being accused of aiding the FARC include one last year, when the U.S. Treasury Department accused two senior Venezuelan intelligence officials and one former official of assisting the guerrillas with drug trafficking. The department froze any assets the three men may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibited Americans from conducting business with them. \|\|\|\|\| Colombian troops are pressing their offensive against the rebels Sweden has asked Venezuela to explain how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Colombia's Farc rebels. Swedish officials said the anti-tank rocket launchers had been sold to Venezuela in the 1980s. Colombian troops recovered the weapons in a raid on a Farc camp. Colombia has long claimed that Venezuela has backed the left-wing rebels. The Caracas government denies this, and dismissed the latest reports as an attempt to harm Venezuela. Jens Eriksson, a senior official at the Swedish Trade Ministry, said his government was working with Colombia "to find out how this happened". "We have asked the officials of the government of Venezuela to give us information on how they believe this material was found in Colombia," he said. Jan-Erik Lovgren, of the Swedish Inspectorate for Strategic Products, told Radio Sweden that the weapons had been sold to Venezuela in the 1980s. He said the incident was a clear violation of end-user licenses and could affect future decisions on whether to allow weapons sales to Venezuela. Mr Lovgren said that no Swedish company had ever been granted a permit to sell weapons to Colombia. 'Media show' On Monday, Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos said the anti-tank rocket launchers seized from the Farc had been purchased by Venezuela in Europe. "In several operations in which we have recovered weapons we have found powerful ammunition (and) powerful equipment, including anti-tank weapons which a European country sold to Venezuela and which turned up in the hands of the Farc," he told Colombia's Caracol radio. Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro said Colombia wanted to justify US bases In response, Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami said the allegations were a "media show". "It's part of a campaign against our people, our government and our institutions," he added. Venezuela's Foreign Minister, Nicolas Maduro, said it was a campaign "to justify the presence of US bases" in Colombia. Correspondents say he was referring to reports that Washington and Bogota are close to an agreement that would increase US military operations in Colombia. Colombia has fallen out with its neighbours in the past over suspected links to the Farc movement. Colombia and Ecuador broke off diplomatic ties last year after Colombian troops raided a Farc base just over the Ecuadorean border. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	* Newsroom * Style Guide - how to write * Content Guide - what to write The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, announced on Tuesday that "We will freeze relations with Colombia." He attributed the decision to "new aggression by the government of Colombia." Further, he said, "I've ordered to withdraw our ambassador from Bogota, to withdraw our diplomatic personnel." This diplomatic move follows claims by Colombia that amongst weapons its military has captured from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are AT4 anti-tank rockets manufactured by Saab Bofors Dynamics of Sweden. Colombia further alleges that the weapons were first sold to Venezuela before being given to the FARC. AT4 being fired by U.S. Marine during a training mission. "This is not the first time that this happens," Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos said. "In several operations in which we have recovered weapons from the FARC, we have found powerful munitions and powerful equipment, including anti-tank weapons, from a European country that sold them to Venezuela and that turned up in the hands of the FARC." "It is correct that they have found these weapons to be Swedish-made," said Jens Eriksson, adviser at the Swedish foreign ministry. "We are working together with Colombian authorities to investigate the matter further and we have contacted Venezuelan authorities to clear up how these arms ended up in Colombia." Venezuela denies the allegations. "To me it seems that this is a new attack against our government based on lies," Venezuelan interior minister Tarek El Aissami said on Monday. "We absolutely deny that our government or our institutions are providing assistance to criminal and terrorist organizations. It's laughable, it sounds like a cheap film made by the American government." Foreign minister Nicolás Maduro said that the whole thing is a campaign "to justify the presence of US bases" in Colombia.
Photo A man who admitted changing the Hollywood sign to “Hollyweed” has turned himself in to the authorities. Zachary Cole Fernandez, a 30-year-old artist, surrendered on Monday with his lawyer at his side, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was booked on a misdemeanor trespassing charge and released on bail. The sign was changed about 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, when two O’s were partly obscured by sheets and turned into E’s. It remained that way throughout the morning before the sign was restored. In a phone interview, Mr. Fernandez said he considered the results more of an art installation than a prank. “Yeah, I broke the rules, but I broke it with good spirit and good intentions,” he said on Tuesday. “It was just to bring light and positivity and happiness.” Get the Morning Briefing by Email What you need to know to start your day, delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday. 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 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. But David Ryu, a Los Angeles councilman, remained unamused. “Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel, in both responding to the prank and in responding to the increased crowds and copycat attempts that these incidents generate,” he said in a statement on Monday. “My office has urged the city attorney and L.A.P.D. to investigate and prosecute this case, as well as all attempts to trespass near, alter, or vandalize the sign.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Fernandez is expected to appear in court on Feb. 15. He said he had been inspired by a similar alteration in 1976, and that he had used clamps and sheets so as not to damage the sign. “I don’t want to destroy anything,” he said. “I’m about peace and love and respect and integrity and a lot of things that in some ways are missing these days. I wanted to show there’s a light in the world.” A father of four children ranging in age from 3 to 9, Mr. Fernandez said he had been told he could face up to six months in jail. He said he saw that as excessive for a “harmless” art project, but would accept any consequences. “I’m a person of integrity,” he said. “If I do something wrong, I will own up to it.” \|\|\|\|\| The man behind the New Year’s Day prank that saw the iconic Hollywood sign changed to read ‘Hollyweed’ has been arrested in Los Angeles. Zachary Cole Fernandez was arrested Monday on suspicion of trespassing, a week after he tampered with the Hollywood sign, making headlines around the world. The artist handed himself into the Los Angeles Police Department and was accompanied by his attorney. He was booked for a misdemeanor trespassing and released on $1,000 bail soon after. He will face court on February 15. Fernandez had already admitted to Vice that he was behind the prank, explaining that he and creative partner and former wife Sarah Fern did it after being inspired by the original Hollyweed sign, which was created by Danny Finegood in 1976 – after California had relaxed its marijuana laws. To honor the late Finegood, Fernandez signed his own Hollyweed efforts with “a tribute to Mr. Finegood.” The job took two hours to do and involved Fernandez using ropes to get around the high letters to clip sheets of fabric, altering the sign’s appearance in the process. “The Hollywood sign has seen many alteration attempts over the years for people seeking notoriety or commercial gain,” Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu said in a statement. “Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel, in both responding to the prank and in responding to the increased crowds and copycat attempts that these incidents generate.”	On Monday, the person responsible for changing the in California to read "Hollyweed" as a new year's prank turned himself in to local authorities. 30-year-old artist Zachary Cole Fernandez surrendered himself, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said. The Hollywood sign as it normally appears. According to LAPD, Fernandez went to the police station accompanied by his lawyer, where he confessed to have changed the sign and was bailed out shortly thereafter for US$1000. LAPD charged Fernandez with trespassing; earlier reports indicated vandalism charges were ruled out as he used black and white tarps to alter the letter "O" to read lowercase "e". The sign was not physically damaged. A court hearing is scheduled for February 15. Fernandez said this act was an art project, and claimed he faces up to six months in prison if convicted. It took Fernandez two hours to alter the sign. Regarding conviction, he said, "I'm a person of integrity. If I do something wrong, I will own up to it." Exactly 41 years ago, on the same date in 1976, then-university student Daniel Finegood modified the sign to read "Hollyweed" for an art class assignment. Finegood returned to change the sign again in 1990, spelling out "Oil War" to protest against the First Persian Gulf War. Fernandez, on Tuesday, said his act was to "bring light and positivity and happiness". He said he was inspired by Finegood's modification to the sign. City Councilman David Ryu said in a statement. "Pranks of this nature deplete the resources of our valuable public safety personnel". The term "weed" is an English slang term for cannabis, a banned drug in many countries. On November 9, a ballot for legalising recreational use of cannabis in California for the age group of 21 and above was passed. The law legalising recreational cannabis is due to come into effect in 2018.
Committee to Protect Journalists Calls for Release of Gambian Journalists Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists is calling for the release of seven Gambian journalists arrested for reacting to President Yahya Jammeh's dismissal of an investigation involving the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called for the release of seven journalists detained by Gambia's National Intelligence Agency. The seven include three members of the Gambian Press Union, two reporters from The Point newspaper and two journalists from Foroyaa newspaper. They were detained on Monday after reprinting a press release that criticized President Jammeh for dismissing an investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. Tom Rhodes is the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He expressed concern that the journalists have still not been released. "Neither publication editor should be detained for republishing a press release made by the Gambian Press Union," he said. "The whole point of an independent press is to show all viewpoints and that is a certainly viable one. We call on the NIA [National Intelligence Agency] officials to release them immediately." Veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, co-founder of The Point newspaper, was gunned down in 2004. There has been no investigation into the killing but human rights organizations have voiced suspicions that the government was involved. On June 8, President Jammeh said in a television interview that he had "no stake" in Hydara's death. He hinted that the journalist had a complicated love life that might have resulted in his murder. Rhodes said there are still many unanswered questions on the case. "From what we can determine and gather from the Gambian Press Union, there's been absolutely no government investigation into the matter. The one positive thing we can vest from this rather dire situation is that at least the government is reacting to public pressure to respond to these allegations," said Rhodes. Gambia has long been criticized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom. In 2006 veteran journalist Ebrima Manneh went missing. Despite repeated pressure from international rights groups, the Gambian government has never released any information about his whereabouts. Rhodes says the latest arrests could trigger a downward spiral. "Without journalists on the ground such as those at Foroyaa it's really going to affect what people know of what's going on in the Gambia in the wider picture of human rights," said Rhodes. The Foroyaa newspaper is petitioning President Jammeh for the release of the detained journalists, including its managing editor Sam Sarr. The Committee to Protect Journalists is calling for the release of seven Gambian journalists arrested for reacting to President Yahya Jammeh's dismissal of an investigation involving the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara.The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called for the release of seven journalists detained by Gambia's National Intelligence Agency.The seven include three members of the Gambian Press Union, two reporters from The Point newspaper and two journalists fromnewspaper. They were detained on Monday after reprinting a press release that criticized President Jammeh for dismissing an investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Deyda Hydara.Tom Rhodes is the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He expressed concern that the journalists have still not been released."Neither publication editor should be detained for republishing a press release made by the Gambian Press Union," he said. "The whole point of an independent press is to show all viewpoints and that is a certainly viable one. We call on the NIA [National Intelligence Agency] officials to release them immediately."Veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, co-founder ofnewspaper, was gunned down in 2004. There has been no investigation into the killing but human rights organizations have voiced suspicions that the government was involved.On June 8, President Jammeh said in a television interview that he had "no stake" in Hydara's death. He hinted that the journalist had a complicated love life that might have resulted in his murder.Rhodes said there are still many unanswered questions on the case."From what we can determine and gather from the Gambian Press Union, there's been absolutely no government investigation into the matter. The one positive thing we can vest from this rather dire situation is that at least the government is reacting to public pressure to respond to these allegations," said Rhodes.Gambia has long been criticized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom. In 2006 veteran journalist Ebrima Manneh went missing. Despite repeated pressure from international rights groups, the Gambian government has never released any information about his whereabouts.Rhodes says the latest arrests could trigger a downward spiral."Without journalists on the ground such as those at Foroyaa it's really going to affect what people know of what's going on in the Gambia in the wider picture of human rights," said Rhodes.Thenewspaper is petitioning President Jammeh for the release of the detained journalists, including its managing editor Sam Sarr. E-mail Print Digg Yahoo Buzz Facebook del.icio.us StumbleUpon \|\|\|\|\| New York, June 18, 2009--A magistrate in the Gambian capital, Banjul, today charged seven journalists with sedition for criticizing President Yahya Jammeh's televised comments about the unsolved 2004 murder of editor Deyda Hydara, their defense lawyer said. Gambian security forces arrested an eighth journalist this morning, although no charges were immediately brought, according to the Gambian Press Union President Ndey Tapha Sosseh . Jammeh, appearing June 8 on state-run Gambia Radio and Television Service, said the government investigation into Hydara's slaying had stalled, according to media reports. Jammeh noted that a news Web site has carried a headline saying, "Who Killed Deyda Hydara?" and then retorted: "Let them go and ask Deyda Hydara who killed him." The Gambian Press Union issued a statement criticizing Jammeh for being insensitive and calling for a renewed investigation into the unsolved killing. Four of those arrested thus far are press union leaders. All eight are staffers for either The Point or Foroyaa newspapers, both of which reprinted the press union statement. Hydara was editor of The Point. All eight journalists are being held at Mile Two Prison, defense lawyer Lamin Camara told CPJ. Only one was granted bail. Journalist Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, mother of a six-month-old, was granted bail of 200,000 dalasi (US$7,547) but there was insufficient time for colleagues and family members to raise the amount, the press union reported. One of those charged, Point Managing Editor Pap Saine, suffers from a heart condition and was planning to go to Dakar , Senegal , for medical treatment prior to the arrest, according to a CPJ source. "We're deeply anguished by the arrests of these journalists, several of whom I met in my visit to the Gambia ," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon . "President Jammeh is acting in a petty and vindictive manner and should be held personally accountable for his egregious abuse of power." The seven journalists charged with sedition were arrested by security agents on Monday, local journalists told CPJ. The charges were lodged today just moments before the government would have been constitutionally obligated to release the journalists. According to the Gambia 's 1997 constitution, a suspect may be held for no more than 72 hours without charge. Security forces arrested Abba Gibba, an editor with The Point, this morning, according to the press union. The National Intelligence Agency has denied the journalists access to their lawyer, family members, and colleagues, Camara told CPJ. They are due in court again on Monday, when the lawyer said a bail application would be filed. According to local journalists and the press union, security forces arrested Gibba today after questioning staff at The Point over why the paper was still publishing despite the detentions of senior employees. Security forces are holding Foroyaa's managing editor Sam Saar, assistant editor, Emil Touray, and reporter Abubakr Saidy Kahn, along with The Point's managing editor Saine, news editor Ebrima Sawaneh, and reporters Jabbi-Dibba and Pa Modou Faal. Hydara, one of the nation's leading editors, was killed by unidentified gunmen in his car on the outskirts of Banjul in December 2004. In the June 8 state television interview, Jammeh denied government involvement in Hydara's roadside slaying.	The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is calling for the release of seven Gambian journalists arrested for reacting to President Yahya Jammeh's dismissal of an investigation involving the 2004 murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. The seven detainees include three members of the Gambian Press Union, two reporters from The Point newspaper and two journalists from Foroyaa newspaper. They were detained on Monday after reprinting a press release that criticized President Jammeh for dismissing an investigation into the unsolved murder of journalist Deyda Hydara. Tom Rhodes is the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He expressed concern that the journalists have still not been released. Yahya Jammeh (Photo courtesy IISD/Earth Negotiations Bulletin) "Neither publication editor should be detained for republishing a press release made by the Gambian Press Union," he said. "The whole point of an independent press is to show all viewpoints and that is a certainly viable one. We call on the NIA National Intelligence Agency officials to release them immediately." Veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, co-founder of The Point newspaper, was gunned down in 2004. There has been no investigation into the killing but human rights organizations have voiced suspicions that the government was involved. On June 8, President Jammeh said in a television interview that he had "no stake" in Hydara's death. He hinted that the journalist had a complicated love life that might have resulted in his murder. Rhodes said there are still many unanswered questions on the case. "From what we can determine and gather from the Gambian Press Union, there's been absolutely no government investigation into the matter. The one positive thing we can vest from this rather dire situation is that at least the government is reacting to public pressure to respond to these allegations," said Rhodes. Gambia has long been criticized for its human rights record and lack of press freedom. In 2006 veteran journalist Ebrima Manneh went missing. Despite repeated pressure from international rights groups, the Gambian government has never released any information about his whereabouts. Rhodes says the latest arrests could trigger a downward spiral. "Without journalists on the ground such as those at Foroyaa it's really going to affect what people know of what's going on in the Gambia in the wider picture of human rights," said Rhodes. The Foroyaa newspaper is petitioning President Jammeh for the release of the detained journalists, including its managing editor Sam Sarr.
Photo: PA The great thing about Doctor Who, as a colleague pointed out, is that you don't have to watch the show to feel part of it. Even when you've exhausted, or been exhausted by "Who will be the next Doctor?" and moved into "I'm sorry, who will be the next Doctor?", there's still a full cycle of gossip to come: you can speculate about the identity of the Doctor's companion, and then the guest stars, and then the year's big villain, and then – as a pick-me-up at the end – whether this season will be the Doctor's last. At this rate, by the time Matt Smith actually steps into the Tardis, in 2010, we'll probably be vigorously debating the merits of his successor. The BBC certainly knows the value of the publicity to what is, according to audience satisfaction figures, its most-loved show. Whereas the Queen only gets 10 minutes over Christmas, the show's producers were offered a full half-hour on Saturday evening for their message to the nation. Even with all the careful priming, even with the drip-drip of comments that this was the youngest Doctor, that he was only 26, the moment when the boy himself popped up on screen was still a shock. Still, the BBC seems to have got away with it – according to the instant polling provided by a trawl through Facebook, groups such as "We hate Matt Smith as Doctor Who!!!!" are more than balanced by those willing to give him a try. Other internet commentators are taking the middle ground: they'll watch him in the role, as long as he gets rid of the Spandau Ballet hairstyle. For some of us, there is something more personal at stake. Like the actor who must finally accept that he is too old to play the Dane, we have suddenly become Older Than The Doctor, forced to accept that even if we could go gallivanting around the universe with the time-travelling Gallifreyan, we'd be too busy worrying about our pensions to enjoy it. The big winner, of course, is the man lucky enough to have played both the Dane and the Doctor. Only marginally better-known than Smith when he took the latter role, David Tennant is now a certified national treasure, able to pick and choose any role that takes his fancy. Whether Smith will become as beloved is a moot point: although obviously a talented actor, and from all accounts a bright and enthusiastic guy, he lacked, at least in that initial, unscripted interview, the articulacy and wit that defined Tennant's performance. Whatever his merits, he and new head writer Steven Moffat could find themselves in the collective shadow of Tennant and outgoing writer-producer Russell T Davies: the equivalent of the men who take over Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson retires and Cristiano Ronaldo is transferred. Yet I am optimistic about the show's future – precisely because of how unusual a choice Smith is. Despite all the speculation about a black Doctor or a female Doctor, all the show's bosses had to do to keep the gravy train rolling was find a well-known name, a Bill Nighy or David Morrissey, who was prepared to spend a couple of years chained to the production treadmill down in Cardiff. That they went for a 26-year-old suggests either that they were blown away by his energy, or that they have a clear and interesting vision for the show, or both. One word of warning, however: speculation is already cranking up over the identity of Smith's companion. As we reported yesterday, the suspicion is that producers want a "big name" to counterbalance their unknown Doctor, preferably from outside the world of acting. True, that thinking gave us Billie Piper as the Doctor's assistant – but it also gave us Bonnie Langford. Rather than risk that sort of thing again, the producers should ignore the focus groups, and follow their instincts. After all, the last time Doctor Who caused this much fuss was when its bosses plucked Tom Baker off a building site, and that certainly worked out. \|\|\|\|\| Photo: BBC Almost every actor who appeared in the BBC2 series set in the corridors of Westminster has gone on to greater things. Although ratings were modest, the young cast won great acclaim and the show was likened to This Life, an ensemble drama which reached cult status. Smith, 26, who played a young political researcher in the show, will become the biggest star of all after winning the role of the 11th Doctor. However, his co-stars Andrea Riseborough, Shelley Conn and Andrew Buchan have also been marked out as major talents. Riseborough went on to play a young Lady Thatcher in The Long Walk To Finchley, and appeared in the Mike Leigh film Happy-Go-Lucky. Conn became a star of the BBC drama Mistresses, which returns this spring for a second series. Eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted Buchan in ITV1's The Fixer and as Jem Hearne in Cranford. Buchan said of Party Animals: "For our part, we all clicked and shared a massive enthusiasm for making the show the best it could be. We were a quality group of friends working on excellent scripts, and that meant we all looked forward to work every day. Hopefully that enthusiasm came over in our performances." Speaking to The Guardian, Buchan said his old co-star would make an excellent Doctor Who. "It's a sublime bit of casting. He's got that huge hair, a twinkle in his eye - Matt's the king of geek chic. He is possibly going to be one of the best Doctors we've ever had." \|\|\|\|\| New Doctor Who star 'conned' into acting 2:35pm Wednesday 7th January 2009 Comments (0) Have your say » A DRAMA teacher from Taunton ‘conned’ the new Doctor in cult television series Doctor Who into taking to the stage as a teenager, the County Gazette can reveal. Twenty-six-year-old Matt Smith – the eleventh incarnation and youngest Doctor Who ever – wanted to be a top footballer rather than a television star and played in the youth teams of Leicester City and Nottingham Forest until a back injury forced him to quit. But Jerry Hardingham, Matt’s drama teacher at Northampton School for Boys, always believed he was destined for the stage. And when the 14-year-old failed to audition for a part in a school production of 12 Angry Men, his biggest supporter cast him in the play without him knowing. Speaking to the County Gazette, Jerry, now a drama teacher at West Somerset Community College in Minehead, said: “We had a new theatre opening, and the production of 12 Angry Men was a big opportunity for Matt, but he didn’t turn up for the auditions. “I rang his mum who told me he was on holiday, so I told her he was doing this part in the play – no discussion. “He was so self-effacing and was thinking of doing history at Sheffield University but me, his mum, dad and another drama teacher were telling him not to go. “I persuaded him to go into the National Youth Theatre because I saw raw talent and he got the lead role in The Cathedral. The play was acted out at Westminster Cathedral before an audience of Royals and dignitaries. “We’re still in touch and he still asks for my opinion when I see him, which is just ridiculous!” And speaking of Matt’s Doctor Who coup, 45-year-old Jerry, who lives in Taunton, added: “I was in Taunton Asda when I found out. All of a sudden my phone went a bit mad. I spoke to his folks as well and they are thrilled to bits. “I know he will be fantastic as Doctor Who because Matt is so versatile. The producers know what they want and he will give it to them. I am chuffed to bits for him.” \|\|\|\|\| New appointment delights Dr Who fans Published Date: 07 January 2009 ONE of Scarborough's biggest Doctor Who fans has given his reaction to the appointment of a brand new Time Lord. Relatively unknown actor Matt Smith was named as the next face of TV’s most famous time traveller. Scarborough man John Harper, who has never missed an episode, says the choice of 26-year-old Smith is “wonderful”. He said: “I think he’ll be just as good as David Tennant and the show will be wonderful as always. “With the last few doctors a new character has emerged and the special effects in recent years have been fantastic.” Mr Harper founded the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society 33 years ago and is fascinated by the show’s take on space and time. He said: “I think people enjoy the fact that the programme is very thought-provoking from an astronomical point of view. “When we look at the skies we are looking into the past – for example, the light we see from the sun set off about eight minutes ago.” David Tennant has announced he will be stepping down as the Doctor at the end of this year. Smith, 26, who will be the 11th Doctor, is the youngest actor ever to take on the role. He was cast during the Christmas period and will begin filming the fifth series of Doctor Who – which is due to be shown next year – during the summer. Smith’s biggest television role so far has been in BBC Two’s political drama Party Animals in 2007, in which he played parliamentary researcher Danny Foster. Outgoing doctor David Tennant will film four special editions throughout 2009. Mr Harper, whose favourite doctor was Patrick Troughton, says he is glad to see a new, young actor take on the role. He said: “I’m in my 60s now, so I would love to regenerate and go back to that age – I think a lot of us would!” Youngsters at Friarage School have also been giving their opinions on the new Doctor. Teacher Sarah Wright found out what her class of 10 and 11 year olds thought about the changes. She said: “They’ve all been talking about it and most of them are not happy with the change. They really like David Tennant because he’s funny and they’re used to him now. “The children say they love Doctor Who because it’s adventurous and he can travel through time. They also like the sci-fi language he uses and the costumes.” Scarborough’s MP Robert Goodwill is also a big Doctor Who fan. He said: “People are saying he’s too young, but he’s 800 years old as I understand it! “David Tennant will be a very hard act to follow, but I’m optimistic that the new Doctor will be just as good. There was talk of Jack Dee taking on the role and I think he would have been fantastic. “I also hope they keep up the phenomenal special effects of the recent era – the Christmas edition was brilliant.” Mr Goodwill added that his favourite Doctor was Jon Pertwee. The full article contains 525 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper. Page 1 of 1 \|\|\|\|\| When Matt Smith stepped into Doctor Who 's title role as the 11th Doctor this weekend, he went from British character actor to potential entertainment legend. The 10 actors who preceded Smith during the sci-fi show's 45-year run are forever linked to the part of The Doctor; some even parlayed the BBC role into a lasting place in pop culture history. Each brought something unique to the role of a benevolent alien traveling through the universe in a stolen time machine, fighting for justice against myriad alien foes. Smith, 26, will take over from current Doctor, David Tennant, who leaves the show at the end of 2009. Smith, pictured, will first play the Time Lord in the 2010 season. Hop in the Tardis and take a trip through time with this gallery of Doctors. \|\|\|\|\| Tennant said it had been "impossible to carry on without surgery" Actor David Tennant has returned to the lead role of Hamlet on the London stage after undergoing back surgery. Tennant, who is quitting Doctor Who, received an ovation along with his fellow actors, the Royal Shakespeare Company said. But they added his return would be assessed on a "day by day" basis and theatre-goers are advised to check the website for updates. The 37-year-old's run at the Novello Theatre is due to finish on 10 January. Tennant's understudy Edward Bennett, who played Hamlet during his absence, has resumed his role as Laertes. Bennett received standing ovations when he initially assumed the lead, but mixed reviews from critics. Tennant paid tribute at the time, saying it was a "fantastic achievement" getting to grips with the part of Hamlet at short notice. Sell-out Tennant had an operation for a slipped disc in December, and said his enforced absence from the play was "hugely disappointing". "My back problem has progressed to the point where it is currently impossible for me to carry on without surgery," he said last month. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. He played Hamlet 60 times in Stratford-upon-Avon in the summer ahead of the production's London transfer. Tickets for the London shows sold out within three hours when they went on sale in September. Tennant is due to begin filming scenes for a Doctor Who special later this month. Matt Smith has been unveiled as the next actor to take on the role, and will be seen on screens from 2010. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	TARDIS Actor Matt Smith will be the next to portray the Doctor on the BBC television program ''Doctor Who''. Smith will be the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor, taking over from actor David Tennant who will end his time with the series after filming four editions of the program through 2009. The Doctor comes from a race of Timelords, and has the ability to "regenerate" and change appearance when his health is failing. William Hartnell was the first actor to play the Doctor, from 1963–1966. Smith will become the new occupant of the Doctor's time machine and spacecraft the "TARDIS" in 2010. John Harper, founder of the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society and a fan of the series, called the decision to cast 26-year-old Smith in the role "wonderful". MP for Scarborough Robert Goodwill, also a fan of the program, told the ''Scarborough Evening News'': "David Tennant will be a very hard act to follow, but I’m optimistic that the new Doctor will be just as good." Matt Smith, 26, portrayed researcher Danny Foster on the political drama ''Party Animals'', which aired on BBC Two in 2007. Fellow actor Andrew Buchan from ''Party Animals'' told ''The Guardian'': "It's a sublime bit of casting. He's got that huge hair, a twinkle in his eye — Matt's the king of geek chic. He is possibly going to be one of the best Doctors we've ever had." After a back injury got in the way of Smith's goal of becoming a footballer, his drama teacher Jerry Hardingham at Northampton School for Boys encouraged him to pursue acting. Though Smith did not audition, Hardingham cast him in a school production of the play ''Twelve Angry Men''. Hardingham later convinced Smith to join the National Youth Theatre, and he landed the lead role in the play ''Murder in the Cathedral'', performing before members of the British Royal Family and other VIPs at the Westminster Cathedral. David Tennant David Tennant, 37, has portrayed the Doctor on ''Doctor Who'' since taking over for Christopher Eccleston in 2005. A major feature of his character's stories involved a romantic interest in his companion in the TARDIS, Rose, played by actress Billie Piper. Tennant announced his exit from the program on October 29, 2008, at the National Television Awards in the United Kingdom, during his speech accepting the outstanding drama performance award at the program. ''Doctor Who'' was recognized with the award for most popular drama program. "I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair," said Tennant in his address to the audience in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall. He was previously recognized at the National Television Awards for his role in ''Doctor Who'' with the award for most popular actor, in 2006 and 2007. Tennant is currently performing the lead role in ''Hamlet'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and his engagement at the Novello Theatre in Westminster, London is set to end on January 10. He portrayed Hamlet 60 times with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon prior to the production's move to London.
The officials from Microsoft, after several complaints from users, confessed that the company's product, entitled Live OneCare security suite, accidentally has been erasing all messages of those that use whether Outlook or Outlook Express. The company's forum concerning OneCare included postings that state the cause of the message deletion. Users found out that their e-mails were deleted by an antivirus program. It supposed to delete messages that contained malware attachments but besides doing its main job the antivirus whether quarantined or sometimes even erased all .pst or dbx files. One user left a comment on Microsoft's OneCare forum saying that in case there is no way to recover the erased messages it would mean that Microsoft developed a program that caused damage more than any other virus in 30 years of user's activity in the field of computing. However, the postings on the forum show that there is a way to recover some .pst or dbx files but only if those are available in the program's quarantine facility. This means that the erased files cannot be recovered; only those that were sent to quarantine might still be available. Microsoft's forum administrator, Stephen Boots, left a comment on the forum saying that he was quite unhappy with the issue. He said that this problem was reported over a year ago and though the issue was fixed in the 1.0 release and it never appeared in the beta version but it did in the new 1.5 release. In a Computerworld statement, the spokesperson of the software giant outlined that the company is fixing the problem of the antivirus that mistakenly deleted the .pst files of Outlook and the .dbx files of Outlook Express when it spotted an infected attachment in an e-mail. The spokesperson also mentioned that the updated version of OneCare will be released on March 13. \|\|\|\|\| Microsoft's antivirus deletes users' e-mails By David Meyer, ZDNet UK 12 March 2007 06:28 AM Microsoft has admitted that its Live OneCare security suite has been accidentally deleting some users' Outlook and Outlook Express e-mails. According to postings on Microsoft's OneCare forum, erasures have been caused when the antivirus program finds a virus in an e-mail attachment. Instead of then quarantining that single e-mail, users have reported that entire .pst or .dbx files -- the personal folder where non-Exchange Server users' messages and other details are kept -- have been quarantined or, in some cases, even deleted. One user commented on the forum: "Is there a chance to recover it? If not, OneCare will have done more damage than any virus in my 30 years of active computing." Forum postings indicate, however, that recovery is possible in some cases, where the .pst or .dbx file is still available in OneCare's quarantine facility. Stephen Boots, a forum administrator, commented that he was "very unhappy about this problem as it was reported over a year ago and fixed in the 1.0 release", adding: "It never appeared throughout the beta, but suddenly appeared when 1.5 was released". In a statement reported on Computerworld, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company was "working to address an issue where the antimalware engine for OneCare is erroneously quarantining Outlook .pst files or Outlook Express .dbx files, when the .pst file or .dbx file contains an infected attachment". The spokesperson added that a fix would be included in the next OneCare update, which is due on 13 March. OneCare has been hit this year by ongoing criticism, having only days ago failed to achieve certification in an independent test of security products. Shortly before that, it emerged that the product did not sufficiently protect users of Microsoft's Vista operating system against malware. Are you a OneCare Live customer? Have you been affected by this problem? Please let us know by using the talkback below or e-mail us at edit@zdnet.com.au. David Meyer reported for ZDNet UK from London \|\|\|\|\| 12.03.2007 Microsoft Erases Users' E-mails The software giant Microsoft admitted the fact that its Live OneCare security suite has caused serious problems. It deleted by accident users' Outlook and Outlook Express e-mails. The main cause of deletion, as posted on OneCare forum, was the antivirus program the goal of which is to find viruses in e-mail attachments. The program deleted all .pst or .dbx files instead of quarantining or deleting only the hazardous e-mail. Users said that the whole personal folder where the messages of non-Exchange Server users were whether quarantined or sometimes even deleted. Microsoft’s forum received a message from a user that asked if there was any chance of recovering the e-mail. The user said that in case the recovery of all messages was impossible than OneCare might have caused a lot more damage than any virus for the last 30 years of user’s computing experience. The forum, however, states that in some cases the recovery is possible. This means that .pst or .dbx files might be available when they are quarantined, these files can be found in OneCare’s quarantine facility. The administrator of the forum, Stephen Boots, posted a message saying that he was very unhappy with the occurred problem, mainly because it was reported over a year ago and later he though the problem was fixed with the 1.0 release. He mentioned that there was no problem in the beta version but when the company launched 1.5 it suddenly appeared. The spokesperson of the software giant said in a statement that Microsoft is currently working on the issue. The fix, according to the spokesperson, is to appear on Mach 13 in a new update of OneCare. This year Microsoft’s OneCare was highly criticized since it failed to achieve certification while passing through an independent security product test. Even before that happened the program did not sufficiently protect against malware those users that used Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system.	Screenshot of Live OneCare running on Windows Vista. Microsoft’s officials admitted that the company’s Windows Live OneCare security suite has been accidentally deleting e-mails of those users that worked with Outlook and Outlook Express. Microsoft’s OneCare forum included postings that stated the cause of message deletion. Thus the issue occurred thanks to an antivirus application that finds e-mails containing viruses. The problem with the software was that the antivirus, instead of deleting or quarantining the hazardous e-mail, deleted all messages from the personal folder. The forum, however, gave hope in a post saying that some messages might be recovered but only in case they were quarantined. Thus users are able to find those e-mails in OneCare’s quarantine facility. The administrator of the forum, Stephen Boots, outlined that he was very unhappy with the issue which, he said, appeared over a year ago and the company thought it fixed the problem with the release of 1.5 version. Boots said that the beta version of the program worked fine but when the final version was launched the problem occurred once again. According to the statement, reported by the spokesperson of the software giant, Microsoft is now working to fix the problem and release an updated version of OneCare on March 13. OneCare was criticized after it failed to pass an independent test of security products that provided a certain certification. In addition to this the program did not provide enough protection for Windows Vista users.
Dundee University launches degree in comic books Continue reading the main story Related Stories A Scottish university is to offer the UK's first degree in comics. Dundee University said the one-year Masters in Comic Studies would be launched by its English department in September 2011. The degree built on "strong local traditions" in the comic book industry, the university said. Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan and the Broons, the inventions of Dundee-based publishers DC Thomson and Co, were all born in the city. Graduates on the course will study the impact of comics on the worlds of art, literature and popular culture. The degree programme will be led by Dr Chris Murray, one of the UK's leading authorities on comics, and editor of the Studies in Comics journal. Practical workshops Dr Murray said: "This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics. "This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail." One of the modules will look at autobiographical comics and another examines the relationship between international comics cultures. The university said students with an interest in the creative side of comics - as a writer or artist - would be able to enhance their practical skills, with workshops on script writing and artwork. And a PhD in comic studies will also be available to those who have completed the MLitt course. Dr Murray added: "Employability is an important consideration for any postgraduate programme, and it lies at the heart of what we aim to do with this course. "There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students." \|\|\|\|\| © STV The home of the Beano, Dandy and Oor Wullie has launched the UK’s first degree programme in comic studies. Dundee University is building on strong local traditions and expertise to launch the programme. The city is where publishing company DC Thomson is based, which is behind such titles as the Broons, Commando, Starblazer and Bunty. The English department at Dundee is offering the new postgraduate masters in comic studies degree that is being led by Dr Chris Murray, one of the UK’s foremost authorities on the subject. He has researched comics and graphic novels extensively, and is editor of the journal Studies in Comics. Dr Murray said students will be required to think critically about comics, and develop an understanding of comics in the context of theory, politics and history. He added: "This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics. "This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail. "I hope that this course will help forge the next generation of comics scholars, and may even help some students with creative ambitions to find their way into the highly competitive comics industry." Course organisers believe that comics are not just the preserve of children as they are becoming increasingly sophisticated texts that comment on culture, politics and values. The MLitt in comic studies programme, delivered on a one-year full time or two-year part time basis, is expected to appeal to local, national and international graduates with an interest in pursuing academic careers, or working in the media, the creative industries or publishing. From September, graduates will have the opportunity to take the course. Dr Murray continued: "As well as studying different genres, styles and uses of comics, there will be a focus on writing for comics, with classes and workshops on scriptwriting skills as well as on artwork and the creative process. "Employability is an important consideration for any postgraduate programme, and it lies at the heart of what we aim to do with this course. There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students. "Comics and graphic novels are becoming an increasingly important form of literature, art and field of study, and it is our intention that our graduates are at the forefront either as researchers, writers, artists or filling other roles within the industry." More information about the programme is available on the Dundee University website or emailing Dr Murray at c.murray@dundee.ac.uk.	In the of Scotland, the is to become the first university in the United Kingdom to provide degrees in comic studies. The university has said that courses for its comic studies subject within the English section will commence in September 2011. The city of is known to be the headquarters for , a publishing company whose works include various comic books, such as , , and . Dr. Chris Murray, a leading British authority on comic books, will be leading the comic studies programme. "This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics," he explained. "This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail." Those organising courses for the degree believe that comic books now appeal to adults as well as children due to their impact in the areas of politics, art and literature, as well as aspects of popular culture. Amongst the program will be the examinations of comics of an autobiographical nature and similarities with the culture of comic books on an international scale. Students who complete the learning program — running either full-time for a year and two-years if done part-time — will be eligible for a in comic studies. Dr. Murray has also noted: "Employability is an important consideration for any postgraduate programme, and it lies at the heart of what we aim to do with this course. There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students. Comics and graphic novels are becoming an increasingly important form of literature, art and field of study, and it is our intention that our graduates are at the forefront either as researchers, writers, artists or filling other roles within the industry."
Mexican police commander, bodyguard slain in restaurant MEXICO CITY (AFP) — Unknown assailants shot to death a Federal Police commander and his bodyguard in a Mexico City restaurant at mid-day on Thursday, Mexican officials said. Igor Labastida, head of the Traffic and Contraband office of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP), was shot dead along with one of his bodyguards, spokesperson Minerva Amado with the attorney general's office (PGR) said. "Two subjects got out of a black vehicle, entered a restaurant where the commander was eating and opened fire on him and his escorts," said Amado. Two other Labastida bodyguards were wounded and hospitalized, Amado said. Police are searching for the attackers. Gunmen on May 8 assassinated the acting federal police chief Edgar Millan. A day later assailants killed Esteban Robles, commander of Mexico City's anti-kidnapping police. And top federal organized crime investigator Roberto Velasco was gunned down at his home in the capital May 6. He died in hospital shortly thereafter. Since December 2006, President Felipe Calderon's federal government has deployed 36,000 military troops and thousands of police around the country in an operation aimed at clamping down on organized crime. The highest death toll of the drug war is in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez, where some 500 people have been killed this year. Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved. More » \|\|\|\|\| Gunmen kill top Mexican police official, bodyguard Top Mexican police official, bodyguard slain MEXICO CITY — Assassins gunned down a top federal police commander in Mexico City Thursday, the latest in a string of attacks on senior law enforcement officers in the capital. The gunmen killed Igor Labastida, a senior investigator, and a bodyguard as they ate in a restaurant not far from Mexico's presidential compound. Three other bodyguards and several civilians were wounded in the spray of bullets. Labastida reportedly was director of the division of the Federal Preventative Police dealing with drug trafficking and other contraband. Police offered no explanation of who might have killed Labastida or why. Latest News Videos Now Playing: Now Playing Trump: Other Countries 'Rob Us Blind' Associated Press Shot fired at store owner in attempted robbery, police say WGAL Trump Rolls Out $1.5T Infrastructure Plan Associated Press Videocast: Warmer temperatures headed our way KCCI 5 last-minute Valentine's Day gifts WPTZ Man accused of killing wife in front of kids says he ‘snapped’ Harris County Office of Court Management Woman sentenced in opioid death of her finacee KCCI Man sentenced in sexual assault weeks after brother found incompetent KCCI Tomball nursing home fire METRO Video Video: Dry start to the workweek (2-12-18) WPTZ Until last spring, drug-related violence was rare in the capital. But in the past three months, at least three senior police officers have been killed in the city. The violence has flared as President Felipe Calderon stepped up a campaign to deploy army troops and paramilitary police to areas controlled by the powerful drug cartels that smuggle cocaine and other narcotics into the United States. Labastida's death came less than two months after the slaying of Edgar Millan, the acting chief of the federal police, in the capital. Millan was killed as he arrived at one of his Mexico City homes in the late evening. Authorities have accused another police official of involvement in Millan's assassination. And they pointed to the Beltran Leyva family, one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organizations, as being behind the killing. The Beltran Leyvas' war with another Sinaloa drug gang, headed by trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, was blamed for the escalating wave of violence that has rocked Mexico this year. The Mexico City newspaper Reforma reported in its online edition Thursday that the attorney general's office had investigated Labastida in 2004 for his alleged ties to Guzman. By various government and media tallies, nearly 5,000 people — including some 500 local, state and federal police officers — have been killed in the 18 months since Calderon launched the campaign against the drug gangs. Even as the authorities have cracked down on the smugglers, rival gangs have gone after one another with escalating violence. While many police have been killed in the line of duty, others have been targeted by one gang because they served as protection for another, authorities acknowledge. "A structural degeneration of authority has been going on for decades, tied to abuse, corruption and haughtiness," Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico's federal public security director and Labastida's boss, said in a speech last week. "This has generated, up till now, a social aversion to police operations, which opened space for the flourishing of impunity," he said. Labastida also was implicated in a 2005 scandal that involved the killing of Enrique Salinas de Gotari, a brother of former president Carlos Salinas, whose suffocated body was found in a car in a Mexico City suburb. Prosecutors in Mexico state, where the suburb is located, accused federal police of extorting Enrique Salinas in return for not arresting him on a corruption-related arrest warrant issued by French authorities. Labastida, who at the time was the head of investigations in the federal police's equivalent of the FBI, was not charged with a crime. But he apparently was demoted in the aftermath of the scandal to his current position. Swiss authorities last week agreed to return $74 million to the Mexican government from the bank account Raul Salinas de Gortari, another brother of the former president. Raul Salinas was released from prison two years ago, where he had been held on corruption charges since 1994. dudley.althaus@chron.com \|\|\|\|\| 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.	Gunmen today opened fire in a Mexico City restaurant, killing a top police official in charge of monitoring the country's illegal drug trade, as well as one of his bodyguards, Mexican officials said. The attack is the latest waged against authorities attempting to fight Mexico's powerful drug cartels. Security officials in Mexico City say the attack occurred as Igor Labastida Calderón, commander of the federal police's Traffic and Contraband division, was eating lunch with one of his bodyguards, Jose Maria Ochoa. According to Minerva Amado, spokesperson for the attorney general's office, two unknown subjects got out of a black vehicle, entered the restaurant, and opened fire on Labastida Calderón. Reports differ on who else was injured in the attack. Amado said two other bodyguards were injured and hospitalized, while Mexico City newspaper ''El Universal'' reports that three civilians were injured. The motive for the attack remains unclear. No arrests have been made so far, as police continue to search for the assailants. Federal police have refused to comment. President Felipe Calderón has sent over 20,000 troops throughout Mexico in an attempt to take back areas controlled by the country's drug cartels. Since Calderón took office in December 2006, more than 4,000 people have been killed by these drug cartels, allegedly including federal police chief Édgar Millán Gómez, whose May death was attributed to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The trio were launched in the storied Soyuz TMA that consists of Orbital Module, a Descent Module and an Instrumentation/Propulsion Module, lofted into orbit by a three stage Soyuz-FG (11A511U-FG no. Sh15000-024). Volkov and Kononenko are due to spend six months on the orbital outpost, which will include the arrival of space shuttle Discovery and her giant payload of the Japanese Pressurized Module. Yi, a commerical passenger - following an agreement between the Russian Federal Space Agency and South Korea - will only be spending 10 days aboard the ISS, conducting experiments and press interviews with South Korean media on the ground. Such is the level of attention in South Korea, president Lee Myung-bak phoned Vladimir Putin to personally thank the Russians for their cooperation on the flight of Yi. 'I express my sincere gratitude toward the Russian government and hope that this event will serve as an opportunity to open and strengthen various channels between Seoul and Moscow,' said the president in a conversation that was carried by state TV. Yi now becomes the first South Korean ever to fly in space, and the second Asian woman to orbit the planet, Yi will return back to Earth with the departing duo of ISS commander Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. End to Expedition 16: Marking the end of Expedition 16, controllers at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) earned praise from NASA management for their performance during a 'hat trick' of three shuttle flights to the ISS. 'Many thanks to Holly Ridings and the Expedition 16 ops team. This has been an incredibly busy and productive increment with a record three shuttle flights (the Shuttle 'Hat Trick' as coined by Holly),' noted NASA HQ's 8th Floor News. 'Additionally, with only 23 days between 1E undock and 1JA dock, the team has once again demonstrated the tenacity, mental toughness, and can do attitude that continues to represent MOD (Mission Operations Directive) well.' Progress departs: Meanwhile, back on the ISS, the Russian re-supply ship Progress M-63/28P was sent on its way to a destructive re-entry on Monday morning. The automated vehicle was undocked to vacate the docking port for the Soyuz TMA-12. 'All separation burns went off nominally, and the deorbit burn followed at 7:50am for destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean,' noted the ISS Status Report. Ride home through the fire, sparks and plasma of re-entry with Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour. FIVE Stunning high quality 2hr, 355-400mb Camcorder and HUD videos - from payload bay closure - through re-entry with an astronaut held camcorder video - to post landing - several more videos showing landing from 90,000 ft also available and HUD videos from STA landings. Includes HALO II Re-entry video, and re-entry videos from Gemini and Apollo (converted from 8mm) 'For the undocking, ISS attitude control was handed over to Russian MCS (Motion Control System) at ~2:55am and returned to US momentum management at 5:45am, still in earth-fixed LVLH (local vertical/local horizontal). 'During the undocking, the station was in free drift for around 9 min. Structural response data were taken by MAMS (Microgravity Acceleration Measuring System) and the external truss-mounted SDMS (Structural Dynamic Measurement System). 'The undocking was preceded at 4:15am by a temporary shutdown of the amateur radio equipment in the FGB (Ericsson) & SM (Kenwood) to prevent radiofrequency interference with the departing Progress vehicle.] 'After the separation, FE-1 Malenchenko took the usual NIKON D2X w/80-400mm lens photographs of the receding cargo ship?s docking assembly (from 8-40 m distance) to verify that no rubber seals are missing on the DC1 docking interface and to assess seal integrity.' The next Progress (29P) is due to launch on May 14, with three more cargo ships, and one more Soyuz TMA, to follow before the year is out, as the ISS continues to build up towards a six crew compliment. \|\|\|\|\| NASA Television provides real-time coverage of Agency activities and missions as well as resource video to the news media, and educational programming to teachers, students and the general public. NASA Television is broadcast on AMC-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. NASA Television is also available over the World Wide Web from several sources. Programming + Copyright Guidelines for Use of NASA Materials	Launch of an earlier Soyuz mission. At 11:16 GMT (17:16 local time) this morning, a Russian Soyuz-FG carrier rocket launched from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft, on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard were three cosmonauts; Russians Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and South Korean Yi So-yeon. Volkov and Kononenko make up the ISS Expedition 17 crew, whilst Yi is flying as a Spaceflight Participant through the Korean Astronaut Programme. All three are making their first trip into space. Two major firsts are being achieved on this mission. Yi is the first South Korean to fly in space, and Volkov is the first second-generation space traveller, his father Alexander Volkov having flown three space missions, Soyuz T-14, TM-7 and TM-13, spending over a year aboard the Mir space station across the three missions. Soyuz TMA-12 successfully separated from the carrier rocket about nine minutes after lift off. Docking with the Pirs module of International Space Station is planned for Thursday at 13:00 GMT. In preparation for docking, the Progress M-63 cargo spacecraft undocked at 08:30 GMT yesterday morning, and was de-orbited to burn-up in the Earth's atmosphere at 11:50. The TMA-12 spacecraft will remain docked to the ISS as an emergency escape capsule until October, when it will be used to return the Expedition 17 crew to Earth, along with space tourist Richard Garriott. Yi So-yeon will return to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-11, which is scheduled to land in just under a fortnight's time. This is the 99th manned flight of the Soyuz programme, the first of which was launched in late April 1967, and the 107th manned flight of the Soviet/Russian space programme. It is the fifteenth orbital, and third manned launch of 2008.
US lifts lid on top secret plan for internet security By Maggie Shiels Technology reporter, BBC News, San Francisco Mr Schmidt called for new partnerships on cybersecurity The White House has declassified parts of a top secret plan outlining how government will protect the nation's computer networks from cyber warfare. The announcement by cybersecurity tsar Howard Schmidt was made at the world's biggest security event. The move is aimed at encouraging greater co-operation between academia, government and the private sector. "We have to fully recognise the importance cybersecurity has in our lives," Mr Schmidt said. "We must continue to seek out innovative new partnerships - not only within government, but also among industry, government and the American public," he told delegates at the event, hosted by the security company RSA in San Francisco. It was his first major speech to industry peers since being appointed to the job in December 2009. The Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) was introduced in 2008 by then-President George W Bush. Going public There are 12 parts to the CNCI, including cyber counterintelligence and deterrence strategies. For the first time the government has published a general description of what they are on its website. The aim of the programme is threefold: to establish a front line of defence against today's immediate threats to defend against the full spectrum of threats to strengthen the future cybersecurity environment The CNCI funds a number of sensitive projects including the government's Einstein technology, which focuses on securing the vast computer network that operates under the dot.gov domain, as well as detecting attempts to access those systems. The president has likened threats to the internet to that of a nuclear attack The document acknowledges that traditional security approaches have fallen short, but says the federal government is moving forward in outlining "grand challenges" for the research community to help solve. Mr Schmidt said the declassification would show that the government has a workable strategy for protecting the nation's computer systems in the event of a cyber attack. Parts of the initiative that deal with the nation's offensive plans for cyberwarfare have not been made public. 'Common sense' Reaction to the announcement ranged from caution to praise. One supporter is Michael Markulec, chief operating officer for Lumeta, a company that provides large organisations and government agencies with secure network solutions. "This move brings more people to the table - organisations like mine that play in the cybersecurity space, experts here at the RSA who are currently not involved in discussions because they have been at a classified level inside the government. "So this allows more people to play and given that 85% of the critical infrastructure is not in government hands, it certainly makes sense to include the rest of the expertise," Mr Markulec told BBC News. Hilton Collins of Government Technology Magazine agrees. "The private sector has so much knowledge, power and money that for them to help the government innovate more technology security solutions is the right way to go." The Electronic Privacy Information Centre (Epic), which had demanded the full text of the CNCI, said it was pleased about the declassification. However the group said it still wanted to see the full document and what privacy safeguards are in place when assessing cyber threats. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version \|\|\|\|\| The Obama administration on Tuesday plans to declassify portions of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, created during the Bush administration as a secret effort to harness the nation’s defensive and offensive strategies for protecting commercial and government networks. The announcement is to be made by Howard A. Schmidt, the industry cybersecurity veteran who was appointed in December as the White House Internet security adviser, at an industry convention in San Francisco. The declassification effort, which will not include the entire directive, will be focused on showing that the government has a clear and workable strategy for protecting the nation’s computer systems, Mr. Schmidt said in a telephone interview Monday evening. The cybersecurity initiative emerged from a classified National Security Presidential Directive signed by President George W. Bush in January 2008. The initiative was intended to unify the efforts of various government agencies as well as to develop security programs to protect the nation’s computer networks. Although the budget for the program has been secret, independent estimates have suggested that it may cost as much as $40 billion over the next five years. The plan comprises 12 initiatives, Mr. Schmidt said, and general descriptions of the 12 will be published Tuesday afternoon on the whitehouse.gov Web site. A portion of the initiative deals with the nation’s offensive plans for cyberwarfare, and Mr. Schmidt said that part would not be made public. “The C.N.C.I. was shrouded in a lot of classification,” he said. “The president has said very specifically that we need to make sure the administration is transparent with not only the American public but with an international audience as well.” In his first public speaking engagement at the RSA Conference, which is scheduled to open Tuesday, Mr. Schmidt said he would focus on two themes: partnerships and transparency. “In order to be successful against today’s cybersecurity threats,” he said, “we must continue to seek out innovative new partnerships — not only within government, but also among industry, government and the American public.” Mr. Schmidt also said his office planned to appoint an official to oversee privacy and civil liberties issues. “I don’t think there will be any surprises,” he said. “Much of what has been going on has been what people would expect us to be doing.” He said that the speech would represent the moving away from strategy and toward implementation on the part of the administration in specific areas like identity management and research and development of new technologies. “I will talk about our incident response plan and the Department of Homeland Security secretary will also speak on the issue and go into more detail,” Mr. Schmidt said. He said that he would not speak specifically about Google and the company’s recent revelations about intrusions that it said it believed had come from China. He pointed to two specific initiatives as examples of the areas where the administration would try to improve cybersecurity: No. 7, which is an effort to develop a framework for international partnerships building a common cybersecurity policy, and No. 10, which is the effort to create an identity management strategy that would be able to balance the competing issues of security and privacy. Critics have been skeptical about efforts to end anonymity on the Internet, arguing that they will place limits on privacy and freedom of speech. In his new office just a little more than a month, Mr. Schmidt said he remained optimistic about improving the nation’s cybersecurity preparedness and he believed he had the right people in place to do that. “It’s a matter of getting the sense of urgency in it,” he said. \|\|\|\|\| The Obama administration declassified part of the government’s cybersecurity plan Tuesday, publishing parts of it that discuss intrusion detection systems for federal computer networks and the government’s role in securing critical infrastructure. The declassification announcement was made by Howard A. Schmidt, a former Microsoft security executive who in December was appointed cybersecurity coordinator by President Barack Obama. Schmidt was speaking at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco, an annual industry conference for computer security professionals. The government’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative was launched in 2008 by President George W. Bush under a shroud of secrecy. The plan has 12 directives that cover the government’s strategy to protect U.S. networks — including military, civilian, government networks and critical infrastructure systems — as well as the government’s offensive strategy to combat cyberwarfare. Civil libertarians criticized the Bush administration for failing to disclose the contents of the plan or allowing independent oversight of its implementation. Schmidt said that Obama recognized the need for some transparency. “There are a lot of legal issues about what we’re doing,” he told the 2,000-member audience, adding that the government was currently working on a list of about 40 legal questions related to the cybersecurity initiative. Obama said last May that he planned to appoint a separate official to ensure that the implementation of the cybersecurity plan doesn’t violate privacy and civil liberties and insisted that the government’s plan would not include spying on the public. “Our pursuit of cybersecurity will not include — I repeat, will not include — monitoring private sector networks or internet traffic,”he said. “We will preserve and protect the personal privacy and civil liberties that we cherish as Americans.” A White House spokesman said Tuesday that the administration had appointed Tim Edgar to oversee the privacy aspects of the cybersecurity initiative. Edgar, a former attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, has been working as the deputy for civil liberties for the Civil Liberties and Privacy Office of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The declassified portion of the plan published Tuesday includes information on only part of the initiative and does not discuss cyberwarfare. The plan instead discusses the deployment of Einstein 2 and Einstein 3, intrusion detection systems on federal networks designed to inspect internet traffic entering government networks to detect potential threats. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) is deploying, as part of its EINSTEIN 2 activities, signature-based sensors capable of inspecting Internet traffic entering Federal systems for unauthorized accesses and malicious content. The EINSTEIN 2 capability enables analysis of network flow information to identify potential malicious activity while conducting automatic full packet inspection of traffic entering or exiting U.S. Government networks for malicious activity using signature-based intrusion detection technology…. EINSTEIN 2 is capable of alerting US-CERT in real time to the presence of malicious or potentially harmful activity in federal network traffic and provides correlation and visualization of the derived data…. The EINSTEIN 3 system will also support enhanced information sharing by US-CERT with Federal Departments and Agencies by giving DHS the ability to automate alerting of detected network intrusion attempts and, when deemed necessary by DHS, to send alerts that do not contain the content of communications to the National Security Agency (NSA) so that DHS efforts may be supported by NSA exercising its lawfully authorized missions. The Einstein programs have raised concerns among privacy and civil liberties groups, such as the Center for Democracy and Technology, because they involve scanning the content of communications to intercept malicious code before it reaches government networks. In 2008, the Department of Homeland Security’s Privacy Office published a Privacy Impact Assessment on early versions of Einstein 2 (.pdf) but has not published one on Einstein 3. The assessment left many questions unanswered, such as how much of a role the National Security Agency will play in the programs and whether information obtained in scans be shared with law enforcement or intelligence agencies. What may be the most controversial part of the declassified plan is a discussion of a need for the government to define its role in protecting private critical infrastructure networks. Critical infrastructure includes the electrical grid, telecommunication networks, internet service providers, the banking and financial industry, and others. The document indicates that DHS and private-sector businesses have already “developed a plan of shared action with an aggressive series of milestones and activities” but doesn’t discuss the nature of those shared actions other than to say that the two sectors are focused on developing a “public-private sharing of information regarding cyberthreats and incidents.” The U.S. Government depends on a variety of privately owned and operated critical infrastructures to carry out the public’s business. In turn, these critical infrastructures rely on the efficient operation of information systems and networks that are vulnerable to malicious cyberthreats. This Initiative builds on the existing and ongoing partnership between the Federal Government and the public and private sector owners and operators of Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR)…. It addresses security and information assurance efforts across the cyberinfrastructure to increase resiliency and operational capabilities throughout the CIKR sectors. Additionally, the plan calls for a strategy to increase the security of classified networks and to develop and implement a government-wide cybercounterintelligence (CI) plan, but provides little detail about what that would involve. “A government-wide cybercounterintelligence plan is necessary to coordinate activities across all Federal Agencies to detect, deter, and mitigate the foreign-sponsored cyberintelligence threat to U.S. and private sector information systems,” the plan says. “To accomplish these goals, the plan establishes and expands cyber CI education and awareness programs and workforce development to integrate CI into all cyber operations and analysis, increase employee awareness of the cyber CI threat, and increase counterintelligence collaboration across the government.” Photo: huertk/Flickr See also:	United States Department of Homeland Security as the lead agency protecting Information technology. The United States announced the declassification of a portion of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, a major part of the US's efforts to thwart cyber warfare, on Tuesday. The announcement came at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco, and was given by Howard Schmidt, who is the current US cyber-security coordinator, having been assigned the position in December. While only a portion of the document was revealed at the announcement, and much remains classified material, including all material related to plans by the government for offensive cyber-warfare, the program has twelve parts, and has three main strategies: To create a defensive mechanism against immediate threats, as well as those possible in the near future; To create a defensive mechanism against a wide variety of threats, both present and future; *To initiate efforts to strengthen future cyber-security efforts. The program includes funding for numerous security measures, including the government's controversial Einstein program, which scans all incoming communications to government-operated websites. The plan also mentions increasing security for classified networks within the government, as well as developing a government-wide plan for counter-intelligence work, although the declassified portions gave little indication as to what that would involve. The program was begun by President George Bush in 2008 as a National Security Presidential Directive, and has been entirely classified until now. At its inception, it was intended to serve as a program to unify cyber-security efforts within the government and to develop other security programs for use nationwide. No budget has been released for the program, although estimates place the cost at $40 billion until 2015.
PARIS The SAS Group announced an overhaul Tuesday, cutting about 40 percent of its work force and asking shareholders for more cash as it sought to ride out the global economic crisis. The Scandinavian airline also posted a fourth-quarter net loss of 2.8 billion kronor, or $337 million, compared with a loss of 625 million kronor a year earlier. Revenue fell less than 1 percent, to 12.9 billion kronor. SAS announced an overhaul under which it would ground 16 planes and retreat from unprofitable routes to focus on its core Scandinavian markets and on business travelers. It is cutting about 3,000 jobs, which combined with another 5,600 employees who are being let go through the divestment or outsourcing of operations account for about 40 percent of its overall work force, Mats Loennqvist, the chief financial officer, said during a conference call. \|\|\|\|\| Nearly 9,000 employees will be adversely affected by the Scandinavian carrier's restructuring plan Scandinavian Airlines reported on Tuesday that it was preparing to fire 3000 of its employees in light of its 6.3 billion Swedish kroner deficit for 2008. Through a press release the airline presented its new 'Core SAS' plan - a restructuring that will result in the lay-off of 3,000 workers. Another 5,600 SAS employees are expected to be forced out of the company due to previous business transactions, including Monday's sale of affiliate airline Spanair. The plan aims to save SAS around 2.7 billion Swedish kroner over the next two years. In addition, collective bargaining agreement negotiations were expected to lead to annual savings of approximately 1.3 billion Swedish kroner. 'It is likely that 2008 will go down as one of the most challenging and turbulent years in airline history,' commented the chief executive of SAS, Mats Jansson. 'To address one of the most severe economic declines we have ever seen, in addition to our internal challenges, a renewed strategic approach was needed. The principal feature of Core SAS is a renewed focus on what we do best: serving our Nordic home market and our core business travellers.' said Jansson. SAS reported a 2008 fourth quarter loss of 2.7 billion Swedish kroner - its fifth straight quarterly deficit. \|\|\|\|\| SAS area at Stockholm Arlanda airport Scandinavian airline SAS is to axe 3,000 jobs, in a major restructuring following big losses in 2008. Another 5,600 employees will leave as part of operations that are to be sold or outsourced, as overall staff numbers are cut by 40% from 23,000 to 14,000. It comes as it reported net losses of 6.32bn kronor ($757m; £532m) in 2008, 2.77bn in the fourth quarter alone, after a profit of 636m kronor in 2007. The Stockholm-based carrier is to also sell Air Baltic, and shed other stakes. Financial plan The biggest divestment will come as the airline sells its money-losing Spanish subsidiary Spanair unit to a Spanish consortium for one euro, which will see 3,000 employees leaving SAS's operations. SAS said the yearly figure included a loss of 4.89bn kronor associated with that sale. It hopes to sell its interests in Spirit, Air Greenland, BMI, Estonian Airways, Skyways, Cubic and Trust, as it concentrates on business travel in the Nordic market. The carrier has also announced it would make a 6bn kronor rights issue, as part of a financial recovery plan called Core SAS. 'Turbulent year' The Stockholm-based airline said the share rights issue was supported by the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Norway - which own half of the struggling firm. It also has the backing of its biggest private shareholder, Sweden's powerful Wallenberg family. Airlines such as SAS have been struggling for years with overcapacity, falling demand, and competition from budget airlines. Easing oil prices have brought some relief but the firm is now pressing ahead with its Core SAS programme. SAS Chief Executive Mats Jansson said 2008 was "one of the most challenging and turbulent years that the entire aviation industry has ever experienced". "During the year, we saw a period of record-high oil prices, a financial crisis that heavily intensified during the final quarter and which led to an economic recession in many markets," he added. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	SAS Boeing 737-600 LN-RPA lands at Heathrow in 2004 Sweden-based airline Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) said it will reduce payrolls by 8,600 jobs as part of its "Core SAS" restructuring plan. The airline will cut 3,000 staff directly and eliminate 5,600 by divesting business ventures, reducing the workforce by 40% to 14,000. The restructuring comes after SAS posted losses of 6.32 billion Swedish krona in 2008. The company is also to sell airBaltic and Spanair and its stakes in Air Greenland, BMI, Estonian Air, Skyways Express, Spirit Airlines and Trust. Spanair is to be sold for €1. The company intends to switch to concentrating on its core Nordic market. SAS is to seek 6 billion krona from shareholders, while the government of Denmark is to invest 600 million Danish kroner in the company. Currently, Denmark owns 14.3% of SAS, Sweden has 21.4% and Norway 14.3%. The rest is publicly traded. The airline was founded in 1946 when the state airlines of Denmark, Sweden and Norway merged their longhaul services.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Milton Friedman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist who helped shape modern free market economics, died Thursday in San Francisco. He was 94. A spokesman for the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation confirmed the news to CNN. The cause was heart failure, according to Reuters. Friedman, who won the Nobel Prize in 1976, helped interpret and popularize so-called supply-side economics, which came to dominate much of U.S. public policy in the second half of the 20th century. Supply-side economics holds that minimally regulated markets offer the most efficiency in the distribution of goods and services. The theory was prevalent until it fell out of favor during the Great Depression, when Keynesian economics became popular. Friedman won the Nobel in 1976 for "his achievements in the fields of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy," according to the Nobel Prize Web site. Friedman's theories, which included tight fiscal discipline and deregulation of markets, grew influential in the United States after Ronald Reagan became president. Friedman's ideas were embraced by President Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s and lauded by many in the business world. But they were also controversial because of the deep cuts in government spending and the more restricted role they entailed for government in buffering citizens from economic forces. Friedman was regarded as the leader of the Chicago School of monetary economics and the leading proponent of free market theory. The Chicago School regarded the quantity of money as a key instrument of government policy, capable of influencing inflation and business cycles, according to his biography at the Hoover Institution, where Friedman served as a research fellow. The changes brought about by Friedman's economic work represented a departure from Keynesian economic philosophy, which included generous provisions for the unemployed and wage and price controls. John Maynard Keynes was an English economist influential in the first half of the 20th century. Overseas, Friedman's work helped shape policies used in Chile in the 1970s. His influence raised eyebrows among critics because of the repressive political situation in the country in that period. "Milton Friedman revived the economics of liberty, when it had been all but forgotten. He was an intellectual freedom fighter. Never was there a less dismal practitioner of 'the dismal science' [economics]," Thatcher said in a statement published by Reuters. Other notable figures, including former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, lamented the news of Friedman's death. "I am deeply saddened at the passing of Milton Friedman," Greenspan told Reuters. "He had been a fixture in my life both professionally and personally for a half century. My world will not be the same." Current Fed chief Ben Bernanke said Friedman had "no peer" among economic scholars. "The direct and indirect influences of his thinking on contemporary monetary economics would be difficult to overstate," Bernanke said in a statement. "Milton conveyed to millions an understanding of the economic benefits of free, competitive markets, as well as the close connection that economic freedoms bear to other types of liberty. He will be sorely missed." Edward Crane, founder and president of the libertarian Cato Institute, said, "Milton was in my mind the greatest champion of freedom in the 20th century. He was a warm, intelligent, wonderful human being and will be deeply missed." "Milton changed the direction of the world," observed Crane, who recalled attending a conference with Friedman in China in 1988 where Friedman was received "like a rock star" for his reputation as champion of free markets and a free society. "His first policy concern was freeing people from government influence in their lives," said Crane. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement: "Milton was one of the great thinkers and economists of the 20th century, and when I was first exposed to his powerful writings about money, free markets and individual freedom, it was like getting hit by a thunderbolt." Even economists who didn't always agree with Friedman concurred on his wide influence. Friedman "had an enormous impact on the shape of most economies in the world in the last 25 to 35 years," said Mark Weisbrot, economist at the progressive Center for Economic and Policy Research. "If you go back to his book Capitalism and Freedom [published in 1962], it wasn't even reviewed by major reviewers like [the] New York Times. By the end of Reagan's last term, most of his policies were implemented," Weisbrot said. "Friedman fought a counterrevolution in the 1950s against Keynesianism," said Weisbrot. "He succeeded in that policy moved to the right and the concerns of workers took a back seat compared to those of creditors and bankers." Crane said that Friedman "never demeaned the motives of his opponents, although they did him. Milton was always willing to talk to anyone. He was respectful of a questions asked him." Friedman was born in Brooklyn in 1912 to immigrant parents from a province of what was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He received a B.A. from Rutgers University in 1932, an M.A. from the University of Chicago the next year and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Revolt of the fairly rich Fortune Portraits of Power \|\|\|\|\| Friedman was seen as the leader of the Chicago school of monetarism Mr Friedman died in San Francisco, a spokesman for his family said. The cause of death is not yet known. Mr Friedman, who popularised the phrase "there's no such thing as a free lunch", was awarded the Nobel Prize for economics in 1976. Known as the high priest of monetarism, his ideas gained popularity in the 1980s when they influenced the policies of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. 'Intellectual' The leaders were won over by Mr Friedman's idea that the supply of money was the key factor in determining economic growth and the rate of inflation. Lady Thatcher paid tribute to Mr Friedman, calling him "an intellectual freedom fighter". "He revived the economics of liberty, when it had been all but forgotten," she said. "Never was there a less dismal practitioner of the dismal science. I shall greatly miss my old friend's lucid wisdom and mordant humour." America has lost a true visionary and advocate for human freedom Gordon St Angelo, Friedman Institute Obituary: Milton Friedman Send us your comments And Chancellor Gordon Brown described Mr Friedman as "one of the great economic theorists" of the 20th century. "He had a major influence on post-war economic policy not least in establishing the importance of credibility in monetary policy making," he said. 'Visionary' Mr Friedman was also a key advocate of deregulation and privatisation. Throughout his more than 30 years as Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Mr Friedman was a champion of the free market, and his approach became known as the "Chicago School." He was also viewed as an accomplished and fluent speaker who, it was said, had never lost an argument. "America has lost a true visionary and advocate for human freedom. And I have lost a great friend," said Gordon St Angelo, president of the Friedman Foundation. Mr St Angelo added that Mr Friedman had been a highly influential figure who had "transformed the minds of US Presidents, world leaders, entrepreneurs and freshmen economic majors alike". The Cato Institute - a free market think tank in Washington that Mr Friedman advised - added that Mr Friedman had "revolutionised" economic thinking. "If (John Maynard) Keynes dominated economic thinking in the mid-20th century, Friedman dominates economic thinking at the end of the century, and well into this century," an institute spokesman told AFP news agency. And Ben Bernanke, the head of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, said in a speech in 2003 that "his thinking has so permeated modern macroeconomics that the worst pitfall in reading him today is to fail to appreciate the originality and even revolutionary character of his ideas." Libertarian Friedman was born on 31 July 1912, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants, and worked his way through university. During his lifetime he also advised US Presidents Reagan and Nixon and was also a prolific writer. His books included A Theory of the Consumption Function, Tyranny of the Status Quo and Free To Choose - the two later titles accompanied TV series of the same name. However, his work was not just limited to the economic realm. He was also a libertarian campaigner who supported home schooling as well as the decriminalisation of drugs and prostitution. As part of his campaigning Mr Friedman advocated the abolition of the military draft in the US after the Vietnam War, something he said was one of his proudest achievements.	Nobel laureate Milton Friedman has died at the age of 94, his family announced. Friedman is considered to be one the most influential economists of the past century. Friedman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976 and essentially defined the theory of Monetarism. He served on U.S. President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board and significantly influenced post-WWII economic policy in the U.S. He was a leading figure in the Chicago school of economics.
The area around Jos has been the site of several massacres this year [AFP] The area around Jos has been the site of several massacres this year [AFP] Most of the victims of the raid on the village of Byei in the Riyom region of Nigeria's Plateau state were women and children, state radio reported. At least 13 people have been killed by armed herdsmen near Nigeria's central city of Jos, close to where hundreds of people have died in ethic and religious clashes this year. "I can confirm that 13 people have died while six others have been critically injured," Gregory Yenlong, the state's information commissioner, said. Yvonne Ndege, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, said: "We know that the attack was executed by Muslim Fulani herdsmen on a Christian community. "One of the most worrying things we're hearing is that some of those who survived the attacks are alleging that some of the attackers were dressed in Nigerian military fatigues." She said the military was preparing a statement and would likely deny any involvement in the attack. Military deployment Reports from the scene said that many of the victims had deep machete cuts and had been partially burned. At least three huts were also burned in the raid. The attack happened despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Plateau state, which has been enforced by the military since January when hundreds of people, mainly Muslims, were killed in clashes in the region. Earlier in March, more than 500 people, predominantly Christian villagers near the central city of Jos, were killed in an attack blamed on Muslim herders from nearby hills. "Enough is enough. We don't want the military again," said Emmanuel Jugu, who represents Riyom in the Plateau parliament. "We have been observing the curfew. So how can people now come and slaughter us. The military should withdraw. We are capable of defending ourselves." Plateau, of which Jos is the capital, lies at the crossroads of Nigeria's Muslim north and Christian south, a region known as the "Middle Belt". The repeated unrest has been attributed in part to fierce competition for control of fertile farmlands between Christian and animist indigenous groups on one side and Muslim settlers from the north on the other. The unrest comes at a difficult time for Nigeria, with Goodluck Jonathan, the country's acting president, trying to consolidate power while Umaru Yar'Adua, the ailing president who recently returned from three months in a Saudi hospital, is too sick to govern. \|\|\|\|\| At Least 13 Killed in New Nigerian Sectarian Clash Photo: AP Nigerian officials and residents say at least 13 people were killed by Muslim herdsmen who attacked a predominantly Christian village close to the troubled central city Jos. Witnesses say the attackers, disguised as soldiers, raided the village, 30 kilometers south of Jos, at dawn. Most of the victims of the attack were women and children. Local officials said security forces were alerted about the attack, but help came too late. Previous violence in and around Jos has claimed several-thousand lives. More than 200 people, mostly Christians, died last week in massacres in three nearby villages. More than 300 people, mostly Muslims, died in January during clashes in and around the city. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is almost evenly split between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. A human-rights campaigner and peace activist in the north, Shehu Sani, is leading a campaign to stop the violence and promote peaceful co-existence. "Our own position is that there should be peace among tribes, religions and cultures in Nigeria," said Sani. "Ethno-religious violence has not brought anything to our country. For over 30 years, thousands of Muslims and Christians have died and the peace efforts between Muslims and Christians have always been done at a very elitist level. People at the grassroots level have not been involved. And people like me felt we should bring those within the community level to the front of the fight, to see that fighting is no more fashionable." Analysts say the latest convulsion of violence is bound to complicate any peace process as the talk has shifted to revenge and pre-emptive attacks. The violence is also seen as a struggle between ethnic groups for fertile lands and political power in the region known as Nigeria's Middle Belt. The government says security forces in Plateau and neighboring states had been placed on red alert.	At least thirteen people were killed by armed herdsmen in Nigeria yesterday, in a village near the city of Jos, reports say. According to witnesses, the herdsmen, who were disguised as soldiers, attacked the village of Byei, south of Jos, at dawn. Media reports say that most of the dead were women and children. "I can confirm that thirteen people have died while six others have been critically injured," commented state information commissioner Gregory Yenlong. A correspondent for the Al Jazeera news agency said that the military was preparing a statement about the attack, and probably will deny any involvement in it. Violence in and around Jos, mainly between Christians and Muslims has recurred frequently in recent times, and has claimed several thousand lives. Last week 200 people were killed after clashes in villages near the city, while in January, another 300 people died in similar unrest. The violence has been blamed partially to competition for fertile land between Muslims in the north, and Christian and animist groups from the south. According to reports, many of the victims had deep wounds from machetes, and some were burned; at least three huts were torched in the violence as well.
By Nation Correspondent in MOGADISHU Mortar shells hit parts of central Mogadishu close to the port on Friday evening killing 10 people in a former medical facility. De Martino Hospital, which has been converted into a lodge for the Somali war veterans of the 1977-1978 conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, was hit by the shells just as its residents, most of who are disabled, were preparing to break their fast. The shells caused six deaths on the spot and injured 25. By yesterday morning four more wounded veterans lost their lives at Medina Hospital. “It is one of the most shocking events we witnessed,” said Hassan Sheikh Qalli, a resident in Hamarweyne district, where De Martino Hospital is located. War veterans The injured persons included the spokesman of the disabled war veterans, Abdi Ali Mahad. The Transitional Federal Government was quick to blame the Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, for the attack and the deadly death toll. Sheikh Abdirizak Mohamed Qaylow, the spokesman of the pro-government paramilitary unit known as Drawiish condemned what he called “the anti-peace” groups. “The anti-peace (Al-Shabaab) group engages in this kind of merciless act in the course of their drive to defeat the government of Somalia,” said Sheikh Qaylow. “They do not even care who suffers in civilian populated areas,” he added. Well-wishers and sympathetic groups gathered this morning at the hospital for the funeral. “We are all shocked,” said a legislator who lost a relative, but declined to be named. Mogadishu residents have been experiencing intense battles between the TFG and the opposition Islamist groups since early May. Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam have declined repeated calls from the government to settle differences through negotiations. \|\|\|\|\| At least 12 former soldiers were killed in the shelling [Reuters] At least 12 former soldiers were killed in the shelling [Reuters] The shells fired by opposition fighters missed their intended target in Mogadishu, the capital, and hit a residential area containing the hospital, Somali officials said on Saturday. Disabled veterans are among 15 people killed after mortar rockets fired by fighters in Somalia hit a war veterans' hospital. "I was sitting in my wheelchair about 10 metres away from my friends when a mortar exploded and smoke and dust covered us all," Mohamed Abdi, 50, a paralysed ex-soldier said. "I saw my friends on the ground, with blood scattered everywhere like slaughtered goats." Three civilians also died and 15 other veterans were wounded in the attack on Friday. Overthrow attempt The mortars were believed to have been fired towards Mogadishu's port but landed in the residential area by mistake, officials said. In video Disabled die in Somali raid Former army officers paralysed or missing limbs from the country's 1977 war with Ethiopia resided in the hospital, said Shiek Abdirisaq Oeylow, a government spokesman. Somalia has suffered civil war for the past 18 years and African Union peacekeepers are currently in the country aiming to back the government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The government holds only a few areas of Mogadishu and al-Shabab, an opposition group, is attempting to overthrow them with the suspected help of foreign fighters. The US has accused al-Shabab of having links with al-Qaeda, which al-Sahbab denies. \|\|\|\|\| (CNN) -- At least nine people were killed in Somalia's war-torn capital Mogadishu when mortars slammed into a home for disabled veterans, according to journalists and witnesses. Al Shabaab fighters display two bodies of Somali police officers during a battle August 12 in Mogadishu. At least 27 people were wounded in the Friday night incident, when Muslim militants fired mortars toward Mogadishu's port and struck a residential area. The mortars hit a home for former national army officers who were disabled in a late-1970s war with Ethiopia, the sources said. Insurgents from the Al-Shabaab militant group have been fighting to topple Somalia's government. Its fighters have frequently shelled the city's airport and seaport, which are controlled by the African Union and government forces. The United States is supporting the Somali government's fight against the insurgents, including providing weapons to government forces. Al Shabaab is on the U.S. list of terror organizations because of its ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. The United States is concerned that Somalia's weak government could fall to the Islamist insurgency, as it did in 2006 before Ethiopian forces ousted the militants from power later that year. All About Somalia • Mogadishu • Osama bin Laden \|\|\|\|\| By ABDULKADIR KHALIF, Nation Correspondent, Somalia MOGADISHU, A number of mortar shells hit parts of central Mogadishu on Friday evening leaving at least ten dead. One of the mortars landed in a residential area while another crashed onto the city’s main jail. The worst incident, however, occurred at De Martino Hospital, a former medical facility that had been converted into a lodge for the Somali war veterans of the 1977/78 conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia. Most of the residents are the Ogaden war veterans and the blast killed six on the spot and left twenty five severely injured. It was just before Iftar (Futuru) as the residents were waiting to break the fast. By early Saturday morning, four more wounded veterans lost their lives at Medina Hospital. “It is one of the most shocking events we witnessed,” said Hassan Sheikh Qalli, a resident in Hamarweyne district where De Martino Hospital is located. The injured persons included the spokesman of the disabled war veterans, Abdi Ali Mahad. The Transitional Federal Government was quick to blame the Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, for the attack. Sheikh Abdirizak Mohamed Qaylow, the spokesman of the pro-government paramilitary unit known as Drawiish condemned what he called the anti-peace (opposition) groups. “The anti-peace (Al-Shabaab) group engage in this kind of merciless act in the course of their drive to defeat the government in Somalia,” said Sheikh Qaylow. “They do not even care who suffers in civilian populated areas,” he added. “We are all shocked,” said a legislator who lost a relative, but declined to be named. Mogadishu residents have been experiencing intense battles between the TFG and the opposition Islamist groups since early May. Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam have declined repeated calls from the government to settle differences through negotiations.	The Somali (TFG), the internationally recognized government of the former state of Somalia, could not stop an attack conducted by insurgents in the capital as they shelled the city's port; but, some rounds fell short which led to dozens of casualties. Late last week, Somali insurgents conducted a mortar attack in downtown Mogadishu missing their intended target at the city's seaport; instead, hitting a veteran's hospital killing between 6 and 9 former soldiers and wounding at least 12 others. Many of the hospital's patients are veterans from in the Ogaden, according to government spokesman Shiek Abdirisaq Qeylow. The disabled veterans were gathering and chatting in the hospital's courtyard ready for the (Futuru), the feast that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast observed during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, when the shells fell, according to the Associated Free Press. Their home, De Martino Hospital, was collateral damage in what was meant to be an attack on the seaport according to Mohamed Abdiazis, a Somali Policeman. Victims were taken to the Medina Hospital which is where four of the victims died. Eyewitnesses said that several rounds hit the seaport and the main jail. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Al-Shabab, the militant youth group that has now taken the reigns of the insurgency in Somalia after the dissolution of the , is widely suspected. Al-Shabab seeks to institute the strictest sense of Shari'a Law in Somalia and is a seam of contention for their participation in the government. Earlier this year, the newly elected Somali President agreed to implement tenets of Shar'ia into the nation's statutory codes, however negotiations quickly broke down over the details. While the TFG has made attempts to quell violence in the capital and in other parts of Somalia, little success has been realized. The government relies on assistance from the African Union to maintain some semblance of order in Mogadishu. Parts of the country like Somaliland in the north have claimed de-facto independence in the absence of a central government capable of protecting all parts of the country.
Champions Trophy 2009 ICC board endorses South Africa to host Champions Trophy Cricinfo staff The ICC board has endorsed a recommendation by its Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) to hold this year's Champions Trophy in South Africa. The ICC said that the event, which runs from September 24-October 5, would be held in Johannesburg and Centurion. However, the ICC admitted that Cricket South Africa (CSA) has been sought as the alternative host, with the Wanderers and SuperSport Park as the venues, provided an agreement on the financial arrangements can be reached. CSA will now have to confirm whether it accepts the event's revenue model. The ICC president David Morgan described the move as a "sensible decision" and thanked the boards of Sri Lanka and South Africa for their commitment. "I think the board has made a sensible decision that will give the event every chance of success," he said. "We now have clarity on the subject and we can make firm plans for what is going to be a great spectacle of ODI cricket. "I would like to thank Sri Lanka Cricket for its commitment to offer an alternative to Pakistan. And also, I want to acknowledge its willingness to step aside in this matter. I'd also like to thank CSA for putting its hand up and offering to host this event. "With Wanderers and Centurion, CSA can provide two world-class venues in what is effectively one location and as we know from the ICC World Twenty20 2007, weather conditions in the area around Johannesburg in September and October are stable and ideal for cricket," said Morgan. The hosting rights will remain with Pakistan, ensuring a significant windfall for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "The decision of giving the Champions Trophy to South Africa hasn't changed the picture," the PCB's chief operating officer Salim Altaf told reporters in Lahore. "If the ICC gives South Africa financial assistance, it would still have no impact on the PCB's share, which is $2.75 million." The CEC had expressed concern over the tournament being held in Sri Lanka and strongly suggested it be held in South Africa following concerns over weather conditions in the island nation during that period. The teleconference also unanimously agreed that the dates for next year's ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies would be between April 30-May 16. © Cricinfo ICC board endorses South Africa to host Champions Trophy The ICC board has endorsed a recommendation by its Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) to hold this year's Champions Trophy in South Africa Read more Fantasy cricket games: SA v Australia, NZ v India and WI v Eng Login/enter here Video: Watch Daily SportsCentre news bulletins On cricinfo.tv Live scores, news & ball-by-ball commentary on your phone Cricinfo Mobile \|\|\|\|\| Australia were unable to defend the Champions Trophy last year The Champions Trophy may be moved away from Sri Lanka in October 2009 because of concerns the country's wet season will disrupt the tournament. The competition was due to take place in Pakistan in September 2008 but was postponed over security fears. "It usually rains in Sri Lanka during that time of the year," said International Cricket Council [ICC] general manager Dave Richardson. "Questions have been raised if it's wise to hold the tournament there." Richardson said a decision would be made at an ICC board meeting in Dubai next month. 606: DEBATE "If it's not Sri Lanka, the ICC have decided we want to hold the tournament over 12 days, which means that we have to have two venues in virtually the same city," he added. "Certainly there can't be any question of international travel being involved. "That itself narrows the options down considerably to perhaps Perth, Johannesburg, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. "There are a couple of options which need to be considered and [those venues] would be in the frame when the decision is made."	ICC logo. South Africa will be the host for the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy for cricket. The tournament, originally planned for 2008 in Pakistan, was postponed to 2009 owing to security issues. Sri Lanka was proposed as an alternative venue, but due to weather concerns in Sri Lanka during the month of October, the tournament has now been moved to South Africa. This was confirmed by an ICC Board teleconference. ICC President David Morgan said, "I think the Board has made a sensible decision that will give the event every chance of success. We now have clarity on the subject and we can make firm plans for what is going to be a great spectacle of ODI cricket." He also thanked the Sri Lankan Board for their commitment. The tournament features eight national test cricket teams competing in One Day Internationals. The games will be conducted in Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg and SuperSport Park, Pretoria. It will be held from September 24 to October 5, 2009 in these two venues.
Webb insisted on the doors of his ambulance being open as he was driven through Beaconsfield to hospital. "You can't kill me, son," he was heard shouting to a wellwisher. Rescue coordinator Rex Johnson said the two miners had wanted to clean themselves up before emerging from the mine. "I did not think they would get out," he said. "They wanted to pamper themselves pretty well." As free beer flowed at a local hotel, messages of support flowed in from around the country, including from the prime minister, opposition leader and treasurer preparing for what had suddenly been relegated to a secondary news event - the federal budget. The miners were pronounced in "excellent spirits" and "very positive" physical condition at nearby Launceston hospital - so positive they are determined to attend the funeral later on Tuesday of the workmate who died alongside them, 44-year-old Larry Knight. "They have asked us to pass on to you their jubilation with being out of the mine and they have also expressed a wish to go to the funeral this afternoon," said Launceston General Hospital CEO Dr Stephen Ayre. "We'll be seeing what we can do to facilitate that." The grieving Knight family had won widespread admiration for delaying the funeral service as long as possible so that Todd Russell and Brant Webb could attend. "I think the important thing is that they actually pay their respects to their colleague, as a point of closure and moving on from the situation that they've been in," Dr Ayre said. Prime Minister John Howard said he hoped to express his admiration personally to the two miners, adding he was prepared to look at federal help for the Tasmanian town if the mine was forced to close. Their rescue was announced to the people of Beaconsfield by the ringing of a church bell not used since WWII and by wailing fire sirens which prompted hundreds to gather outside the mine. Mr Johnson said the last part of the rescue was hard because the men were so close and everyone just wanted to rush in and get them out. But he said the rescue team, and Mr Webb and Mr Russell, all knew they had to stop, take their time and do everything properly. "It was quite easy towards the end but you've just got to be careful. You can't take any chances," he said. "The miners that did the work should be congratulated. They did an unbelievable job." There had been no time to celebrate, Mr Johnson said. "We had a job to do, get them out, so I'll have a bit of time to myself later on. "I've got Larry Knight's funeral to go to this afternoon, and I think all the guys are going to hold their emotions until then," Mr Johnson said. He said he expected the freed pair would attend Mr Knight's funeral in Launceston. "I think they will be doing everything they possibly can to get there. They are in good spirits so, yeah, the boys are going really well." Mr Russell's brother-in-law Allan Bennett was at the top of the mine to greet his relative and friend. "It's what dreams are made of, mate," he later said. "I said `a miracle' to start with, that's all I could think of, and `it's what dreams are made of'." Mr Bennett said he would attend 44-year-old Mr Knight's funeral. "Don't forget Larry and the other 14 men (who escaped the April 25 rockfall). They're all one, that's how it works," a crying Mr Bennett said. Mine manager Matthew Gill praised rescuers, and said he was amazed at the health and physical condition of the miners. "They are incredible people. They are absolutely incredible people," he said. "In fact, we were a bit worried with the amount they were eating we would have to make the hole a bit bigger. "I am amazed at their condition. They are pretty tough." Mr Howard said he had phoned West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther to congratulate everyone involved in the rescue operation. "I just want to say how relieved and elated the whole country is and what a huge tribute this is, the way everybody has pulled together," Mr Howard told the Nine Network. He said the rescue effects that saved the miners' lives were fantastic. "That's the greatest thing you can do for somebody else," he said. "Everybody has played a great role. "It's one of those occasions where everybody is entitled to feel elated at the outcome." \|\|\|\|\| ABC News 2 Australian Miners Freed After 2 Weeks Two Australian Gold Miners Are Rescued After Being Trapped 3,000 Feet Underground for Two Weeks By RICK RYCROFT BEACONSFIELD, Australia May 8, 2006 (AP) Two Australian gold miners trapped for two weeks in a tiny steel cage 3,000 feet underground were rescued early Tuesday by teams drilling round-the-clock by hand through hard rock. Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, were buried after a small earthquake April 25 trapped them under tons of rock in the Beaconsfield Gold Mine. The safety cage they were working in kept them from being crushed. Fellow miner Larry Knight, 44, was killed. Mine manager Matthew Gill said the men were safe and in good health after their 300-hour ordeal, underground in a cage too short to stand up in. Doctors were inspecting the men in an area still below ground before bringing them out of the mine. For five days Webb and Russell survived on a single cereal bar and water they licked from rocks, until rescue crews with thermal heat sensors detected them. Teams of specialist miners bored through more than 45 feet of rock over the past week with a giant drilling machine to reach the men. Cutting the final sections of the escape tunnel was been slow and difficult, as the men used hand tools to avoid causing a cave-in. The rescue ends a drama that riveted the nation, with TV crews camped in the mine parking lot, and residents of the close-knit community waiting anxiously at the mine gates to welcome the two men, now considered heroes. Television networks cut live to the news that the men were saved. A fire engine drove through Beaconsfield, a town in the southern state of Tasmania, its siren wailing to alert the local residents to the news. A church bell not used since the end of World War II rang out in celebration. "The great escape is over," union official Bill Shorten told Nine Network television. "A giant rock of presure has been taken off these families." Seventeen men were working the night shift when the magnitude 2.1 quake sent tremors through the century-old mine. Fourteen men made it safely to the surface. But Webb, Russell and Knight had been working deep in the belly of the mine repairing a tunnel.	Location of Beaconsfield The two miners who had been trapped almost one kilometer beneath the surface in Beaconsfield, Tasmania in a collapsed gold mine for 14 days have now been rescued. The men, Brant Webb and Todd Russell, were well enough to walk out from the lift onto the surface and threw their arms up in exultation. They then walked to a board and removed their location tags to indicate that they were no longer underground at approximately 5:59 a.m. AEST before embracing family and friends and making their way to the waiting ambulances. The vehicles slowly made their way through the crowds with a police escort and the miners waved to the crowds through the open rear doors. They will undergo medical supervision at Launceston Hospital for a period of time before being confirmed well enough to return home. The last stages of the rescue, cutting the final sections of the escape tunnel had proceeded very slowly because very hard rock was encountered and work had to proceed gently to minimize the chances of further rock collapses. The escape tunnel was completed at 4:47 a.m. AEST and it took another hour for the men to be transported to the surface via a "crib room" at "Level 375" (375 metres underground) where they were medically examined and were also able to shower. A bell at Beaconsfield's Uniting Church pealed just after 5 a.m. AEST to celebrate the rescue, and an air raid siren was sounded. This was the first time the church bell had been rung since the end of World War II. A local fire engine drove through Beaconsfield's streets sounding the siren to wake residents for the good news. A funeral will be held later today for a third miner, Larry Knight, who was killed in the collapse that trapped the miners on April 26.
Take a look back at the defining moments from around the world in 2006. Experience an audio slide show of the best news, sports and space images from around the world and close to home. NBC News and news services MADRID, Spain - A car bomb exploded in a parking lot at Madrid’s glittery new airport terminal on Saturday, following a warning call from the Basque separatist group ETA, officials said. Three people were slightly wounded. The blast halted all air traffic on one of the year’s busiest travel days, and brought a fiery end to an nine-month-old ETA cease-fire that had spurred the greatest hopes in a decade of a peaceful end to the conflict The timing of the blast — just hours after the execution in Baghdad of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein — caused initial fears that Islamic militants might be involved. But officials soon discounted that, saying that two warning calls were received in the Basque region just before the explosion. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement In the second call, a man speaking in Spanish claimed responsibility for the separatists, the Basque Interior Department’s emergency rescue services said. The blast came about 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. ET) at the airport’s new Terminal Four, said Javier Ayuso, a spokesman for the emergency rescue services of the Madrid city government. “They started closing all the stores, which was the first indication there was a problem,” passenger Lisa Berry told NBC News. Berry, who was traveling to Italy with her son, John, said there were “thousands” of people on the tarmac after the explosion, which she said appeared to be near a drop-off point. She said she could see two columns of smoke from the area. Berry also said armed military personnel were stationed in front of the airport, along with several ambulances. ETA declared a cease-fire in March after four decades of armed struggle for independence of the Basque Country in which it killed more than 800 people. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced in June that he would start a peace process with ETA but the group said in November that it would break off contacts unless there was quick progress in separate talks over the future of the Basque Country. © 2006 MSNBC Interactive \|\|\|\|\| Horas antes de la comparecencia del presidente, el ministro del Interior, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, ha confirmado la autoría de ETA en una rueda de prensa en la sede de su departamento. Además, Rubalcaba ha asegurado que el ataque "interrumpe y rompe el alto el fuego permanente" decretado por la banda en marzo y ha agregado que la violencia "es incompatible con el diálogo en cualquier democracia". El ministro no ha ocultado su sorpresa por el atentado, al asegurar que ni él "ni nadie podía imaginar que se pudiera producir este atentado hoy porque las pautas y las reglas son las que son". No obstante, aunque no había indicios de que esto pudiera ocurrir, las fuerzas de seguridad, ha dicho el ministro, no han bajado la guardia "ni un milímetro". El ministro, quien se ha puesto en contacto a lo largo de la mañana con los portavoces parlamentarios, ha mostrado su convencimiento de que la autoría del atentado es de ETA, ya que los datos "no dejan rastro de duda alguna", aunque ha advertido de que éste no es el comportamiento habitual de la banda ya que siempre ha anunciado la ruptura de sus treguas. "Tenemos la convicción" de que ha sido ETA, ha remarcado, para añadir "es ETA y ETA, sin más".	Smoke rising from Barajas Airport. Around 9:00 a.m. local time (0800 UTC) today, an explosion occurred at Barajas International Airport, in Madrid, Spain. A car bomb exploded in the Level-D Parking Garage of the recently completed Terminal 4. A Spanish official declared that the police first received a telephone call warning them about the bomb, and then a second call with the type of vehicle. The second caller claimed the attack for the Basque nationalist group ETA. Thanks to the telephone call, the police could evacuate most of the area. One man is reported missing after the explosion, and 26 people including two police officers were reported to be injured in the blast. The terminal sustained serious damage, and the situation in the airport became chaotic on one of the busiest days of the year. Arnaldo Otegi, spokesman of ETA's political wing Batasuna, did not condemn the attack, but said the peace talks are not interrupted by the explosion. The Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba condemned the attack, saying that it "breaks nine months without violence on the part of ETA, which breaks the permanent ceasefire." Only in June, the Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announced peace talks with ETA. But tonight, Zapatero ordered the suspension of all dialogue, because "with violence, there can be no kind of dialogue."
The Conservatives unveiled three new television ads Sunday attacking Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, a day before members of Parliament return to the House of Commons. The English-language ads, which will be followed by a second series of French ads, assert that Dion is a weak leader who would take the country back to the past. The Conservative ads use footage from the Liberal leadership debate. CBC They also criticize Dion's record as environment minister, charging that greenhouse gas emissions went up and air quality went down under his watch between 2004 and 2006. In response to the ads, Dion told CBC News, "[Harper] wants to spend all this money to try to attack me in a very negative way, and it'll backfire." "Canadians will not be impressed by that." Dion also criticized Harper's environmental record, saying that several months ago the prime minister said that greenhouse gas emissions didn't exist. The ads use footage from last fall's Liberal leadership debates, including clips of Michael Ignatieff, now Dion's deputy leader, and Ken Dryden admitting that the Liberals failed to meet the Kyoto targets for emission reductions. One ad includes a clip of Dion plaintively responding to attacks on his environmental record, telling Ignatieff he doesn't know how hard it is to set priorities. B.C. Conservative MP James Moore said, "We think that Stéphane Dion has been getting a little bit of a free ride. We're going to hold him accountable for the things he didn't do as environment minister." The Conservatives, who have secured a prized spot for the ads during next weekend's Canadian broadcast of the Super Bowl, refused to say how much the party is spending on the election-style campaign. With files from the Canadian Press \|\|\|\|\| Sign-up to receive the weekly top stories, contest and promotion announcements every Tuesday Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Canada.com Newsletter will soon be in your inbox.	The Conservative Party of Canada have taken a new approach by launching a new ad campaign. It is aimed at the Liberal Party of Canada leader Stéphane Dion. The ads, which will frequently be aired during next weekend's Canadian broadcast of the Super Bowl, criticizes Dion as a leader and also criticizes his past in the government, as Canada's environment minister. They also feature clips from the Liberal leadership debate last fall. The ads are in English but another set of ads will air in French speaking Quebec, Dion's home province. The Conservative Party of Canada logo. Dion, who was elected Liberal leader in December, responded to ''CBC News'' saying that it will "backfire" on Stephen Harper. "Harper wants to spend all this money to try to attack me in a very negative way, and it'll backfire," Dion said. "Canadians will not be impressed by that." "Mr. Harper has nothing positive to say about his own record." One ad says that air quality deteriorated when Dion was environment minister. The second ad says that he wants to go back to the previous Liberal government. The third ad says that he is not a leader. The main ad is entitled "Stéphane Dion Is Not A Leader".
Tue, January 2, 2007 Calgary smokers find a loophole By SHAWN LOGAN, SUN MEDIA CALGARY -- Smokers lit up at a handful of local pubs yesterday, despite a sweeping smoking ban that came into effect on New Year's Day, setting up a potential showdown between city hall and defiant bar owners. While representatives at city restaurants and bars flouting the new bylaw declined to speak yesterday, patrons who found they could still smoke were in a jubilant mood and vowing to continue to push for their rights. Doug Baum, who sat on a barstool with a cigarette at the Bull & Finch Pub, said politicians shouldn't be able to legislate personal choice. "I don't ever tell anyone else how to live so they shouldn't tell me how to live," he said, adding he was surprised to come in for a drink on New Year's Day and learn he could still light up. "Pubs like this one are the last places you can still go to have a smoke and enjoy yourself." Ashtrays were conspicuous on many tables at the pub, but only a handful of patrons was smoking. Management wouldn't comment on the reason for their defiance, but Baum said he was told it was based on the presence of VLTs and the hope the bar would be exempt as a gambling establishment. The ban, which was fast-tracked by council from the original time frame, includes all public facilities, although exemptions were put in place for bingos, casinos and establishments with smoking rooms until Jan. 1, 2008. Bylaw officers will enforce the bylaw mainly on a complaint basis with first-time offenders facing fines of $200. Over at Partners Dining & Cocktail Lounge, a sign warning that the establishment is a smoking facility still hung on the outside window while a grey haze lingered inside. Crowded around a table playing pool, a group of regulars said they will continue to smoke in the neighbourhood bar as long as they are able. Next story: Kwong show \|\|\|\|\| As the start of another new year rang in resolutions to quit smoking, health officials and other experts said public bans and restrictions are helping Canadians kick their addiction to nicotine. Calgary and the southern Alberta city of Lethbridge became two of the latest areas of the country to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, starting Monday. Smoking is already banned in public places in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Canadian Cancer Society spokesman Peter Dawe says such bans have had a significant effect even in his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, where 20 per cent of residents still smoke daily. "Getting smoking out of restaurants, bars, public places — it all adds up, and what we're seeing is [a] major drop in smoking rates," Dawe said. John Malcom, head of the Cape Breton District Health Authority in Nova Scotia, said the number of smokers in the region has dropped from 30 per cent to 24 per cent since it became the first area in the Maritimes to ban smoking in public five years ago. A provincewide ban went into effect in Nova Scotia on Dec. 1. Takes time to see health effects: expert Malcom said California, which banned smoking nearly 20 years ago, has shown it takes more than a decade to see a widespread decline in smoking and lung cancer rates. He notes that now, only 10 per cent of California residents smoke. Malcom added that work remains to be done even in places that have banned public smoking. "I think the next step is to communicate to the public — rather than to legislate — the dangers of smoking in the home and in vehicles, so that we get people to move out of their home and not expose non-smokers in the home or children to second-hand smoke." Calgary's bylaw, which passed in October and took effect Monday, makes it illegal to light up in all public places, including restaurants and bars. But the city has given one-year exemptions to businesses that have separate ventilated smoking rooms, as well as to casinos and bingo halls. While that exemption has upset business owners who don't have ventilated smoking rooms, fearing they'll lose customers to other establishments, city officials say studies have pointed to positive outcomes. "In some other jurisdictions, there was a dip in business," said Alvin Murray, Calgary's operations co-ordinator of bylaw services. "But there were also other businesses reporting that they saw an increase in their business, because the people that normally would not have entered those premises because of the smoke have now started using them." The fines for violating the bylaw range from $100 to $300, and can include a court appearance. In Lethbridge, smoking is now banned in workplaces, except on patios and in employee smoking rooms. Meanwhile, Quebec is offering prizes worth up to $30,000 and a variety of support for smokers in the province who try to quit this year and pledge not to smoke between March 1 and Apr. 11. This is the eighth year of the Quit to Win Challenge, being held in partnership with Health Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, Jean Coutu, Pfizer and Hydro-Québec.	Calgary, Alberta and the southern Alberta city of Lethbridge became the eighth and ninth cities in Canada to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. On October 18, 2006, Calgary City Council approved of the bylaw that bans smoking in public areas. Exemptions were put in place for bingos, casinos, and establishments with smoking rooms until January 1, 2008. First time offenders will pay $200 in fines. A city bylaw boss said people who deliberately go against the law could pay $3,500 or more. "Obviously, I am ecstatic about it," said Robyn Hauck back in October, who is an anti-smoking activist. "For us to be going smoke free Jan. 1, with a few exceptions, I couldn't be happier." However, the smoking ban which came into effect on New Years Day didn't have much effect on some smokers. "I don't ever tell anyone else how to live so they the politicians shouldn't tell me how to live," said resident Doug Baum, who was surprised that he could still light up at the local pub. "Pubs like this one are the last places you can still go to have a smoke and enjoy yourself." Another bar allowed customers to smoke. "Absolutely we'll keep smoking because it's not fair the exemptions make it discriminatory," said Chris Daskas, who owns Filo's Restaurant.
Michael Jackson will not be buried on what would have been his 51st birthday as originally planned, a spokesman for his family has confirmed. The late King of Pop was due to be interred on August 29 during a private ceremony at the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles. But in a brief statement it was announced that the date had been put back to September 3. No reason was given for the changed arrangements. The statement added that the ceremony would be limited to family and close friends. Jackson died on June 25 at his rented property in Los Angeles. He had been rehearshing for his 50-date This Is It residency at London's O2 Arena, which was scheduled to get under way last month. Advertisement - article continues below » Investigators are working on the theory that the singer's heart stopped hours after he was given a heavy sedative to help him sleep. Jackson will be buried at Forest Lawn's Glendale site, around eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It boasts a mausoleum with replicas of the work of Renaissance greats, including Michelangelo's David and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper recreated in stained glass. Others stars believed to be buried at Glendale, which opened in 1906, include Hollywood actors Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable. Details of the burial place and the original date were released earlier this week, following speculation over his final resting place. Win £1000 to spend in Topshop.. Fashion Heaven!! \|\|\|\|\| Jackson's coffin was on stage during his memorial gig in Los Angeles Michael Jackson's remains will be buried in Los Angeles on 3 September - not 29 August as had been announced, a Jackson family spokesman has said. In a statement, Ken Sunshine did not say why the date had been changed. He said the "King of Pop" would be interred in the Forest-Lawn memorial park in Glendale at a private ceremony. The Jackson family said earlier he would buried on 29 August on what would have been his 51st birthday. The cause of his death in June remains unclear. The Great Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn memorial park is protected with security cameras and access is carefully regulated. Exhibition The mausoleum contains a stained-glass replica of Leonardo da Vinci's painting The Last Supper and also copies of statues by Michelangelo. A different Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles provided the setting for the memorial service held by the family in the hours leading up to the globally televised tribute concert on 7 July. His coffin was taken to the concert and remained on stage while family members and celebrities paid tribute to the star. Meanwhile, a court has approved a deal allowing a tour of the pop star's memorabilia. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said the agreement between Jackson's estate and a company owned by AEG Live is "in the best interest of the estate". The touring exhibition is expected to start at London's O2 arena at the end of October, to coincide with the release of a film based around the singer's final concert rehearsals. It is not yet known what will be included in the exhibition, which could visit three cities and stay up to six months in each. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Michael Jackson A spokesperson for Michael Jackson's family has confirmed that the funeral of Michael Jackson will be postponed from what would have been his 51st birthday—August 29. Family spokesman Ken Sunshine has said that the date for the burial of the King of Pop would be pushed back to September 3. The reason for the change of arrangements was not specified. Details of the burial place and the original date were released earlier this week, after speculation about his final burial place. Ken Sunshine has also said that the interring that will take place in the Forest Lawn Memorial in Glendale, Los Angeles, and will be private with only close friends and family being invited to see the ceremony. The family are currently trying to keep his burial location unknown.
Jesse Helms had revelled in his conservative image Former US Republican Senator Jesse Helms - a leading conservative politician - has died aged 86, officials say. He died early on Friday of natural causes in Raleigh, North Carolina, his former chief of staff said. Mr Helms had served five terms in the Senate representing North Carolina before stepping down in 2003. He was dubbed "Senator No" for blocking many policies he saw as contrary to his conservative view of the world. Mr Helms was chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, becoming the first lawmaker to address the UN Security Council. Isolationist Mr Helms died at 0115 local time in Raleigh, the Jesse Helms Center said. "He was very comfortable," Jimmy Broughton, Mr Helm's former chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. Jesse Helms started political life as a Democrat, albeit a conservative-sounding one, who worked as a newspaper editor and a television commentator. He first went to the Senate to represent North Carolina in 1972. He had polarised voters in the southern state and opinion throughout the country, correspondents say. I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars Jesse Helms Obituary: Jesse Helms He became known for his refusal to ratify international treaties and obstinate blocking of other executive actions, the BBC's Jonny Dymond says. It was Mr Helms who stopped the US paying its dues to the UN; Mr Helms who blocked ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and the Kyoto Protocol on global warming; and Mr Helms who opposed the use of US troops in Bosnia. "I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars," Mr Helms said. Frequent clashes Before he became chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he attacked accords such as the Panama Canal Treaty and the Salt II arms reduction pact. As committee chairman he clashed with the Clinton administration. Its multilateral approach to foreign relations did not fit in with his view of how America should operate. He also helped sink the administration's attempts to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1999, and in 2000 made it clear that a modified 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty would not pass the Senate. Mr Helms never cared very much what his critics thought, our correspondent says - and if he had, he certainly would not have been so outspoken about what he perceived to be the ills of modern life. But there was also a compassionate side to Mr Helms, who had campaigned for the passage of a debt relief bill through Congress, our correspondent says. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| Conservative Sen. Jesse Helms, 86, a truly great American and champion of freedom, died at 1:15 a.m. today. Helms, who gave our country three decades of service as a U.S. senator from North Carolina, was ill in recent years. Heritage President Ed Feulner (pictured at right with Helms and his wife Dorothy) presented Helms in 2002 with the Clare Boothe Luce Award, Heritage’s highest honor, calling him a “dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle.” In response to today’s sad news, Feulner offered this statement: Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people. The defeat of Soviet communism and the rise of Ronald Reagan would not have happened without his intrepid leadership at decisive times. July 4, 2008, like July 4, 1826, and July 4, 1831, will long be remembered as a very special day in the history of American independence. On the Fourth of July 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died. On the Fourth of July 1831, James Monroe died. On the Fourth of July 2008, another great American patriot, Jesse Helms, died. He was the longest serving U.S. senator from North Carolina and a great friend to The Heritage Foundation. Although America has lost a great Patriot, his legacy will live on. UPDATE — 12:28 p.m.: Reflections on Helms’ life are pouring in. Ben Domenech has written a wonderful post on RedState, and I’ve offered a few thoughts on my personal blog. UPDATE — 6:40 p.m.: Heritage’s Ed Meese, former U.S. attorney general in the Reagan administration, offered these remarks in remembrance of Helms. \|\|\|\|\| POSTED: 10:17 am EDT July 4, 2008 Former Sen. Jesse Helms, who built a career along the fault lines of racial politics and battled liberals, Communists and the occasional fellow Republican during 30 conservative years in Congress, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86. Helms died at 1:15 a.m., said the Jesse Helms Center at Wingate University in North Carolina. The center's president, John Dodd, said in a statement that funeral arrangements were pending. "He was very comfortable," said former chief of staff Jimmy Broughton, who added Helms died of natural causes in Raleigh. Helms, who first became known to North Carolina voters as a newspaper and television commentator, won election to the Senate in 1972 and decided not to run for a sixth term in 2002. "Compromise, hell! ... If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?" Helms wrote in a 1959 editorial that foretold his political style. As he aged, Helms was slowed by a variety of illnesses, including a bone disorder, prostate cancer and heart problems, and he made his way through the Capitol on a motorized scooter as his career neared an end. In April 2006, his family announced that he had been moved into a convalescent center after being diagnosed with vascular dementia, in which repeated minor strokes damage the brain. Helms' public appearances had dwindled as his health deteriorated. When his memoirs were published in August 2005, he appeared at a Raleigh book store to sign copies but did not make a speech. In an e-mail interview with The Associated Press at that time, Helms said he hoped what future generations learn about him "will be based on the truth and not the deliberate inaccuracies those who disagreed with me took such delight in repeating." "My legacy will be up to others to describe," he added. BULLETIN BOARD: Leave Your Condolences Helms served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and Foreign Relations Committees over the years at times when the GOP held the Senate majority, using his posts to protect his state's tobacco growers and other farmers and place his stamp on foreign policy. His opposition to Communism defined his foreign policy views. He took a dim view of many arms control treaties, opposed Fidel Castro at every turn, and supported the contras in Nicaragua as well as the right-wing government of El Salvador. He opposed the Panama Canal treaties that President Jimmy Carter pushed through a reluctant Senate in 1977. Early on, his habit of blocking nominations and legislation won him a nickname of "Senator No." He delighted in forcing roll call votes that required Democrats to take politically difficult votes on federal funding for art he deemed pornographic, school busing, flag-burning and other cultural issues. In 1993, when then-President Clinton sought confirmation for an openly homosexual assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Helms registered his disgust. "I'm not going to put a lesbian in a position like that," he said in a newspaper interview at the time. "If you want to call me a bigot, fine." After Democrats killed the appointment of U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle, a former Helms aide, to a federal appeals court post in 1991, Helms blocked all of Clinton's judicial nominations from North Carolina for eight years. Helms occasionally opted for compromise in later years in the Senate, working with Democrats on legislation to restructure the foreign policy bureaucracy and pay back debts to the United Nations, an organization be disdained for most of his career. And he softened his views on AIDS after years of clashes with gay activists, advocating greater federal funding to fight the disease in Africa and elsewhere overseas. But in his memoirs, Helms made clear that his opinions on other issues had hardly moderated since he left office. He compared abortion to both the Holocaust and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "I will never be silent about the death of those who cannot speak for themselves," the former senator wrote in "Here's Where I Stand." Helms never lost a race for the Senate, but he never won one by much, either, a reflection of his divisive political profile in his native state. He knew it, too. "Well, there is no joy in Mudville tonight. The mighty ultraliberal establishment, and the liberal politicians and editors and commentators and columnists have struck out again," he said in 1990, after winning his fourth term. He won the 1972 election after switching parties, and defeated then-Gov. Jim Hunt in an epic battle in 1984 in what was then the costliest Senate race on record. He defeated former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in 1990 and 1996 in racially tinged campaigns. In the first race, a Helms commercial showed a white fist crumbling up a job application, these words underneath: "You needed that job ... but they had to give it to a minority." "The tension that he creates, the fear he creates in people, is how he's won campaigns," Gantt said several years later. Helms also played a role in national GOP politics -- supporting Ronald Reagan in 1976 in a presidential primary challenge to then-President Gerald R. Ford. Reagan's candidacy was near collapse when it came time for the North Carolina primary. Helms was in charge of the effort, and Reagan won a startling upset that resurrected his challenge. During the 1990s, Helms clashed frequently with President Clinton, whom he deemed unqualified to be commander in chief. Even some Republicans cringed when Helms said Clinton was so unpopular he would need a bodyguard on North Carolina military bases. Helms said he hadn't meant it as a threat. Asked to gauge Clinton's performance overall, Helms said in 1995: "He's a nice guy. He's very pleasant. But ... (as) Ronald Reagan used to say about another politician, `Deep down, he's shallow."' Helms went out of his way to establish good relations with Madeleine Albright, Clinton's second secretary of state. But that didn't stop him from single-handedly blocking Clinton's appointment of William Weld -- a Republican -- as ambassador to Mexico. Helms clashed with other Republicans over the years, including fellow Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana in 1987, after Democrats had won a Senate majority. Helms had promised in his 1984 campaign not to take the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he invoked seniority over Lugar to claim the seat as the panel's ranking Republican. He was unafraid of inconveniencing his fellow senators -- sometimes all of them at once. "I did not come to Washington to win a popularity contest," he once said while holding the Senate in session with a filibuster that delayed the beginning of a Christmas break. And he once objected to a request by phoning in his dissent from home, where he was watching Senate proceedings on television. Helms was born in Monroe, N.C., on Oct. 18, 1921. He attended Wake Forest College in 1941 but never graduated and was in the Navy during World War II. In many ways, Helms' values were forged in the small town where his father was police chief. "I shall always remember the shady streets, the quiet Sundays, the cotton wagons, the Fourth of July parades, the New Year's Eve firecrackers. I shall never forget the stream of school kids marching uptown to place flowers on the Courthouse Square monument on Confederate Memorial Day," Helms wrote in a newspaper column in 1956. He took an active role in North Carolina politics early on, working to elect a segregationist candidate, Willis Smith, to the Senate in 1950. He worked as Smith's top staff aide for a time, then returned to Raleigh as executive director of the state bankers association. Helms became a member of the Raleigh city council in 1957 and got his first public platform for espousing his conservative views when he became a television editorialist for WRAL in Raleigh in 1960. He also wrote a column that at one time was carried in 200 newspapers. Helms also was city editor at The Raleigh Times. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Helms and his wife, Dorothy, had two daughters and a son. They adopted the boy in 1962 after the child, 9 years old and suffering from cerebral palsy, said in a newspaper article that he wanted parents. \|\|\|\|\| The Heritage Foundation today awarded Sen. Jesse Helms its highest honor, the Clare Boothe Luce Award, praising him as a “dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle.” “As the award’s citation says, Sen. Helms is, ‘one tough cookie,’” noted Heritage President Edwin J. Feulner. “But because of that toughness, our country is a much better place. Giving him this award today is our way of saying thank you from Heritage, the conservative movement and many throughout the nation.” Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., (left) receives the Clare Boothe Luce Award from Heritage Foundation President Edwin Feulner (right). The award is the think tank's highest honor. With them is Helms' wife, Dorothy. (for high-definition, full-size version, click on photo)	Jesse Helms. Former United States senator from North Carolina Jesse Helms has died today at the age of 86 after a long battle with vascular dementia. "Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people," said Ed Feulner, president of the Heritage Foundation. Helms was born Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. on October 18, 1921 in Monroe, North Carolina. He was a five term senator for N.C. and was also a former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman. He also became the first U.S. lawmaker to speak in front of the United Nations Security Council. Helms opposed the use of American troops in Bosnia saying "I will not support sending American soldiers to fight and to die for the sake of an agreement not yet reached which may offer no more than the promise of a brief pause while all sides prepare for the next round of Balkan wars." In 2002, Helms received the Clare Boothe Luce Award, which is the foundation's highest award. The Foundation stated, "Helms is dedicated, unflinching and articulate advocate of conservative policy and principle." At various times throughout his career Helms created controversy with his ties to Salvadoran death squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson, his unflinching support of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, and statements viewed by some as racist and homophobic.
PESHAWAR: The fire on Nato oil tanker at Ring Road of Peshawar has been brought under control, Geo News reported Monday. According to police sources, the reason of the tankerís fire could not be ascertained as yet. However, some eyewitnesses said a couple of unidentified miscreants opened fire at the tanker that was soon wrapped up in flames. Police said the fire was hugely intense; however, on time activity by the fire tenders saved the nearby locality. Police undertook a search operation against the unidentified miscreants; however, nobody was arrested. \|\|\|\|\| Militants armed with guns and rockets on Monday blew up a fuel tanker in northwest Pakistan carrying supplies for NATO troops across the border in Afghanistan, officials said. Two people, a driver and his helper, were wounded after about 10 militants ambushed the tanker outside Peshawar, the head of the northwestern city's administration, Sahibzada Anees, told AFP. "About 10 armed people fired at a tanker carrying petrol for NATO forces and later lobbed a rocket at the vehicle, which set alight some 78,000 litres (17,000 gallons) of fuel," Anees said. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack, he said, but Taliban and members of local militant group Lashkar-e-Islam (Army of Islam) have regularly attacked NATO supply vehicles on the main route through northwest Pakistan. \|\|\|\|\| GEO Pakistan Nato-supply tanker ambushed in Peshawar Updated at: 0920 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010 PESHAWAR: Unknown miscreants, attacking a Nato-supply oil tanker, have blown it up here on Ring Road, leaving it engulfed in deadly fire flames and shattering completely but no loss of life or injury was reported during suspected ambush, Geo news reported. According to police sources, some unidentified miscreants carried out bomb attack on a Nato oil tanker, which caused a massive explosion followed by deadly blaze and not only had it engulfed and burnt down oil tanker completely but also threatened to effect the nearby residential population. Nevertheless, the residents of the areas were successfully rescued from danger of being caught in fire with no more damage whatsoever, owing to timely action by police and fire brigade officials. Later, police parties kicked off search operation in localities lies nearby but no success has been ascertained as yet, sources said. Back \| Send this story to friend Share this story!	The area east of the ''(pictured)'' in Pakistan has seen very frequent attacks. Militants in north-west Pakistan blew up a fuel tanker carrying supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan on Monday. More than ten armed men shot at the tanker and fired a rocket at the vehicle outside Peshawar city, and the driver and a passenger were injured in the attack, although no loss of life is reported. Head of the north-western city's administration, Sahibzada Anees, said "About ten armed people fired at a tanker carrying petrol for NATO forces and later lobbed a rocket at the vehicle, which set alight some 78,000 (17,000 ) of fuel". According to witnesses, the tanker was quickly in flames. The residents of the areas were successfully rescued by police and fire fighters and the blaze was brought under control. Police have launched a search operation in nearby areas, although with no success. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Oil tankers and trucks bringing goods from port city of Karachi for allied forces battling the in Afghanistan have been regularly attacked. About 80% of supplies destined for the more than 113 thousand NATO troops in Afghanistan have to pass through Pakistan. The coalition forces bring 70% of supplies through Pakistan every month, from a total of two thousand truckloads.
Hoosier Lottery officials say one winning ticket for last night's Powerball drawing worth $314.3 million was sold at a Speedway convenience store in Richmond, the eastern Indiana city on the Indiana-Ohio state line. Hoosier Lottery spokesman Mark Sirkin says lottery officials won't know who holds that ticket until someone comes forward. He says it could be one person or a hundred people who pooled their money in an office pool. But whoever it is, he says, they're now wealthy. The ticket bearing the winning numbers 2, 8, 23, 29, 35 and the Powerball: 19 was sold at a Speedway convenience store in Richmond that will receive $100,000 for selling the ticket. Hoosier Lottery executive director Kathryn Densborn says Indiana is a very lucky state. She says that aside from the winning ticket, a ticket matching five of the six numbers was sold in the northwestern Indiana city of Munster and it's worth $200,000. The game is played in 29 states as well as Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The pot had grown so huge because there had not been a big winner in any of the drawings since late June. And for people out of luck on Powerball, there is another giant lottery jackpot out there. The Mega Millions prize will be worth about $250 million for Tuesday's drawing. \|\|\|\|\| The only winning ticket for a $314.3 million Powerball lottery prize was sold in this city on the Indiana-Ohio state line, lottery officials said Sunday. Lottery officials won't know who holds that ticket until someone comes forward, said Mark Sirkin, a spokesman for the Hoosier Lottery. "We don't how many people if it's one person, or a hundred people is the winner. We have no idea. Whoever it is, they're wealthy," Sirkin said. The ticket bearing the winning numbers 2, 8, 23, 29, 35 and the Powerball: 19 that were drawn Saturday night was sold at a Speedway convenience store. The store in Richmond, about 70 miles east of Indianapolis, will receive $100,000 from the lottery for selling the ticket. Aside from the winning ticket, a ticket matching five of the six numbers was sold in Munster and is worth $200,000, said Kathryn A. Densborn, Hoosier Lottery executive director. "Indiana is a very lucky state," Densborn said. "It's a big day in Indiana." Powerball, which began in 1985, is played in 29 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The record jackpot was $365 million won by eight workers at a Nebraska meatpacking plant in February 2006. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.	There was one ticket that matched all the numbers in last night's Powerball lottery game. The ticket was sold at the Speedway convenience store in eastern Indiana. Lottery officials will not know who won the jackpot worth an estimated $314 million until the winner comes forward. The convenience store will receive $100,000 for selling the winning ticket. Last night's winning numbers were: 8, 23, 29, 35 and the Powerball was 19. Also sold in Indiana was a ticket matching five of the six numbers, earning $200,000. The jackpot grew so huge because there was not a winner since early June. The Powerball lottery game is sold in 19 states. Wednesday's jackpot falls back down to $15 million.
Pirates Seize Greek-Owned Ship off Yemen A Kenyan maritime official says pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen A Kenyan maritime official says pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen. Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program says Red Sea Spirit was taken Thursday, but news of the seizure only emerged Saturday. Somali pirates have continued to defy foreign navies patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa and are holding at least 13 vessels and more than 200 crew. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. \|\|\|\|\| NAIROBI (Reuters) - Pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier on Thursday in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen, a Kenyan maritime official said on Sunday, but Greek officials said the attack may have been unsuccessful. The vessel was taken 36 nautical miles off the Yemeni port of Balhaf and news of the seizure only emerged on Saturday, said Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme. “Red Sea Spirit was taken by gunmen off the Yemeni coast last Thursday. She is flying the Panama flag,” Mwangura said. “She is a Greek-owned bulk carrier.” However, a Greek merchant marine ministry spokesman said the managers of the ship, Sekur Holdings, did not confirm the incident. Sekur Holdings were not available for comment. Meanwhile, pirates said they may release the Chinese De Xin Hai next week. The Chinese bulk vessel was seized mid-October with 76,000 tonnes of coal and 25 Chinese crew. It is owned by the Qingdao Ocean Shipping Co. “Negotiations between us and the owners to free the Chinese ship are going on now,” a pirate named Mohamed told Reuters from the pirate stronghold of Haradheere. “We agreed on $3.5 million to free the ship.” Somali pirates have continued to defy foreign navies patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa and are holding at least 13 vessels and more than 200 crew. There was a pause in hijackings during monsoon rains, but the sea gangs have stepped up attacks in the past two months, extending their range to as far as the Seychelles, to evade the naval vessels. Piracy attacks around the world numbered 324 during the year to October 20, according to figures from the ICC International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center. Attacks by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia, numbered 174, with 35 vessels hijacked and 587 crew taken hostage. Nearly 20,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year, heading to and from the Suez Canal.	A Kenyan maritime official said today that pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen. Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program said the ship, named the ''Red Sea Spirit'' was taken on Thursday, but news of the seizure only emerged earlier today. According to him, the vessel was seized about 36 nautical miles from Balhaf, a Yemeni port. "Red Sea Spirit was taken by gunmen off the Yemeni coast last Thursday. She is flying the Panama flag. She is a Greek-owned bulk carrier," Mwangura said. Somali pirates are currently holding at least thirteen ships and more than 200 crew. They are still active in the waters off the east coast of Africa, despite the presence of many navies patrolling the region.
After four years together, Swedish House Mafia have announced they are splitting up. The news came as the trio headlined the Dance Arena at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, part of the London 2012 festival. The group is made up of DJs and producers Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. Swedish House Mafia broke the news on their website confirming the tour they are about to go on will be their last. Their final UK date will be at Milton Keynes Bowl on 14 July but dates in Ibiza will follow in August before the last date on home turf in Sweden on 24 November. All three co-signed their online statement, saying, "We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey," before signing off "we came, we raved, we loved". Tinie Tempah, who recorded the hit single Miami 2 Ibiza with the trio, said the news was "such a shame". "Dance music has been going on for a very long time but, in this sort of new wave, they came together to create something that was really incredible." "All the guys are talented geniuses. Within their own rights, they're great artists and producers. I wish them all the best of luck." \|\|\|\|\| Swedish House Mafia: Our Next Tour Will Be Our Last 'We came, we raved, we loved' Swedish House Mafia performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. FilmMagic.com/FilmMagic By Rolling Stone Swedish House Mafia have announced that their days touring together will soon come to an end. "Today we want to share with you that the tour we are about to go on will be our last," the group wrote in a message on their website. "We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey. We came, we raved, we loved." Photos: The Hottest Live Photos of 2012 The three members of Swedish House Mafia – Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell (a.k.a. Axel Christofer Hedfors) – began DJing in a Stockholm pizza parlor in the early 2000s. In July, they'll headline the 65,000-seat National Bowl at Milton Keynes in England (an occasion they note on their website as their last UK show), followed by a date in Ibiza and one in Sweden. "The final leg of this journey will be announced in August," the statement says. Although their plans to stop touring together appear firm, it is unclear whether the end applies to their producing as well. Just last week, Ingrosso spoke to Rolling Stone about his hopes for a Swedish House Mafia collaboration with Paul McCartney. "I think the Beatles made something that's kind of melancholic to sad and happy combined, and that's just amazing," Ingrosso said, while noting smiliarities between the two groups' chord progressions. "I kind of analyze music a lot, and I think that what the Beatles have done is what we do today. [It] doesn't matter that we do dance music."	Swedish-based group have announced their intention to disband after their next tour. A statement from the group said "the tour we are about to go on will be our last". The group, which consists of DJs , and , formed in 2008, with its members initially DJing in a pizza shop in in the early 2000s. In a statement on their website, the group expressed their appreciation to their supporters. "We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey," the group statement reads. "We came, we raved, we loved." Swedish House Mafia appeared at at the weekend. The group also announced future tour dates, including Ushuaia on the Spanish island of from July 4 to August 29, the in Sweden on November 24 and the in the British town of on July 14, the latter of which the page says will be the group's final night in the United Kingdom. "The final leg of this journey will be announced in August," the statement reads. Last week, Ingrosso told '''' magazine of his interest in having Beatles member collaborate with Swedish House Mafia, describing The Beatles' music as "kind of melancholic to sad and happy combined", calling it "just amazing". Ingrosso believed "what the Beatles have done is what we do today. It doesn't matter that we do dance music". Below is an image gallery of the members of Swedish House Mafia:
Knife found at O.J. Simpson's former L.A. home studied by police LOS ANGELES Police said on Friday they were examining a knife purportedly found at the former home of O.J. Simpson, the onetime football star acquitted of stabbing to death his ex-wife and her friend in the "Trial of the Century" two decades ago. \| Supreme Court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion law WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, two days after hearing a major abortion case from Texas, on Friday temporarily blocked a Louisiana law imposing regulations on doctors who perform abortions in a move that would allow two recently closed clinics to reopen. Exclusive: U.S. watchdog to probe Fed's lax oversight of Wall Street NEW YORK A U.S. watchdog agency is preparing to investigate whether the Federal Reserve and other regulators are too soft on the banks they are meant to police, after a written request from Democratic lawmakers that marks the latest sign of distrust between Congress and the central bank. Brazil's Lula detained in corruption probe; Rousseff objects SAO PAULO/BRASILIA Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff. \| \|\|\|\|\| FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2006 WWW.USDOJ.GOV FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2006 CRT (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 Justice Department Files Class Action Lawsuit Against American Airlines to Defend Employment Rights of Military Pilots WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice today announced the filing of a lawsuit against American Airlines, Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). This lawsuit represents the first class action complaint filed by the United States under USERRA. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Dallas, Texas, alleges that American Airlines violated USERRA by denying pilots Mark Woodall, Michael McMahon and Paul Madson employment benefits during their military service. Woodall and McMahon serve as pilots in the Naval Reserve and hold the ranks of Captain and Commander, respectively. Madson serves as a pilot in the South Dakota Air National Guard and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. “This nation depends on our reservists to faithfully carry out their duty. No reservists – indeed, no members of our armed forces – should ever be punished or discriminated against for answering the call of duty,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The filing of this lawsuit reflects the Civil Rights Division’s continuing commitment to fully protect our uniformed service member’s employment rights.” The complaint alleges that American Airlines conducted an audit of the leave taken for military service by American Airline pilots in 2001. The complaint further alleges that based on the results of that audit, American Airlines reduced the employment benefits of those of its pilots who had taken military leave, while not reducing the same benefits of those of its pilots who had taken similar types of non-military leave. “This action shows the Labor Department and the Justice Department are working together effectively to protect the jobs and benefits of National Guard and Reserve service members upon their return to civilian life, as required under USERRA,” said Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The Justice Department’s lawsuit was filed after the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the Department of Labor referred Captain Woodall’s, Commander McMahon’s and Lt. Colonel Madson’s complaints to the Justice Department upon completion of its investigation and failed settlement efforts. More information about USERRA is available at http:www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm. ### 06-015	The US government has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines on behalf of three pilots. The pilots were employed by the company while serving in the Naval Reserve and Air National Guard. The US Department of Justice alleges that when the pilots were called into active duty by the US military, American Airlines denied them employment benefits. The Department of Justice said in a complaint filed in the US District Court in Dallas that American Airlines conducted an audit of leave taken for military service by pilots in 2001. The Justice Department charges that based on that audit American Airlines then cut the employment benefits of pilots who had taken military leave while not cuting benefits of pilots who had taken non-military leave. Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Wan Kim said "This nation depends on our reservists to faithfully carry out their duty. No reservists, indeed no members of the armed forces, should ever be punished or discriminated against for answering the call of duty." This is the first class action lawsuit under the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
A minister and his family members were injured when a parcel bomb exploded at his home [EPA] A minister and his family members were injured when a parcel bomb exploded at his home [EPA] The blast occurred in a village in Upper Dir district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) while worshippers were attending Friday prayers. At least 30 people are feared to have been killed in a bomb blast at a mosque in northwest Pakistan. Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, said: "Our sources are telling us that at least 30 people were killed in that attack, including 12 children. "We have been told that so far in the district headquarters at least eight wounded have been received." Hyder said the blast appeared to have been caused by a lone suicide bomber. "The attack took place in a village near the border with Swat, in a mosque which takes care of about 250 families that have settled in that particular area," he reported. Hyder said that the assailants blocked the roads from the mosque, preventing the wounded from being taken to hospital. "It must be remembered that in Lower Dir the Pakistan military has been on the offensive [against the Taliban], and the government has been making no secret of the fact that there are elements trying to destabilise Pakistan. "When this operation started it was expected that there would be very still resistance from the Pakistani Taliban. "The military was able to overwhelm those militants ... but while the military has been moving on the ground they need the support of the civilian elements." The latest blast is the ninth bomb attack in the country since the army launched a major offensive against the Taliban in neighbouring Swat valley. The operation is aimed at flushing out Taliban fighters from the region. Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, was in Islamabad on Friday to consult the country's leaders on what needs to be done after confronting the Taliban in the Swat valley. Elsewhere, a member of Pakistan's parliament and his family were wounded on Friday when a parcel bomb exploded at his home in the southern city of Karachi, police said. \|\|\|\|\| A bomb has exploded at a mosque in north-western Pakistan during Friday prayers, killing at least 38 people and wounding dozens more. Police said a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the mosque in Upper Dir district, although some witnesses said the bomb was already in the building. Nearby Swat Valley has been the scene of heavy fighting between the Pakistani military and Taliban militants. Upper Dir has also been the scene of sporadic clashes between the two. The bomb exploded at the mosque in the village of Hayagai Sharki, about 15km from the town of Upper Dir. The building was severely damaged and many worshippers were reported to have been trapped under the rubble. A resident of the village described the carnage at the scene of the blast. "A large number of body parts are scattered in the mosque. We don't know whether these are parts of the dead who have been identified or of others," Umer Rehman told the Reuters news agency. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the north-west region as a whole has witnessed a number of suicide attacks linked to the Taliban insurgency, as well as the Shia-Sunni sectarian divide. Condemnation In March, about 50 people died in a suicide bomb attack at a mosque near Jamrud, on the Khyber Pass route to Afghanistan. There are fears of a militant backlash in response to the army's military campaign in Swat, analysts say. The bombing has been condemned by both the Pakistani president and the prime minister who have reiterated Pakistan's determination to establish full government control. Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, said in a statement last night that the army had "turned the tide" against the Taliban and reiterated that the army aimed to completely eradicate them from the neighbouring Swat valley. In recent days the army has captured a number of militant strongholds as it continues its offensive. More than two million people have been displaced by the fighting.	A bomb blast at a mosque in northwestern Pakistan is suspected to have killed at least forty people on Friday. According to police reports, the explosion happened in a village located in the district of the . The incident occurred while worshipers were offering the Friday prayers. "Around 40 people are killed. We have no idea as yet how many have been wounded," said Atif-ur-Rehman, a senior government administrator of Upper Dir. The mosque was damaged heavily by the explosion, and many people have been trapped under debris. "A large number of body parts are scattered in the mosque. We don't know whether these are parts of the dead who have been identified or of others," said Umer Rehman, one of the village's residents, to the Reuters news agency. This is the ninth bomb blast in Pakistan since the country's armed forces started attacks against the Taliban in the nearby valley from the past few months, in an attempt to force the fighters out of the area. and both condemned the attack. The London-based chief, , has also condemned the blast.
Stormy weather conditions slowed emergency crews scrambling Tuesday to restore electrical power to dozens of communities on Newfoundland's northeast coast. The storm blew power lines down on Random Island. (CBC) About 7,500 customers were still without power on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland Power said Tuesday afternoon. In the town of Bonavista, councillors were considering whether to call a state of emergency. Police, firefighters and volunteers were going door to door in the town on Wednesday afternoon to ensure that all residents were safe. Much of eastern Newfoundland was plunged into darkness on Sunday, as storms caused a series of malfunctions on the power grid. Problems on the Bonavista Peninsula, though, remain serious because the storm knocked down seven large support structures for transmission lines in the area. Michelle Coughlan, director of corporate communications with Newfoundland Power, said those supports "literally toppled to the ground" during a storm that brought winds that topped 100 km/h. About two kilometres of transmission line also collapsed. Much of the damage occurred in back country that is "not easily accessible at the best of times," Coughlan said Tuesday morning. Newfoundland Power crews began installing portable generators on Tuesday, and the company hopes to begin rationing power on Tuesday night. Coughlan said the utility is asking customers to be patient, as power is not expected to be fully restored until next Monday. Consumers, she said, should "really have a focus on turning off or not using any unnecessary power as we prepare to restore power and until power is restored." Coughlan said Newfoundland Power will be dispatching crews to the Bonavista Peninsula as soon as they complete repairs in other areas. At its worst on Sunday, the storm knocked out electrical service to about 100,000 customers. Phone service, including cellphone coverage, was also temporarily disrupted. The power outage sparked a run on supplies, with some stores expressing concern about how long they will last. "People [are] looking for white gas, propane, everything like that for your houses," said Douglas Blackmore, who works at Moody's Gas Bar in Port Blandford. "Out in [the] Clarenville area, it's all sold out. Here, it's pretty well all sold out, and this is just the first night of it for us," Blackmore said Monday. Stephen Kelley, another Port Blandford resident, bundled his family into a car — and a freezer's worth of food into a trunk — to head to relatives in Gander, about 115 kilometres away. "There [are] no community centres set up for anything. There's no place to go, but to go with family in central Newfoundland," he said. "You gotta do what you gotta do." Restaurants and hotels in some communities, such as Clarenville, have been overwhelmed by unexpected customers. Margaret Hobbs, a Bunyan's Cove resident, said that she is grateful to have a generator, but a lack of electricity still poses challenges, as she cares for three mentally challenged adults. "I was depressed about it, because when you're in home care, you got a lot of clothes to wash," she said. "It's just piling up." Hobbs said she has been told she should have power restored by Tuesday night. \|\|\|\|\| NEWS Last updated at 6:57 PM on 04/12/07 Some areas of Bonavista Peninsula getting power faster than expected The Telegram The lights are back on in some areas on the Bonavista Peninsula tonight as Newfoundland Power crews are completing line repairs faster than anticipated. A spokeswoman for Newfoundland Power confirms that about 4,000 of about 8,500 customers in the Bonavista and Catalina areas, who were left without power following a fierce winter storm that toppled power lines and poles throughout the Bonavista Peninsula Sunday night, have had their power turned back on. The utility company had originally predicted that power could be turned for between three and seven days in some areas. More coverage in Wednesday’s Telegram.	Parts of the northeastern coast of Newfoundland, Canada, in particular the Bonavista Peninsula, were hit hard following a Sunday evening storm. Power went out in St. John's Sunday night, but was promptly restored. By Tuesday, around 7500 customers were without electricity on the Bonavista Peninsula alone. However a spokeswoman with Newfoundland Power Corporation said Tuesday that power had been restored faster than expected in parts of the peninsula.
Due to the changes in climate, pollution and bad planning some of the largest and well-known rivers in the world are currently at risk of drying up. An environment group called WWF made a study that pays attention to ten best-known rivers that can dry up in case people won't take certain measures. The report states that indifference towards these rivers might lead to "fresh water emergency." Among the ten rivers that the report is focused on five are situated in Asia. These include the Yangtze, the Salween and the Ganges. In serious danger are also: Danube, that flows in Europe, African Nile and Rio Grande, flowing in South America. One of the most important issues that the report focuses on is concerned with the dams and dykes, like the ones along the Danube. The representatives of WWF stated that both dams and dykes were the cause of destruction of the river basin's wetlands and floodplains. About 80 percent was destroyed. Another problem concerns the extraction of water for agriculture. An notable example of the issue, as showed by the report, is the Indus river, flowing in India. Water over-extraction might cause water scarcity which in its turn is a threat for the freshwater fish populations. These represent an important food source for people around the globe. The report calls on governments to provide a better protection of rivers and a sustainable water use. In such a way governments will be able to protect the livelihoods of people and the habitat, which is being provided by freshwater sources. Heading the Freshwater programme of WWF, Dr. David Tickner, outlined the fact that today our world is facing a massive freshwater crisis. This fact, he said, might be as harmful as the change of climate. Those businesses that deal with food and fibre products use a large amount of water, which is why they must look for a more efficient way to use the vital resource of our planet, said Gr. Tickner. For a better response to the issue the WWF said that countries should have certain agreements on smart use of water resources. In addition Dr. Ticker stated that the crisis of the freshwater is much bigger than the rivers listed in the report. "It mirrors the extent to which unabated development is jeopardising nature's ability to meet our growing demands." he said. \|\|\|\|\| Some of the world's largest and best-known rivers are at risk of drying up as a result of climate change, pollution and bad planning, a report warned today. The study by the environment group, WWF, focuses on the ten rivers most danger of drying up or dying, and warns that, without action, the world faces "a freshwater emergency". Five of the 10 rivers listed are in Asia, including the Yangtze, the Ganges and the Salween, highlighting the profound problems facing the region. Europe's Danube, the African Nile and South America's Rio Grande are among other rivers under serious threat. Among the problems highlighted in the report - which is published ahead of World Water Day on Thursday - are those caused by dams and dykes, such as those along the Danube. WWF said these have already destroyed 80% of the river basin's wetlands and floodplains. The extraction of water for agriculture is also taking its toll on rivers around the world, WWF said, with India's Indus river a notable example cited by the study. Over-extraction can lead to water scarcity and severely threaten freshwater fish populations, which serve as an important food source for tens of millions of people worldwide. The report, which draws on eight international assessment reports, offers solutions for the problems caused to rivers by over-extraction, pollution, over-fishing, climate change, dams and invasive species. It calls on governments to better protect rivers and ensure more sustainable water use in order to protect people's livelihoods and the habitat provided by freshwater sources. "The world is facing a massive freshwater crisis, which has the potential to be every bit as devastating as climate change," said Dr David Tickner, head of WWF UK's Freshwater programme. ""We need business leaders and government to recognise that climate change is not the only urgent environmental issue that needs to be dealt with, and that they need to take notice of this freshwater emergency and act now, not later." Dr Tickner said businesses, particularly those relying on food and fibre products that demanded a lot of water to produce, should look at how they could be more water efficient. "Conservation of rivers and wetlands and security of water flows must be seen as part and parcel of national security, health and economic success," he said. "Emphasis must be given to exploring ways of using water for crops and products that do not use more water than necessary." To ensure a worldwide response to the problem, WWF said there should be agreements between countries as to how to manage water resources. Dr Tickner added: "The freshwater crisis is bigger than the ten rivers listed in this report but it mirrors the extent to which unabated development is jeopardising nature's ability to meet our growing demands."	Several factors including climate change and pollution may put at risk of drying up some of the largest rivers on the globe, a report by the environmental group WWF says. Following a study of ten rivers currently at risk of drying up, the group warns that without any action the process of drying up might lead to freshwater emergency. Three Gorges dam across the Yangtze is the largest hydroelectric river dam in the world The report analyzes ten rivers, including the Yangtze, the Ganges and the Salween in Asia; the Danube in Europe and Rio Grande in North America. The study raises concerns overs dams and dikes, which the report says destroy 80 percent of river basin's wetlands and floodplains. Another problem is the extraction of water for agriculture. The environment group states that active extraction of water, such as in the Indus river, takes its toll on our planet's rivers. Over-extraction might lead to its scarcity and have a serious negative impact on freshwater fish populations, which represents an important food source. The report says governments should ensure better protection of rivers and provide more sustainable water use, in such a way that people's livelihoods are protected. According to Dr David Tickner, head of WWF UK's Freshwater programme, the freshwater crisis is a serious problems that could worsen as climate changes. He said that preserving rivers and providing security of water flows should be seen as part of national security, health and economic success.
Iceland parties strike deal on new government REYKJAVIK (AFP) — Two left-wing parties in crisis-hit Iceland agreed Saturday to form an interim coalition to replace the country's recently resigned government, the leader of one of the parties said. "I believe we're now in the clear and open. By this time tomorrow (Sunday) we should have a new government," head of the Left Green party Steingrimur Sigfusson told reporters in Reykjavik. The announcement came after five days of talks between the Left Greens and the Social Democrats to create a minority government to replace outgoing Prime Minister Geir Haarde's right-left coalition that was forced to resign on January 26 over Iceland's deep economic crisis. Thousands have lost their savings and jobs since the once booming financial sector crumbled in October, and many blame Haarde for the crisis that forced Reykjavik to take control of the major banks as the currency nosedived. The new government talks had stumbled Friday after the centrist Progressive Party, which had pledged its informal backing to the new coalition in parliament, appeared to backtrack, reportedly charging key policy proposals were too vague and demanding more influence. Progressive Party leader Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson however told reporters late Saturday his party had agreed to offer the needed parliamentary support to the new coalition. "The Progressive members of parliament have reached the conclusion that we will defend the government from a vote of no confidence," he said, stressing that his party would not commit to voting with the coalition on every issue. The new government is expected to be presented around midday (1200 GMT) on Sunday after it has been approved by the two parties' lawmakers, and should receive the blessing of President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson later in the afternoon, Sigfusson said. Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, has been tipped to head the coalition, thus becoming Iceland's first woman prime minister and the modern world's first openly gay head of government. One of Iceland's most experienced politicians, Sigmarsdottir served as minister of social affairs in the outgoing government and is known as a champion of social causes, earning her the nickname Saint Johanna. The new government is unlikely to remain in place for long however, since Haarde shortly before his resignation called snap elections for May 9. Both the Social Democrats and the Left Greens have meanwhile decided to propose holding them earlier, on April 25, Sigfusson said. Saturday's announcement came shortly after around 1,500 people gathered outside the parliament to celebrate that weekly protests since October had helped force through the resignation of Haarde's government. "The demands of the people have been met. Therefore today is a celebration," main protest organiser Hordur Torfason told the cheering crowd. In addition to forcing out the government and prompting new elections, the demonstrators also take credit for pushing the Financial Services Authority regulatory body to swap its board and replace its director. The only main protest demand that has yet to be met is the ousting of central bank chief David Oddsson, widely viewed as the main culprit of Iceland's economic meltdown after he as prime minister liberalised the country's financial markets in the 1990s. Iceland, a country of just 320,000 people, was until the crisis one of the most prosperous members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the past decade, Iceland posted average annual growth of four percent, peaking at 7.7 percent in 2004. In 2007, it registered growth of 4.9 percent. But the Icelandic economy is now expected to shrink by 9.6 percent this year and see no growth in 2010, while unemployment, once almost unknown in Iceland, is expected to reach 7.8 percent in 2009 and 8.6 percent in 2010. And in November, it became the first Western European country to be rescued by the International Monetary Fund since Britain in 1976, receiving a 2.1-billion-dollar loan from the international body. \|\|\|\|\| ISTANBUL — Turkey and Egypt have turned to each other for support, looking to build an alliance that could represent a big shift in the Middle East prompted by the Arab Spring.	Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. The newly formed Icelandic coalition interim government will take office today, according to a coalition leader. The new government will also include a new prime minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, the country's and the world's first openly gay prime minister. "If everything goes as planned now a new government will take over this afternoon," said Steingrimur Sigfusson, who heads the Left-Green Movement. On January 27, it was announced that the nation's coalition government had collapsed and dissolved following a banking financial crisis. In October of 2008, Iceland's banking sector collapsed and was largely nationalised. Iceland's interest rate is now 18%, with GDP expected to fall 9.6% this year. Inflation has reached 13.1%. Just before the announcement of the government taking office, nearly 1,500 people were protesting outside the parliament building over the collapsed government and the recent financial crisis, but protesters seemed happy about the change. "The demands of the people have been met. Therefore today is a celebration," said protest organizer Hordur Torfason to the crowd who were cheering about hearing the news. The new minority coalition will consist of Jóhanna's Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement with backing from the Progressive Party. Jóhanna will be replacing the current prime minister, Geir Haarde who resigned on January 26, and is the chairmen of the nation's independent party and a critic of Jóhanna. He criticizes her appointment because he believes she will not help the economic crisis, resulting in more government spending. The quick appointment of the new government also means an early election, which is scheduled to take place on April 25.
Spaceflight Now + Subscribe to Spaceflight Now Plus for access to our extensive video collections! How do I sign up? Video archive STS-106: Making the station a home in space Following the Russian Zvezda service module's long-awaited launch to serve as the station's living quarters, Atlantis pays a visit in September 2000 to prepare the complex for arrival of the first resident crew. Play \| X-Large STS-101: ISS service call An impromptu maintenance mission to the new space station was flown by Atlantis in May 2000. The astronauts narrate their mission highlights. Play \| X-Large STS-96: First ISS docking The first shuttle mission to dock with the fledgling International Space Station came in May 1999 when Discovery linked up with the two-module orbiting outpost. The STS-96 crew tells story of the mission. Play \| X-Large STS-88: Building the ISS Construction of the International Space Station commenced with Russia's Zarya module launching aboard a Proton rocket and shuttle Endeavour bringing up the American Unity connecting hub. STS-88 crew narrates highlights from the historic first steps in building the outpost. Play \| X-Large Delta 4-Heavy launch The first operational Delta 4-Heavy rocket launches the final Defense Support Program missile warning satellite for the Air Force. Full coverage Become a subscriber More video Covert satellite for Israel launched by Indian rocket BY STEPHEN CLARK SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: January 21, 2008 The PSLV rocket fires up. Credit: ISRO An Israeli spy satellite designed to scout enemy military activity in the face of darkness and poor weather was successfully launched aboard an Indian rocket Monday during a mission shrouded in a veil of secrecy. The covert payload, wrapped inside the nose of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, lifted off at 0345 GMT Monday (10:45 p.m. EST Sunday) from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island off India's east coast, Indian news reports said. The 146-foot-tall rocket's four stages propelled the booster into orbit, and the TECSAR satellite was cast free of the PSLV's upper stage as planned about 20 minutes after liftoff. Officials declared the mission a complete success, achieving an elliptical orbit with a high point of 360 miles, a low point of 280 miles and inclination of 41 degrees to the equator. Israeli and Indian government agencies made no official announcement of an imminent launch prior to Monday's mission. A report last month indicated the flight was postponed several months due to concerns voiced by U.S. political leaders, but Indian officials immediately quashed those claims, blaming the delays on technical glitches. TECSAR is fitted with a large dish-like antenna to transmit and receive radar signals that can penetrate darkness and thick clouds. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries, the roughly 700-pound satellite is the first such spacecraft for the Israeli government. Space-based radar payloads allow intelligence analysts access to fresh imagery 24 hours a day, no matter the weather conditions. Also called Polaris, the satellite joins a fleet of Israeli optical reconnaissance satellites that can resolve ground objects as small as two feet. TechSAR's X-band radar system is believed to have a maximum resolution below four inches, according a report in the Jerusalem Post. Previous Israeli news reports said the new satellite will help keep tabs on military activity inside Iran and Syria. \|\|\|\|\| Officials say the satellite has already begun transmitting The Israeli press is reporting that the satellite will improve Israel's ability to monitor Iran's military activities. Indian officials that given these sensitivities, the operation was secret and carried out under tight security. The Tecsar satellite - sometimes referred to as the Polaris - was put into space on Monday morning. 'Sinister tie-up' Tecsar is said to have enhanced footage technology, which allows it to transmit images regardless of daytime and weather conditions. It is considered to be one of the most advanced spy satellites that India has put into orbit to date. India is eager to compete in the world space technology market Correspondents say the launch was the second commercial mission on behalf of another country that has been carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation. "It was a grand success," an unnamed official told the AFP news agency from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Israeli newspapers reported that both Israeli and Indian space engineers were at the launch, and that 80 minutes afterwards, the Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) ground station began receiving Tecsar's first signals. The 300kg (650-pound) satellite is reported to be Israel's most advanced space craft, and equipped with a camera that can take pictures in almost any weather conditions. Israel reportedly took the decision to launch the satellite from India three years ago, and asked for Delhi's help because it lacks a vehicle capable of boosting the satellite into a polar orbit. "The kind of low-earth polar orbit they are putting the satellite into, it is meant to give Israel the capability to keep an eye on the Iranian nuclear programme," an unnamed defence analyst told the AFP news agency. "This is bound to be seen in the Islamic world as a sinister tie-up between Israel and India," he said. Experts also say that the launch is an "important milestone" in the commercialisation of India's 45-year-old space programme, which put an Italian satellite in orbit in April last year for a fee of $11m. Correspondents say that India is eager to compete against the US, Russia, China, the Ukraine and the European Space Agency in providing commercial satellite launch services, a market worth about $2.5bn a year. India started its space programme in 1963, and has since designed, built and launched its own satellites into space. \|\|\|\|\| Israel Launches Advanced Spy Satellite JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel launched an advanced spy satellite Monday that will be able to track events in Iran, the country it considers its top foe, even at night and in cloudy weather, defense officials said. The TECSAR satellite is of particular importance for Israel because it can be used to keep tabs on Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S. and Israel fear is a cover for pursuing nuclear weapons, they said. The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, operates with a special radar system, allowing it to view much more than existing Ofek satellites that use cameras, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. Israel has backed U.S. efforts to get the international community to intensify sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program. Iran insists its program is for power generation. The company confirmed the satellite launching in a statement. "The TECSAR is the first satellite of its kind developed in Israel, and ranks among the world's most advanced space systems," the statement said. The satellite includes an advanced imaging system based on synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, technology, the statement said. The development and launching cost tens of millions of dollars, the officials said. Within two weeks it will be possible to view pictures from the device, the officials said. Israeli and Indian experts cooperated to launch the satellite with an Indian rocket from southeastern India, IAI said. The satellite weighs some 660 pounds, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported, citing unnamed company officials. Israel currently operates a number of reconnaissance satellites, including Ofek 5 and Ofek 7, as well as several commercial satellites such as the Amos and EROS series, Haaretz said. \|\|\|\|\| Israeli satellite launch by ISRO runs into 'tech difficulties' New Delhi (PTI): The launch of Israel's spy satellite by Indian Space Resource Organisation (ISRO) is facing "technical difficulties" and will be scheduled for launch once these are overcome, the top space scientist said. "We are facing some technical difficulties. Once we overcome these, the launch will be scheduled," ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said. TechSAR, Israel's first synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite, can take sharp pictures of sub-metre resolution, which will boost its intelligence gathering capabilities significantly. Nair said discussions were on with Israeli officials to sort out the matter. On reports that the launch was cancelled under pressure from the US, he said "it is a figment of imagination." "The launch is not scheduled yet," Nair said ruling out any suggestion of cancellation. The satellite can be used to obtain clear images of activities on earth and they would be better than those available from the Indian Remote Sensing satellites. The microwaves sent from SAR can penetrate thick cloud cover and dust storms and send sharp photographs back to earth. The 260-kg technology demonstration satellite combines high resolution with large area coverage using electronic beam steering. Israel has chosen the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle of ISRO to launch the satellite over its indigenously developed Shavit-1 launcher. Sci. & Tech.	Israel has today launched an advanced spy satellite, named TecSAR, into orbit on board India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The PSLV successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 3:45 a.m. GMT today, with a successful cast off from the launch rocket at around 4:05 a.m. GMT. Israel Aerospace Industries report that the first signals were received 80 minutes after the launch, present at which were both Israeli and Indian space engineers. The launch was delayed several times for unclear reasons. At one point, it was rumoured that the launch had been cancelled completely due to pressure from the US Government. Indian and Israeli authorities denied this, however, citing technical problems instead. The satellite, also referred to as Polaris, is equipped with the latest in spy technology, including Synthetic aperture radar, which can be used to provide details information on ground cover. The ''BBC'' also reports "enhanced footage technology" - which allows Israel to receive video and images at any time of day or night, and under any weather conditions. Israeli defence officials have said that the satellites main purpose is to track events in Iran, the countries' number one foe. The events that they wish to track include the Iranian nuclear programme, as well as military happenings in Iran and Syria. The satellite is capable of a maximum resolution of 10 centimetres, of which the first images wil be available in "a few weeks." Development of the satellite has been quoted as "tens of millions of dollars" - and India is benefiting from a major boost in the commercialisation of the countries' 45-year-old space program - which hopes to compete with the US, Russia, China, the Ukraine and the European Space Agency in the satellite launch service field.
(CNN) Thirty-three people had signed up to spend what promised to be a glorious Labor Day weekend aboard the Conception , a 75-foot boat that offered a scuba diver's dream: unlimited diving among giant fish and colorful underwater sea life, with gourmet meals served between dives. The destination was San Miguel, in California's Channel Islands, where huge halibut and other fish abound, and September is the perfect time to visit, because of swells and strong winds at other times of the year, trip organizers said in their promotion of the $665 weekend. But on the last part of the trip, the ship caught fire off of Santa Cruz Island, and it was fully ablaze by 3:30 a.m. Monday, said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown. It was basically a hopeless situation, authorities said, because the ship was in such a remote location, in the middle of the night, with a fire that's growing out of control. "You couldn't ask for a worse situation," Brown said at a press conference. "This is probably the worst-case scenario you can possibly have," Brown said. "You have a vessel that's on the open sea, that is in the middle of the night. I mean, it's 3:30 in the morning." By 7:20 a.m., the ship began to sink. It had burned down to the water line, Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said. The Conception was carrying 33 passengers on a diving excursion when a fire broke out. As evening drew in, only five people -- crew members -- had been found alive of the 39 people who had been on board when the fire started. Twenty bodies have been found, according to Brown who spoke to the New York Times . More than a dozen are still missing. None of the people who were aboard the vessel have been identified. A search and rescue effort for survivors will become a recovery mission Tuesday morning, Eliason told reporters Monday. "It's going to be maintained a search and rescue effort until dawn tomorrow," Eliason said. "Then we're going to make the unfortunate transition to recovery." The five rescued crew members were awake in the main cabin and were able to jump ship, but the boat was already fully engulfed in flames, said Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester. A nearby boat rescued them from the water. The passengers were below deck, most likely sound asleep. A mayday call revealed one side of the harrowing discussion between a Coast Guard dispatcher and the Conception's captain. Only the dispatcher's words were captured, but it provides insight into the panic the captain was experiencing. After the captain apparently reports a fire and provides a location, the dispatcher is heard saying, "And there's 33 people on board the vessel that's on fire, they can't get off? ... Roger, are they locked inside the boat? ... Roger, can you get back on board and unlock the boat, unlock the door so they can get off? ... Roger, you don't have any firefighting gear at all? No fire extinguishers or anything?" Later in the conversation, the dispatcher asks, "Was that all the crew that jumped off? ... Roger, is the vessel fully engulfed right now ... Roger, and there's no escape hatch for any of the people on board?" At one point, the caller says, "I can't breathe." Truth Aquatics, the company that operates the Conception, did not provide comment to CNN. Rochester said the vessel has been in full compliance. James Kohls was in Oxnard waiting to learn the fate of his brother, Mike Kohls, the gallery cook and a deckhand on the Conception. At 4 a.m., his brother, a lifelong surfer and father of one daughter, is typically making breakfast for the passengers, James Kohls said. "It's very surreal at the moment," he told reporters. "They were going to let me know whether he was one of the survivors that got off." Firefighters had difficulties snuffing out the fire, the Coast Guard's Aaron Bemis told CNN, because each time it was extinguished, it flared back up -- perhaps because of the fuel on board. The 75-foot Conception was on a three-day trip and was slated to return Monday. "We're still holding hope that someone may have swum to shore," Eliason told CNN. "When they anchor overnight, they're pretty close to shore. We have to hope, but we plan for worst-case scenario." The boat was about 20 miles off the mainland coast, near Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park. Authorities are searching the islands' shorelines for survivors, the Coast Guard said. The Conception was launched in 1981 and had bunk space for 46 people, according to Truth Aquatics' website . The boat was fully equipped with "all appliances necessary for food preparation," including a built-in barbeque. It had rafts and life jackets for 110 passengers. The cause of the blaze is not clear. Authorities said there were no signs of criminal activity. "This isn't a day that we wanted to wake up to for Labor Day, and it's a very tragic event," Rochester said at a press conference. "But I think we all should be prepared to move into the the worst outcome," Rochester said. \|\|\|\|\| SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – All 33 passengers and one crew member are assumed dead after a tragic boat fire early Monday that occurred in open water off the California coast. Authorities reported in a press conference Tuesday that 20 victims had been recovered, including 11 females and 9 males. Of those victims, 16 had been recovered Monday. Approximately four to six victims were discovered in the wreckage but were unable to be recovered by nightfall. U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester announced that the Coast Guard had decided to suspend search efforts, as "no additional signs of distress or debris has been witnessed." Rochester said that the nearly 24-hour search operation included seven missions and three helicopters crews, covering an area of 160 miles. The boat had six crew members and the 33 passengers when it became fully engulfed in flames during a recreational scuba diving trip. The passengers and one crew member were assigned to bunk-beds on the bottom of the deck. Five crew members sleeping on the top deck jumped off and took a dinghy to safety. Two had minor injuries. The crew members took their dinghy to a private fishing boat, The Grape Escape, that was anchored near the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. The boat's owners said two of the crew members went back to look for survivors but found no one. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities said Tuesday that there was no indication that an explosion had occurred. Passengers were unable to get out because both the main stairwell and escape hatch were likely blocked by fire. It is unclear if passengers were actually asleep when they perished, Rochester said. CLOSE At least 25 people are dead and nine are unaccounted for after a diving boat caught fire off Santa Cruz Island in California. USA TODAY What caused the fire? California dive-boat fire highlights need for more than one exit from sleeping quarters Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll said five others have been found but not recovered because of unsafe conditions under the boat. CLOSE Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said, "You couldn't ask for a worse situation" than that of the deadly dive boat fire near Santa Cruz Island. USA TODAY "You couldn't ask for a worse situation," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Monday news conference. Brown said the boat was upside down in relatively shallow water with receding tides that were moving the vessel around. A 3,000-foot temporary flight restriction was established around it. Authorities said it was under discussion whether to tow the vessel to shore or examine it on site. Authorities opened a family assistance center where counseling was being provided to relatives of those onboard. None of their names were immediately released. At least two students and their parents, whom may have been aboard during the incident, were reportedly from Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, according to KCBSTV. "Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those yet missing, particularly those of our students," Head of School Maria C. Reitano said in a statement sent to the Salinas Californian. "Right now, our priority as a school community is to support our students, staff, and families." Authorities responded Monday to a 3:30 a.m. mayday call of a boat engulfed in flames off Santa Cruz Island, about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Coast Guard said at a news conference later that day. "The call was garbled, it was not that clear, but we were able to get some information out of it to send vessels," said Coast Guard Petty Officer Mark Barney. Coast Guard crews, the Ventura County and Santa Barbara County fire departments, and Vessel Assist responded to the call regarding the 75-foot commercial diving vessel called Conception and operated by Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara Harbor. The boat had been anchored in an area called Platts Harbor at Santa Cruz Island, part of the five-island Channel Islands National Park and technically a part of Santa Barbara County. 'The flames were 30 feet tall': Boat owner describes saving distressed crew members after Santa Cruz Island boat fire Truth Aquatics, a Santa Barbara-based company, was founded in 1974. It had been chartered by Worldwide Diving Adventures, which says on its website that it has been taking divers on such expeditions since the 1970s. The names of the passengers on the boat were not available as of Monday evening. Truth Aquatics said the list of all the people aboard was in the hands of the Coast Guard. Authorities said Monday afternoon they were still working to notify next of kin of those who died. A spontaneous memorial for the victims popped up at Santa Barbara Harbor Tuesday. Jennifer Stafford came to the seaside memorial with heart-shaped pins and flowers to tie to the wharf. The longtime Santa Barbara woman said she wanted to find a way to help. “I just brought them along to see if I could give them to family members so they would have a touchstone,” she said, after hugging a woman who said she had a family member who was still missing. The woman wore one of Stafford’s pins. Stafford said one man had a fallen to his knees sobbing at the memorial, where flowers, leis and candles had been left. A pair of flippers hung from a post with the words “We love you Conception” written on them. “People are in shock,” Stafford said. “If they lost a family member or best friend or coworker ... it’s shocking and it’s so sad.” Rodriguez reported out of McLean, Virginia. Contributing: Cheri Carlson, Gretchen Wenner and Megan Diskin, Ventura County (California) Star; The Associated Press. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/03/california-dive-boat-fire-us-coast-guard-confirms-dozens-dead/2195446001/ \|\|\|\|\| News Release Sept. 3, 2019 U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB Office: (310) 521-4260 After Hours: (310) 781-0619 PA Detachment LA/LB online newsroom Coast Guard suspends search for survivors of sunken boat near Santa Cruz Island SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard suspended their search for survivors aboard the Conception Tuesday at 9:40 a.m. following a search that began Monday. In total, Coast Guard assets searched for 23 hours covering approximately 160 square miles. The Coast Guard utilized the following assets throughout the search: (4) Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco’s Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews (2) Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews (1) Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-65 Jayhawk helicopter crew The Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal, an 87-foot Patrol Boat homeported in Corona Del Mar The Coast Guard will continue working alongside partner agencies throughout the recovery and investigation phases.	The ''Conception'' fire at night A deadly boat fire earlier this week near off the coast of California, United States, resulted in the death of all 33 passengers. The boat, ''Conception'', which caught fire overnight in open seas, carried 33 passengers and six crew members. Five people, who were all crew, were rescued while the rest are presumed dead. Helicopter footage of response to the boat fire on Monday The ''Conception'' was a 75 (~23 ) long commercial boat on a three-day voyage for with Monday being the holiday. The fire started some time after 3 a.m. local time {1000 UTC) Monday. "This is probably the worst-case scenario you can possibly have," said Bill Brown. "You have a vessel that's on the open sea, that is in the middle of the night. I mean, it's 3:30 in the morning." As of late Tuesday, 20 bodies had been recovered, eleven women and nine men, according to Brown. The (USCG) called off its search late on Tuesday. USCG Captain Monica Rochester told the press a nearly 24-hour search mission involving three helicopters covering 160 (~415 km2) had discovered no further signs in the water. "It is never an easy decision to suspend search efforts," she said. "We know that this is a very difficult time for families and friends of the victims." Authorities have not named a cause for the fire, though it was intimated there were no signs of an explosion and the ''Conception'' was known to have the requisite fire suppression equipment. CNN, however, reported on a distress call from someone on the ''Conception'', who may or may not have been the captain. The excerpts, which are only the dispatcher's words were reported by CNN as such: Commenting on the radio communications, Captain Rochester said the situation had "a lot of adrenaline, a lot of confusion. ... The dispatcher was trying to ask for information." However, she added, "there are no locked doors in accommodation spaces" where the passengers would have been. The ''Conception'' was owned by Truth Aquatics and chartered by Worldwide Diving Adventures. Both companies have been in operation since the 1970s according to ''USA Today''. == Sources == * * *
Turkey's pro-Kurdish political party banned by the constitutional court for having links to armed separatist fighters has said its legislators will boycott parliamentary sessions. Ahmet Turk, the chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and one of two pro-Kurdish legislators who were expelled from parliament, said on Saturday the entire group had withdrawn from the assembly. "Our group has withdrawn from the parliament effective today," Turk said. The Kurdish party had a total of 21 seats in the 550-seat assembly before the constitutional court shut it down on Friday. The court found the party guilty of co-operating with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast in a conflict that has lasted 25 years and claimed 40,000 lives. Violent protests Angered by the ban, Kurds battled Turkish police with rocks and firebombs on Saturday in the town of Yuksekova, close to the borders with Iraq and Iran, Dogan news agency video showed. In neighbouring Hakkari city, a mob attempted to lynch two police officers but were prevented by local Kurdish politicians, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organisation to be their reason of existence" Abdullah Gul, Turkish president The move deepened uncertainty over efforts to end conflict between the state and the ethnic minority. The legislators of the banned party could have formed another party under a new name or continued their work as independents, but Turk said they opted for a boycott. The court barred Turk and Aysel Tugluk, another legislator, from joining any political party for five years along with 35 other party members - including Leyla Zana, a prominent Kurd who served a decade in prison on charges of separatism. Abdullah Gul, Turkey's president, defended the court decision during a visit to Montenegro on Saturday. "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organisation to be their reason of existence," the Anatolia news agency quoted Gul as saying. The ruling is likely to hamper Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, which had warned Ankara that banning the party would violate Kurdish rights. Turkey's Kurdish population, whose language was outlawed for years, has long complained of discrimination. 'Terror link' But Hasim Kilic, the constitutional court chairman, said the party's closure "was decided due to its connections with the terror organisation and because it became a focal point of the activities against the country's integrity". The ruling comes after weeks of clashes between police and protesters angry at the the prison treatment of Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the PKK. Earlier this week a protester was shot dead as 15,000 pro-Kurdish protesters marched in the city of Diyarbakir. Anita McNaught, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Turkey, said there are fears the ruling will lead to more violence. "We've seen an escalation of street protests, we're now seeing fatalities ... and this will be seen by many Kurds as provocation, they will not take this well," she said. The DTP was founded in 2005 as a successor to several Kurdish parties that were forced to wind up for collaborating with the PKK. The PKK is listed as a "terrorist" group by Turkey and much of the international community. The party says it has "no organic links" with the separatists, but insists the group should be considered an interlocutor in efforts to resolve the Kurdish conflict. Cengiz Aktar, a columnist with the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, said there are "some links" between the DTP and the PKK but criticised Turkey for making party closures "a habit". "The links apparently are there, according to the constitutional court. But in modern democracy, party closures are very seldom," he told Al Jazeera. "This one really comes at a very unfortunate moment when the country was making a very important opening towards its Kurdish minority. "It's a totally new era and suddenly comes this unacceptable decision that may overturn the whole democratisation process and bring the country to the verge of chaos." \|\|\|\|\| Kurds fight running battles with Turkish police ANKARA, Turkey — Angry Kurds battled Turkish police with rocks and firebombs Saturday to protest a decision by the country's top court to shut down a pro-Kurdish political party on charges of ties to militants. The party's lawmakers said they would boycott parliament. The party was banned Friday, a day after the main Kurdish rebel group claimed responsibility for killing seven Turkish soldiers in an ambush in central Turkey, an attack that outraged the country. The ban and ensuing violence deepened uncertainty over efforts to end a conflict between the state and its largest ethnic minority. A crowd pelted an armored police bus with stones as firebombs hit two other armored vehicles, briefly engulfing them in fire in the town of Yuksekova, close to the borders with Iraq and Iran, Dogan news agency video showed. Protesters blocked streets with barricades and burning tires. Police used water canons to mark the protesters with brightly colored water. In neighboring Hakkari city, a mob attempted to lynch two police officers but were prevented by local Kurdish politicians, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. Police detained about a dozen protesters, the area's governor said. Protests took place elsewhere in the region and the western cities of Ankara and Izmir, Anatolia said. Democratic Society Party chairman Ahmet Turk said the remaining 19-seat group had withdrawn and would not attend sessions of the 550-seat assembly. The party had 21 seats but the court Friday expelled Turk and another legislator from the assembly. The political turmoil has jeopardized a government project to reconcile with minority Kurds in the hopes of ending the fight with Kurdish rebels who have been labeled terrorists by the West. The party has resisted calls from Turkish politicians to label the guerrillas as such. The European Union has expressed concern over the ban, saying in a statement that "while strongly denouncing violence and terrorism, the presidency recalls that the dissolution of political parties is an exceptional measure that should be used with utmost restraint." The court said in its ruling that the party had ties to the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has fought for autonomy from the Turkish state since 1984. The court also barred Turk and legislator Aysel Tugluk from joining any political party for five years along with 35 other party members, including Leyla Zana, a prominent Kurd who served a decade in prison on charges of separatism. "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organization to be their reason of existence," the Anatolia news agency quoted President Abdullah Gul as saying during a visit to Montenegro. The court has shut down several Kurdish party on similar charges in the past. The predecessor of the Democratic Society Party had dissolved itself in 2005. The party is the 27th to be shut down in Turkey since 1968. Associated Press Writer Ceren Kumova in Ankara contributed to this report. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. \|\|\|\|\| Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement MPs from a pro-Kurdish party say they will withdraw from Turkey's parliament in protest at the Constitutional Court ruling to dissolve their party. The court voted on Friday to ban the Democratic Society Party (DTP) because of alleged links with Kurdish separatist rebels. Turkey's largest pro-Kurdish party has 21 MPs, two of whom have been banned from politics for five years. It is the latest in a series of pro-Kurdish parties to be closed down. The EU, which Turkey hopes to join, has expressed concern over the ruling. There have been clashes between Kurdish protesters and Turkish security forces in at least two eastern cities following the ban. Middle path The DTP MPs had threatened to resign their seats if the party was banned, even though they have the option of remaining in parliament as independents. Instead they have taken a middle path, not resigning, but withdrawing from all parliamentary business, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. But the verdict of the Constitutional Court has shut down the only political mouthpiece of the Kurds, our correspondent says. DTP chairman Ahmet Turk says closing pro-Kurdish parties is not the answer Almost immediately, angry crowds in the mainly Kurdish south-east vented their anger by clashing with riot police. The ruling comes four months since the government promised a new beginning in the state's relationship with its largest minority. It had hoped that by offering reforms giving the Kurds greater freedom of expression, it could cut support for the armed campaign, which has been waged by the militant PKK for the past 25 years, our correspondent says. But there has been a strong nationalist backlash against the initiative, fired up by a series of provocative incidents which culminated in the killing this week of seven police officers by the PKK, he says. Hopes for a political settlement to the Kurdish conflict rested to a large extent on the growing co-operation between the government and the DTP. It has now become the 10th pro-Kurdish party to be banned by the Constitutional Court, and party leaders have warned that its closure can only cause greater feelings of frustration and hopelessness within the Kurdish community, our correspondent adds. Some 40,000 people have died since the outlawed PKK launched an armed campaign in the mainly Kurdish south-east in 1984. Kurds make up about 20% of Turkey's population of more than 70 million. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version	Turkey's constitutional court has banned the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the country's largest pro-Kurdish political party. The court found it guilty on Friday of supporting violence and being linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, a Kurdish rebel group better known as the PKK. The move has sparked violent protests across the country and caused the DTP to announce a boycott of parliament. The party's two leaders, Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, were banned from politics for five years and expelled from the Turkish parliament. On Saturday, Türk announced that the remainder of DTP's parliament members would also pull out. They had held 21 seats out of a total of 550. The verdict comes as the government is attempting to bring an end to 25 years of fighting with the Kurdish rebels, and follows weeks of intensified ethnic violence. The judges of Turkey's constitutional court took only three days of deliberating over the evidence to unanimously rule that the DTP was guilty of inciting hatred and violence and was linked to the PKK. Haşim Kılıç, the head of the court, explained their decision. Flag of the PKK "No party has the right to utilize discourse and activities that contain terror, violence and pressure. A party should separate activities and discourses that contain violence and terror from the peaceful ones", he said. Speaking shortly after the ruling, Türk condemned the court's decision. "This deepens the desperation", he says. "This is a reality. But we are hopeful that Turkey will find its peace one day. But by closing a political party you can't solve the problem. Turkey can only solve its problems through reason and dialog." Kılıç acknowledged the ramifications of his decision: "Some people will say this verdict will sabotage the peace process, but this case is two years old, and we are judges not politicians." He says no country in Europe would allow such a party to exist. In justifying the ruling Kılıç also said they had studied similar cases in the European Union – in particular the closure by Spanish courts of the pro-Basque Batasuna party. But the EU later issued a statement that "while strongly denouncing violence and terrorism, the presidency recalls that the dissolution of political parties is an exceptional measure that should be used with utmost restraint." Such concerns will likely affect Turkey's relations with the EU, which it is currently seeking to join. This is the 27th time a Turkish political party has been shut down since 1968. Turkish president Abdullah Gül expressed his approval of the decision. Speaking during his visit to Montenegro, he asked: "What else can the court do when there are party administrators who declare the terrorist organization to be their reason of existence?" The PKK are listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkish authorities, the EU and the United States. They have been engaged in an armed struggle against the government since 1984. An estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the fighting. The verdict comes after weeks of ethnic violence, in which Kurdish youths have been clashing with security forces across cities in Turkey's predominately Kurdish southeast. The demonstrations were in response to alleged mistreatment of Abdullah Öcalan, founder of the PKK, whilst in prison. A pro-Kurdish protester was shot dead in Diyarbakır last weekend, sparking further unrest. Turkish nationalists have also been demonstrating, following the killing of seven Turkish soldiers by the PKK in central Turkey on Monday. Almost immediately following the verdict, violence erupted in the predominantly Kurdish south-east of the country between advocates of the party and Turkish riot police.
Mr Chamlong was arrested as he went to vote in city mayoral elections Police in Thailand say they have arrested a key organiser of mass anti-government protests in Bangkok. Chamlong Srimuang was detained after leaving the prime ministerial compound, where he and thousands of supporters have been barricaded since late August. He is one of nine protest leaders accused of illegal assembly and inciting unrest. Protesters demand the resignation of the government, which they say is a proxy for ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Chamlong was arrested as he arrived at a polling station to cast his vote in Bangkok's mayoral elections. Another protest organiser, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, was detained on Friday as he left the compound. A police spokesman told the Associated Press that the authorities were preparing to arrest all the protest leaders at the appropriate time and place. Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been occupying key government buildings in Bangkok for more than two months. They have vowed to remain in place until their demands for a government independent of Mr Thaksin are met. Last month, Mr Thakin's brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, won a majority parliamentary vote to become the country's new prime minister after a court forced his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down. \|\|\|\|\| Thai protest leader arrested BANGKOK: The police arrested on Sunday the leader of a group of anti-government protesters who have occupied the grounds of the Thai prime minister's office here for more than a month. Chamlong Srimuang, who faces charges of insurrection and inciting unrest, was detained early Sunday immediately after casting his vote in the Bangkok gubernatorial election. Thailand's prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, who took power last month, has been working out of the VIP lounge of Bangkok's old airport because the protesters have barricaded themselves into what would normally have been his office. Until now, Somchai has been publicly conciliatory toward the protesters, offering to start negotiations with them. It was unclear if the arrests of Chamlong and another protest organizer, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who was detained Friday, indicated a harder line by the government. But the arrest appeared to undermine plans by the deputy prime minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, to meet with protest leaders later this week. The opposition leader in Parliament, Abhisit Vejjajiva, warned Sunday that the arrest could worsen the country's political crisis, which began about three years ago with demonstrations against Thaksin Shinawatra and his removal in September 2006 in a military coup. Anand Panyarachun, a former prime minister, compared Chamlong's arrest to "starting a fire." "It will definitely heat up the temperature, and I don't know where it is going to lead," Anand told reporters after casting his vote in the election for Bangkok governor. Chamlong's arrest was almost cordial - the police allowed him to vote before detaining him and let him sit in the front seat of a police vehicle. The protest leader appeared to anticipate his arrest, leaving a note before he went to vote that urged demonstrators to carry on in the barricaded prime minister's compound. Bangkok's Metropolitan Police commissioner, Suchart Muangaew, seemed apologetic in explaining Chamlong's arrest. "I want people to understand that if the police didn't arrest the suspect when we saw him, the police might be accused of negligence," Suchart said. The police would not use force to arrest seven other leaders of the anti-government protests, he added. A criminal court in Bangkok will consider on Monday whether the warrant against Chamlong and the other leaders is valid. Chamlong, 73, is a former army general turned politician who was once Bangkok governor. In addition to his role as protest leader, he also heads an ascetic Buddhist sect. \|\|\|\|\| Chamlong Srimuang who has been arrested after leading demonstrators in a five-week siege on government offices Thai police arrest second anti-govt protest leader BANGKOK (AFP) — Thai police arrested Sunday a second protest leader who led thousands of demonstrators in a five-week siege of government offices in the capital. Police said retired general Chamlong Srimuang was arrested on treason and other charges as he visited a polling booth for elections for Bangkok governor. Srimuang is a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) camped outside Government House to demand the resignation of the government which it accuses of being too close to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. "The police arrested Major General Chamlong this morning when he was entering an election station at Sethasathien school," deputy police spokesman Surapol Tuanthong told reporters. "He cooperated and let the police do their job after being informed," he said, adding that extra police had since been deployed to the PAD's protest camp. Srimuang, currently detained at police regional border patrol headquarters, is the second leader to be picked up after police issued nine arrest warrants in August in the wake of the demonstrations. Rally organiser Chaiwat Sinsuwong was arrested on Friday and remains in detention awaiting a court appearance. Under Thai law a person convicted of treason can face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The PAD has questioned the legality of the police action as appeals lodged against the arrest warrants have not yet been heard. At the PAD's camp, set up outside government offices on August 26, members denounced the latest arrest and read aloud a letter purportedly from Chamlong urging them to continue their protest. "This is a test for PAD's strength. The arrests of Chaiwat and Chamlong show that those who truly love their country are attacked by the police," media tycoon and PAD founder Sondhi Limthongkul said. The seven other PAD members still wanted by police include Sondhi, activist MP Somkiat Pongpaibul and PAD leaders Somsak Kosaisuk and Pibhop Dhongchai. PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila and rally organisers Therdpoom Chaidee and Amorn Amornrattannond are also sought on arrest warrants. The PAD led protests against Thaksin in months of political turmoil before he was ousted in a military coup in September 2006. It launched the latest demonstrations to topple former premier Samak Sundaravej, who was eventually forced from office last month for receiving payment to host two television cooking shows. His successor, Somchai Wongsawat, has tasked deputy prime minister and seasoned politician Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with negotiating with the PAD. Somchai and his cabinet have been forced to work out of Bangkok's old airport since the demonstrators took over the government compound. The new prime minister on Wednesday urged the protesters to leave ahead of the cremation of the king's sister in mid-November and the December summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which Thailand chairs. \|\|\|\|\| Enter your search terms Submit search form Web www.bangkokpost.com Chaiwat's arrest 'was the work of the government' WASSANA NANUAM The arrest of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) key figure Chaiwat Sinsuwong is widely seen an attempt to undermine Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Lt-Gen Pirat Sawamiwat, Gen Chavalit's close aide, said the arrest was made despite an agreement from police not to do so. Pol Maj-Gen Kharonwit Thoopkrajang, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police Division 1, had agreed not to make any arrests while the talks to resolve the political stalemate were ongoing. "We asked for seven to eight days. An agreement was reached, yet a PAD leader was arrested and Gen Chavalit had no idea about this," he said. Gen Chavalit had planned to meet Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, and address supporters on stage. Maj-Gen Chamlong also raised concerns about the implications of Mr Chaiwat's arrest and said it could be a plot to discredit Gen Chavalit. Maj-Gen Chamlong said that the arrest, made while the talks were still in progress, was a slap in the face for Gen Chavalit and was the work of the government. "It is possible some people in the government want to instigate a conflict and frustrate Gen Chavalit's progress," he said. Maj-Gen Chamlong said while the arrest would have an impact on the dialogue, PAD would not use it to stir up unrest. PAD member Chirmsak Pinthong said that the timing was significant as Mr Chaiwat and other PAD members are waiting for an Appeals Court ruling on their appeal against the arrest warrants they face. \|\|\|\|\| BANGKOK, Oct 5 (TNA) - Core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which has been demonstrating calling for the ouster of the Thai government for over four months said Sunday that the pending negotiations between between the activists and the authorities are unlikely to happen due to the arrests of two PAD chiefs. PAD core leader Somsak Kosaisuk said the arrests showed the government to be insincere and that the PAD leaders would "not hold talks with irresponsible people". His remarks were made after PAD core leader Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang was arrested early Sunday after casting his ballot in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) election to choose a new governor. On Friday, police apprehended PAD core leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who is now being detained at Bangkok Special Prison. Police on August 27 issued arrest warrants for nine of the group's leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, and illegal assembly on the part of more than 10 persons and refusing orders to disperse. The warrants imposed on the nine leaders spelled out serious criminal charges punishable by death or life imprisonment. The charges were filed after the PAD seized Government House, the seat of the Thai government, as well as several ministries and state agencies on August 26 in a bid to oust the government which it accused of being a proxy of ousted, fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. PAD members and supporters have occupied Government House since then. The coalition government assigned Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to negotiate with the Peoples' Alliance core leaders with the intention of ending Thailand's political deadlock shortly after the new administration took office late last month. Asked whether the arrest of Gen. Chamlong was a PAD plan to mobilise more critics of the government to gather, core leader Pipop Kosaisuk said "the government created the conditions, and it is its duty to solve the problem. "The PAD will continue demonstrating peacefully", Mr. Pipop asserted. Meanwhile, about 50 PAD members processed to Region 1 Border Patrol Police headquarters in suburban Pathum Thani where Gen. Chamlong is being detained. The activists were able to meet and give him morale support after police gave the permission to visit. Two PAD lawyers said that on Monday they will petition the Criminal Court to revoke the arrest warrants issued against the nine coalition core leaders because they held that the charges against them were against the law. But a spokesman of the Royal Thai Police insisted on Sunday that the police only performed their statutory duty in arresting Gen. Chamlong as warrants for the arrest were issued for the nine PAD core leaders. The police spokesman said the Appeals Court is scheduled to rule Monday afternoon whether to revoke arrest warrants requested by the nine. If revoked, the case would be contested under a judicial process, he said. (TNA) Political News : Last Update : 16:27:41 5 October 2008 (GMT+7:00)	Chamlong Srimuang Police in Thailand have announced the arrest of Chamlong Srimuang, a retired general and former Bangkok mayor who is one of the leaders of protests against the current government. Chamlong and other protesters who have occupied government buildings for several months accuse the incumbent government of acting as proxy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Chamlong is the second of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD - Thai: พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย) protest leaders to be arrested; Chaiwat Sinuwong was arrested on Friday as he left the occupied prime minister's compound. Former mayor, Chamlong had today left the security of the protest site to vote in the city's elections. Protests have been ongoing, led to a September, 2006 military coup, and have centred around corruption allegations initially championed by Sondhi Limthongkul against Thaksin Shinawatra who the coup deposed and left in exile for in excess of a year. Following the dissolution of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, and an October, 2006 election, the protesters have focused on removing what they perceive as Thaksin's ongoing influence on the country's government. In June then-PM Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet narrowly survived a no-confidence vote. Last month saw him replaced with the incumbent, Somchai Wongsawat following a court decision. Somchai was appointed as the result of a parliamentary vote, protesters are particularly incensed at this as he is former PM Thaksin's brother-in-law. Charges of insurrection, illegal assembly, and inciting unrest have been brought against nine of the protest leaders, including Chamlong; police have vowed to arrest all the protest leaders although there are no plans to employ force to carry this out. The charge of insurrection in Thailand is the equivalent of treason, the sentence can be life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Government proposals for the deputy prime minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, to negotiate with the PAD have been scuppered by the two arrests. According to the Thai News Agency, the leaders of the PAD state that the negotiations are unlikely to take place now. The arrests were described as indicating the government was not sincere and the PAD will "not hold talks with irresponsible people". The outstanding arrest warrants are for the PAD founder, Sondhi, the group's leaders and spokesman, Somsak Kosaisuk, Pibhop Dhongchai and Suriyasai Katasila, MP Somkiat Pongpaibul, and protest organisers Therdpoom Chaidee and Amorn Amornrattannond. An appeals court challenge against the arrest warrants is pending and a decision is expected Monday; if the warrants are revoked, it is expected that the Royal Thai Police will instigate a judicial process to contest this.
Ed Mirvish, the Toronto businessman renowned both for his landmark discount store Honest Ed's and for his key role in revitalizing the city's theatre scene, has died at 92. Ed Mirvish walks with Diana, the Princess of Wales, as they arrive at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto to see Les Miserables in 1991. Mirvish saved the theatre from demolition by buying it in 1962. (Canadian Press) He died early Wednesday morning of natural causes, his family confirmed. Toronto Mayor David Miller described Mirvish as a man with "incredible strength of character. "His store was about making sure that everyone could afford to live with some dignity and decency. His theatres were about bringing some joy and passion into people's lives," Miller told CBC News. Actress Louise Pitre performed in some of Mirvish's shows. "He achieved just about everything you can in Canada but was so humble, so soft-spoken, so unassuming … but with a glint in his eye," Pitre told CBC News. "He had a tradition of taking us all out for dinner as a group when you were doing a show," she recalled about the man who is hailed for sparking a revitalization of Toronto's theatre scene beginning in the 1960s. "I think [people] will remember him as a gentle, hardworking man of the people who made it big." As word of his death spread, CBC.ca visitors reached out with tributes, warm memories and kind words. "Our city, our neighbourhood, our country, will never erase the generosity, the empathy, the contribution, the friendship, and the presence of the giant of a man who dwelled among us," said one. "Clearly, in Toronto's dictionary, his picture should be found against the word philanthropist. He will be dearly missed and remembered," said another. Humble beginnings Born in Virginia on July 24, 1914, Mirvish came to Canada with his family at age nine. His father died when Mirvish was only 15, leaving him to take charge of the family's grocery store on Dundas street. Despite struggles in the early years, his marketing savvy and discount prices helped him build one store into an empire of theatres, restaurants and stores — including his famous discount emporium Honest Ed's at the intersection of Bloor and Bathurst streets in Toronto. Honest Ed's began as this relatively humble enterprise, eventually growing to encompass 160,000 square feet at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets. (CBC) The kitschy building, a landmark since it opened in 1948, sports big orange signs proclaiming "Honest Ed's" lit by thousands of flashing lights and humorous plaques with slogans such as "Honest Ed is for the birds … cheap, cheap, cheap."Mirvish was known for his giveaways, equal parts marketing stunts and expressions of his generous community spirit: he handed out free turkeys at the discount store near certain holidays and hosted street parties on his birthday, doling out free hot dogs and cake. "I can imagine the many persons to whom that Christmas turkey and other giveaways provided the most important gift anyone could ever receive: hope," a CBC Your View contributor wrote Wednesday. Focus turns to the arts The inside of the discount superstore is plastered with reminders of Mirvish's other side: the theatre impresario. Its walls hold one giant photo after another showing Honest Ed posing through the decades with stars of the stage and screen. Inspired by his wife Anne, an artist and singer, Mirvish began in the early 1960s to add live theatre to his growing enterprises. In 1962, he bought the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto's downtown and saved the historic venue — which opened in 1907 — from demolition. In this photo from September 1963, Ed Mirvish stands in his then-newly-refurbished Royal Alexandra Theatre. (Robert Ragsdale/CBC Still Photo Collection) As well as spending approximately double the purchase price to restore the beaux-arts theatre, Mirvish also began opening a host of restaurants nearby to lure theatregoers to what was then a desolate stretch of King Street and to provide a complete "night-out." Mirvish's efforts helped revitalize Toronto's downtown theatre strip and, eventually, helped vault the Canadian theatre scene to a new level. "Forty-odd years ago, this [area] was a slum," theatre critic Richard Ouzounian told CBC News in an interview from the King Street theatre district. "He not only bought it, but he ended up launching a theatre network in Toronto that made it one of the most important cities in North America for theatre." Lauded for restoring London's Old Vic Mirvish's involvement with the theatre community didn't end in Toronto. In 1982, he purchased the Old Vic in London, England — acting without even visiting the building, but inspired by the many stories he had heard about the venerable stage from world-famous British actors visited the Royal Alex. CBCNews.ca readers comment on the death of Ed Mirvish 'Funny that a 92-year-old man was one of the coolest things about Toronto. He'll be missed.' 'This outlandish and at times outrageous impresario was a bright light in Toronto.... He will be leaving a very large and historically important footprint.' 'They don't build 'em like that anymore. Thanks, Ed.' 'A true Toronto legend has died and this city is a bit less bright because of it. Sleep well, Honest Ed, you have more than earned your rest.' 'Mr. Mirvish truly loved his neighbour and that was all of us in Toronto. The size of his heart dwarfed the size of our city.' After outbidding the likes of musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and famed director Trevor Nunn, he refurbished the Old Vic. He and his son, David, were eventually awarded a special Laurence Oliver Award recognizing their revitalization of the theatre. Under Mirvish rule, the British venue won acclaim for its revamp and critical praise for its productions. However, the big budgets they required plagued the theatre, which suffered several years of financial loss before the Mirvishes sold it to the Old Vic Theatre Trust in 1998. By that time, the father and son had boosted their theatre empire by building Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre (which opened in 1993 with the blockbuster musical Miss Saigon). The theatre, which features a series of murals by U.S. abstract–expressionist painter and sculptor Frank Stella, is "one of the most beautiful theatres in North America," Ouzounian said. "That's at the essence of Ed. 'Let's do something for a business reason. But if we're going to do it, let's do it really right and really good for the city of Toronto,'" he said. 'Astonishing eye for talent' Ouzounian also praised Mirvish's "astonishing eye for talent" and said that, despite having no theatre training, every now and again, the keen businessman was willing to take a chance on productions that caught his attention. "The classic example in our time has been Mamma Mia, which was a show that did nicely in London but that no one thought would do well in North America," the Toronto Star critic said. "They brought it here to Toronto first. It was the incredible Toronto run that galvanized Mamma Mia and helped turn it into the international phenomenon it is today." Ed Mirvish smiles at an event announcing the Canadian premiere of the musical The Lion King in Toronto in 1999. It was just one of the big-budget shows created abroad that Mirvish brought to Toronto for Canadian stagings. (Kevin Frayer/Canadian Press) David Mirvish, a former art dealer, has since inherited the day-to-day Mirvish operations as well as his father's dedication to live theatre. The younger Mirvish has turned the family name into a significant force on the international theatre scene with participation in major endeavours like The Lord of the Rings musical as well as producing shows for Broadway and London's West End. The elder Mirvish was also known as the man who imported big-budget shows created abroad — mostly from New York or London — to Toronto for Canadian stagings, including hits like Les Misérables, Rent, The Lion King, The Who's Tommy, Hairspray and The Producers. More recently, however, the Mirvishes have bolstered these types of headliner productions with smaller, acclaimed shows from lower-budget local troupes like Soulpepper, Theatre Passe Muraille and the Toronto Fringe Festival. In Britain, Mirvish was awarded the distinction of commander of the Order of the British Empire. At home, he was an officer of the Order of Canada and the recipient of hundreds of awards recognizing his contributions to the community. Mirvish is survived by his wife, Anne, son, David, daughter-in-law, Audrey, sister Lorraine Lazarus and three grandchildren. The funeral is planned for Friday at 11 a.m. at Beth Tzedec synagogue on Bathurst Street. Flags at City Hall are to fly at half mast Thursday to honour Mirvish. \|\|\|\|\| Amber Gero Toronto icon and philanthropist Ed Mirvish passed away Wednesday at the age of 92. "Mr. Mirvish did pass away this morning at around 1:30a.m. at St. Mike's Hospital," said long time friend Russell Lazar. Mirvish, who would have turned 93 July 24th, is best known for his landmark discount store Honest Ed's. Mirvish also founded Mirvish Productions, and was a staple in the theatre and entertainment districts in Toronto. Mayor David Miller told CFRB's Dave Trafford that Mirvish will be missed. "My memories of Honest Ed are all terrific," Mayor Miller said on Toronto at Noon. "He was inspiring. He was funny. He was a character. He was a brilliant businessman. He supported the arts probably like no one else in the history of this city. And most of all, he never forgot where he came from." A funeral service for Edwin Mirvish will take place at Beth Tzedec Synagogue located at 1700 Bathurst Street, south of Eglinton Avenue, on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. A strictly private family Shiva will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ed Mirvish Educational Memorial Fund c/o The Benjamin Foundation, in support of up and coming entrepreneurs. Donations can be mailed to 3429 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 2C3, phone: 416-780-0324. There are three ways members of the public may leave messages of condolence for Edwin Mirvish: Online at http://www.mirvish.com/edwin/edmirvish.html By calling 416.351.1229 ext. 422 In the lobby at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King Street West, where a Book of Condolences may be signed daily from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Statement from the City July 11, 2007 Mayor David Miller comments on passing of "Honest" Ed Mirvish "It is a truly sad day in the city of Toronto. Today we mourn the loss of Mr. Toronto, Ed Mirvish; a man who can only be described as a local hero. "For decades, Ed devoted his life to helping Torontonians and to making Toronto the great city it is. Whether it was his iconic landmark retail store that was responsible for breathing new life into the Bloor and Bathurst neighbourhood or his commitment to the performing arts, Ed's passion for his city was second to none. "One of the things that made him so special and so endearing is that despite being a successful and savvy businessman, his motives were always about more than the bottom line. His philosophy was to keep prices reasonable so everyone could afford to shop at his store. And he always gave back to the community through his turkey giveaway and his annual birthday block party. "His foresight also gave birth to the Entertainment District and helped revitalize the city's live theatre industry bringing with it thousands of jobs and busloads of tourists flocking to see the latest great production. "The lights may have dimmed on Ed's life, but his spirit and legacy have been indelibly burned into the fabric of Toronto. "On behalf of all Torontonians, I extend greatest condolences to Ed's family and friends as well as all those who ever had the privilege of knowing him or who were touched by his generosity. "He will be missed but never, ever forgotten." In honour of Ed Mirvish, the City of Toronto will lower the flags to half mast at City Hall and the civic centres on Thursday, July 12.	Ed Mirvish in 2006. Noted Toronto resident and Canadian merchant and theatre owner Ed Mirvish has died. On July 11, 2007, the Mirvish family released a statement confirming his passing earlier that morning at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. "Honest Ed", as he was known, was two weeks away from reaching his 93rd birthday. "Mr. Mirvish did pass away this morning at around 1:30a.m. at St. Mike's Hospital," said his friend Russell Lazar. The mayor of Toronto, David Miller, told ''CBC News'' that, "His store was about making sure that everyone could afford to live with some dignity and decency. His theatres were about bringing some joy and passion into people's lives." Mirvish was known for his landmark discount store, Honest Ed's, and as a patron of the arts who helped revitalize the theatre scene in Toronto.
Ince's appointment is a landmark for the Premier League Paul Ince has become the first black English manager in the Premier League after he was appointed Blackburn boss. Ince, who has been given a three-year deal, was Rovers' number one target after Mark Hughes left Ewood Park. In his first season with MK Dons, Ince, 40, got them to the League Two title and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Frenchman Jean Tigana with Fulham and Ruud Gullit with Chelsea and Newcastle are the only other two black managers to have managed in the Premier League. Ince will be officially presented as Blackburn's manager on Tuesday. 606: DEBATE Last week the Premier League gave Rovers dispensation over Ince's failure to hold a Uefa Pro Licence. The former West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and England midfielder will be allowed two years to earn his licence. In order to be a football manager in the top divisions of Spain, Italy, Germany and France, coaches must have the Uefa Pro Licence qualification. The licence requires 240 hours of study and usually takes a year to gain. Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. The League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan had insisted he would not lobby against Ince's appointment. Former England manager Steve McClaren, ex-Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and former Getafe coach Michael Laudrup had all been linked with the Rovers post. PAUL INCE FACTFILE 1967: Born Ilford, October 21 1985: Joins West Ham as trainee 1989: After 93 appearances joins Man Utd for £1m 1993: Becomes first black player to captain England 1995: Joins Inter in £7m deal 1997: Joins Liverpool for £4.2m 1998: Plays in World Cup finals 1999: Leaves Liverpool for Boro for £1m 2002: Joins Wolves 2006: Takes first managerial role at Macclesfield 2007: Appointed MK Dons manager 2008: Leads MK Dons to League Two title and Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2008: June 22 - Appointed Blackburn boss on three-year contract Ince moved to the Dons in June 2007 after keeping Macclesfield in the Football League. His managerial achievements attracted the interest of Leicester City, who made an official approach to Milton Keynes for Ince's services earlier this month. Ince is the latest former Manchester United star who played under Sir Alex Ferguson to manage in the Premier League. Hughes is now at Manchester City, Steve Bruce at Wigan, while Roy Keane is Sunderland's boss. Former Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher told BBC Radio Lancashire that Rovers targeted Ince because "they were looking for someone young, hungry, enthusiastic and with a big pull. "Paul knew that he wanted to come, he's got the hunger and desire in his belly to be a good manager. "He showed that at Macclesfield by how he managed to keep them up, and he brought a couple of trophies to MK Dons. "So, it's a good achievement at a low level and hopefully he can bring some of that luck with him to Blackburn." Gallacher conceded that Hughes would be "a hard act to follow" at Ewood Park. But he added: "If Paul can keep the ship floating, keep the good players at the club, continue with the good work Mark has done and add his little bit in, Blackburn can only get stronger." Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? \|\|\|\|\| BLACKBURN Rovers can today announce that Paul Ince has been appointed the new manager of the football club. Ince has signed a 3-year contract. A press conference will be held at Ewood Park midday on Tuesday. This news was sent out first and exclusively to subscribers of our SMS Breaking News service. If you would like the very latest news direct to your mobile phone then text CLUB ROVRS ON to 88442 to sign up today! \|\|\|\|\| Paul Ince has agreed a three-year deal to succeed Mark Hughes as Blackburn manager. Former England captain Ince, 40, enjoyed a fine season in charge of MK Dons last season, leading them to the Coca-Cola League Two title and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and has been heavily linked with a move to Ewood Park in recent days. Ince, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milan, previously coached Macclesfield, who he saved from relegation from the Football League in 2006-07 but this will be his first management job in the top flight. Ince's appointment makes him the first black Briton to take charge of a top-flight club in England. Despite taking a slightly unconventional route into coaching - most players of Ince's pedigree and stature are usually offered a more glamorous job when their playing days are over - he has been a consistently impressive performer in the lower leagues and has attracted plenty of envious glances. He earned his first manager of the month accolade while with the Silkmen, who were adrift at the bottom of League Two when he arrived only to survive the drop on the last day of the season, before taking the title on three occasions during his stint at stadium:mk. Derby chairman Adam Pearson appeared to covet the former midfielder's services when Billy Davies left the club last term, while Wigan were also thought to be interested before appointing Steve Bruce. He was also firmly in the frame for the Leicester job following Ian Holloway's departure but last week moved to distance himself from that job, perhaps mindful of Rovers' interest.	Paul Ince is the new Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince has succeeded Mark Hughes as new Blackburn Rovers Manager after signing a 3-year contract with the club. He becomes the first black manager to manage in the Premier League and top-flight football. Ince was unveiled at a press conference at Ewood Park on Tuesday 24th of June. Ince moved into management with Maccesfield Town, keeping them in the Football League in the 2006-07 season. He moved to the MK Dons in June 2007, leading them to the League 2 title and he Johnstone Paint Trophy.
Mr Van Rompuy was widely tipped, but Baroness Ashton was not EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President. The other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - foreign affairs supremo - has gone to the EU Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton from the UK. Both are seen as consensual politicians with limited foreign policy experience. Both had unanimous backing from the 27 EU leaders at the summit in Brussels, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. Earlier, the UK government had said it was no longer pushing for former PM Tony Blair to get the presidency post. Mr Van Rompuy, 62, had crucial French and German support. He has a reputation as a coalition builder, having taken charge of the linguistically divided Belgian government and steered it out of a crisis. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. "Every country should emerge victorious from negotiations," he told a news conference after his appointment. "Even if unity remains our strength, our diversity remains our wealth," he said, stressing the individuality of EU member states. Baroness Ashton, 53, said she felt "deeply privileged" to get the foreign affairs post. "I was the first woman British commissioner, the first woman trade commissioner, so I am also proud to be the first woman High Representative," she said. "I think there was a strong push to have at least one woman in a senior position," she told the BBC later, adding that she hoped Europe would become "an economic superpower". US President Barack Obama said the appointments would "strengthen the EU and enable it to be an even stronger partner to the United States". "The United States has no stronger partner than Europe in advancing security and prosperity around the world," the White House said in a statement. UK shifts stance Earlier, a UK government spokesman revealed the dramatic twist in the British position. ANALYSIS Jonny Dymond, BBC News, Brussels Against all expectations this deal was done in a matter of hours, the pre-summit deadlock broken by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His decision to abandon Tony Blair's bid for the new post of President of the European Council meant the field was left clear for the Belgian prime minister, Herman van Rompuy. It also meant that he could bag for a Briton the second job of the night - one arguably more important and probably higher-profile - that of High Representative, something close to a foreign minister for Europe. Neither Mr Van Rompuy nor Baroness Ashton are what might be called big-hitters. Their selection indicates a preference for a low-key start to these new jobs. In quotes: Van Rompuy's vision Reaction to Rompuy appointment Send us your comments The UK persuaded the other six leaders in the socialist group to back Baroness Ashton, having dropped Tony Blair. EU leaders met in Brussels especially to select their first full-time president and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs - new posts created by the Lisbon Treaty, which will come into force on 1 December. The idea under Lisbon is to give the EU more coherence and continuity in key policy areas. Up until now the presidency has been held by member states in turn, on a six-month rotation. Going into the meeting the leaders had various candidates to choose from. There were fears that the negotiations would go on late into the night, but it quickly emerged that a deal had been struck. Drive for consensus Mr Brown praised Mr Van Rompuy as "a consensus builder" who had "brought a period of political stability to his country after months of uncertainty". Turning to Baroness Ashton's appointment, he said "it gives Britain a powerful voice within the Council and the [EU] Commission. He is camera-shy, a man who some refer to as the "grey mouse" BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt Read Gavin's thoughts in full "It will ensure that Britain's voice is very loud and clear. It will ensure that Britain remains at the heart of Europe." Baroness Ashton "is the first woman to hold such a high position in the EU," he added. Commenting on the choice, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "It's so important that Britain remains at the heart of the European project." The foreign policy chief will have a seat as vice-president of the European Commission, as well as a budget worth billions of euros and a new diplomatic service of up to 5,000 people. For months Mr Blair had been a favourite for president, backed by the UK government, and he was the highest-profile candidate. Another contender, Dutch PM Jan-Peter Balkenende, ruled himself out of the contest as the meeting got under way. Seeking balance The EU leaders had a working dinner together to negotiate the appointments. THE PRESIDENT'S ROLE Chosen by 27 member states by qualified majority vote Two-and-a-half-year term Can be re-elected once Chairs EU summits Drives forward the work of EU Council of Ministers Facilitates cohesion and consensus Represents the EU on the world stage Profiles of new appointees They were reported to be striving for a balance in the two posts, with one filled by a candidate from one of the bigger EU states, the other from a smaller country. Similarly, the presidency was expected to go to a centre-right politician and the post of foreign affairs chief to the centre-left. The combination of Mr Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton achieves that balance, the BBC's Jonny Dymond says. Mr Barroso said Mr Van Rompuy's appointment was "a tribute to Belgium", noting Belgium's key role as host of the EU's main institutions. The EU president will chair regular meetings of the European Council at which decisions are taken about the political position of the bloc. However, correspondents say the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as the post is officially known, could have an even more powerful role. What do you think of the European Council appointments - have the best people been chosen? Send us your comments 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 \|\|\|\|\| REUTERS - European Union leaders named Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the bloc's first president on Thursday and appointed Briton Catherine Ashton as its foreign affairs chief. A consensus was reached at a summit in Brussels after Britain dropped its insistence that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair should become president, ending weeks of deadlock and opening the way to agreement on Van Rompuy. But Van Rompuy, 62, and Ashton, 53, are low-profile compromise candidates little known outside the EU and at least initially will not have the clout in foreign capitals that an established statesmen such as Blair would have had. "The deal has been done. Both positions have been agreed," said an EU diplomat present at the talks, which involved all 27 member states. The leaders had sought a political balance to satisfy member states and the European Parliament, whose approval is needed for Ashton. This was achieved by appointing a centre-right president and a centre-left high representative for foreign affairs. Van Rompuy, who will not need the assembly's approval, won plaudits for holding together a fragile coalition government after becoming prime minister less than a year ago. Ashton, a baroness and former member of the House of Lords, Britain's upper house of parliament, is hardly known even in Britain and has little foreign affairs experience. But she has made a good impression since becoming the EU's trade commissioner, its top trade official, last year. Brown helps break the deadlock British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's insistence that Blair should become president had been an obstacle to agreement, but a breakthrough became possible when he backed down and decided instead to back Ashton for the foreign policy job. "As it became clear that the chances of a Blair presidency, for a number of good reasons, were declining, the prime minister made the decisive intervention in this meeting (to stop backing Blair)," a spokesman for Brown told reporters. Blair had long been the front-runner but many other states wanted a candidate more likely to lead by consensus and Germany and France joined forces to block his candidacy. He also had no majority among European Socialist parties, where resentment is still felt over his backing for the U.S.-led war in Iraq and many wanted a leader from a country that uses the euro currency. Agreement on Van Rompuy and Ashton prevented a failure at the summit that would have highlighted the divisions in a bloc representing nearly 500 million people, and undermined the goal it had set of boosting the EU's image on the world stage. In backing Ashton, the leaders also answered calls by many EU officials for a woman to have one of the Union's top posts. Although the EU is a major trading bloc, its political influence has not matched its economic might. Political analysts have questioned whether it will be able to do so even after the new appointments. The post of president of the council of EU leaders was created under the EU's Lisbon treaty, which is intended to make decision making easier now the bloc has 27 member states. The foreign policy high representative received enhanced powers under the treaty, which goes into force on Dec. 1, and will be in charge of a new EU diplomatic corps. \|\|\|\|\| Herman Van Rompuy, Belgium's prime minister, has become the first president of the European Council. Van Rompuy, largely unknown outside his native Belgium, was named after a consensus was reached at a meeting of the leaders of the 27-member European Union on Thursday. "I did not seek this high position, I didn't make any steps to achieve it, but from tonight I take on this task with conviction and enthusiasm," Van Rompuy told a news conference. The meeting also agreed to back the candidacy of Catherine Ashton, the British EU trade commissioner, for the foreign policy role. Britain dropped its bid to to get Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, appointed to the presidency earlier in the day after it became clear that centre-right countries, who dominate the EU, were determined that the role should go to someone from their group. "When it became clear that because of the various political considerations and varying views among the rest of the members, then the prime minister made the forceful step of proposing Catherine Ashton for the high representative's position," a spokesman for Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, said. Presidential role Thursday's debate over the appointments had focused over what role the president of the European Council should play, with many arguing that the role should go to a technocrat who can build unity and consensus. The Lisbon Treaty which created the new post was vague on its powers and obligations, saying simply that the president should "drive forward" the EU's work. "The Lisbon Treaty wanted to instill greater continuity and coherence into the European Council of Heads of State and Government," Van Rompuy said. "Six-monthly [rotating] presidencies had the advantage of involving all 27 member states in the work of the Union. The disadvantage was a lack of perspective, it is my firm intention to ensure that our work develops over a long-term period." Van Rompuy will serve a two-and-a-half year term, which is renewable once. Glyn Ford, a former Labour member of the European parliament, told Al Jazeera that building a political presence in Europe was one of the challenges a new president would face. "Europe is bigger than the United States, its richer than the United States, it gives more to the developing world than the United States by far. But we don't actually have the political presence," he said. "Now how do you develop that political presence?" Consensus-builder Van Rompuy told the news conference that he recognised that Europe faced sizeable challenges, including the financial crisis and climate change, and emphasised his credentials as a consensus-builder. "I think there were many names on the shortlist that fitted the job description a bit better [than Ashton] and I am afraid that this is one more case in which horse-trading has prevailed" Marco Incerti, Centre for European Policy Studies "As I am concerned every nation should emerge victorious from negotiations. A negotiation that ends with a defeated party is never a good negotiation," he said "As president-elect of the council I will listen carefully to everyone and I will ensure that our deliberations turn into results for everyone." Marco Incerti, a research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies, told Al Jazeera that the appointments marked a missed opportunity for the European Union. "Because it had been known for some time that Mr Van Rompuy would be appointed as president of the European Council people were hoping that for the foreign minister job we would get somebody a bit better known," he said. "There is nothing wrong with Catherine Ashton herself, but she lacks international experience. "For a post like that of foreign minister of the European Union having been in a comparable job for some time, having built networks ... could have been useful. "I think there were many names on the shortlist that fitted the job description a bit better and I am afraid that this is one more case in which horse-trading has prevailed. It was matter of giving the position to a Socialist in turn of the president of the council to the centre-right." Powerful nations Ashton, who has a reputation as an effective negotiator in Brussels, revealed her surprise at being appointed when she told the news conference that she had no prepared speech, but also asked people to wait to see how she performs. "Judge me on what I do and I think you will be pleased and proud of me," she said. Leila Talani, a lecturer on European politics at King's College London, said that the appointments showed the power of the European Union's big nations. 'The European Council is an intergovernmental institution and it is governed by the most powerful members states ... the most powerful are France and Germany, and to a certain extent the UK. "I would consider it [the UK] one of the winners of these negotiations as they have got perhaps the most important position with the foreign minister." \|\|\|\|\| EU Selects New President Photo: AP The European Union has chosen its first full-time president - Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy. Leaders of the 27-member bloc also chose a woman for the second top job - British commissioner Catherine Ashton, who will be the EU's new foreign policy chief At a press conference in Brussels, the European Union's President-elect Herman Van Rompuy offered a unifying message in English, Flemish and French - vowing to listen and take into account all the diverse views of the 27-member block. "Europe must be in every member state's advantage," said Herman Van Rompuy. "This cardinal principle leds me to a two-track approach. First of all, I will consider everyone's interests and sensitivities. Even if our unity is our strength, our diversity remains our wealth. Every country has its own history, its own culture, its own way of doing things. Our journey may be toward a common destination, but we will all bring along different luggage." Von Rompuy also vowed to ensure that every country in the EU will emerge victorious from any decision taken. He becomes the new EU president January 1. Von Rompuy's selection took place fairly swiftly over a dinner meeting among European leaders, after weeks of divisions over who would get the top job. In selecting the Belgian premier, they opted for a candidate able to cobble unity and compromise, rather than a high profile figure for the job. EU leaders also sought balance in selecting Catherine Ashton, the British trade commissioner for the European Union, for the job as foreign minister. Ashton said she was proud to be selected for a high-profile role in an institution dominated by men. And she said she would deliver results. "Am I an ego on legs? No I'm not," said Catherine Ashton. "Do I want to be seen as saying everything all the time? No I don't. Judge me on what I do and I think you'll be pleased and proud of me." The moment of greatest levity - and complexity - came when a reporter asked who world leaders should dial when they wanted to speak to the European Union. That remains a tricky answer as the EU is still a federation of individual and independent states.	Herman Van Rompuy. File photograph of Baroness Catherine Ashton, who was chosen as the first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been chosen as the first permanent President of the European Council, at a meeting of European Union leaders today in Brussels. Baroness Catherine Ashton of the United Kingdom has been selected as the first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The positions are both newly created by the Lisbon Treaty. Following a week of negotiations, Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was attempting to find a compromise among the leaders of the EU's 27 member states, after division over candidates had previously failed to result in a unanimous decision. Van Rompuy's selection finally took place today, and fairly quickly, over a dinner meeting among European leaders. "I did not seek this high position, I didn't make any steps to achieve it, but from tonight I take on this task with conviction and enthusiasm," Van Rompuy said at a news conference after being chosen. "Europe must be in every member state's advantage," he continued. "This cardinal principle leds me to a two-track approach. First of all, I will consider everyone's interests and sensitivities. Even if our unity is our strength, our diversity remains our wealth. Every country has its own history, its own culture, its own way of doing things. Our journey may be toward a common destination, but we will all bring along different luggage." He also promised to ensure that every country in the EU will emerge victorious from any decision taken. He is to officially become the EU president on January 1 of next year. Initially, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair was a popular candidate for President. However, the relatively unknown Van Rompuy, apparently backed by France and Germany emerged as a compromise. Germany had denied backing Van Rompuy, despite its ambassador to Belgium saying to the ''De Morgen'' newspaper that "The German government is in favour of Prime Minister Van Rompuy, and if his candidacy fails it will not be because of Berlin."
Yegor Gaidar, the controversial architect of Russia's painful transition to a post-Soviet market economy, died today. He was 53. A liberal economist, Gaidar served as Russia's first finance minister under Boris Yeltsin. In January 1992 he abolished state control of prices, wiping out the rouble savings of millions of ordinary Russians overnight. His reforms were described as shock therapy. They paved the way for the dubious state privatisations of the 1990s and the rise of the oligarchs. But they also saw food and other goods surge into Russia after years of Soviet hardship. Today colleagues and friends paid tribute to Gaidar. They said his reforms had led to Russia's decade of unprecedented economic growth between 1999 and 2008. A former prime minister, Gaidar went on to head the influential Institute for Economies in Transition. President Dmitry Medvedev described Gaidar as a brave, honest and determined man who "assumed responsibility for unpopular measures in a period of radical changes". Medvedev said he was "an outstanding economist and statesman. His name is associated with … our country's transition to a radically new path of development," adding: "He always firmly followed his convictions, which commanded respect from both those who shared his views and his opponents." Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who worked with Gaidar in the Union of Right Forces party, said: "Yegor was a fearless, strong and honest person and a genuine patriot." Gaidar was a deputy in Russia's federal duma for the party between 1999 and 2003. "Gaidar knew that a lot of people hated him," Nemtsov said. "But people should know that after the collapse of the Soviet Union there were only two possibilities: disintegration, civil war and rivers of blood or difficult and painful reforms." Gaidar's colleague and friend Anatoly Chubais, the chief of Russia's 1990s privatisation programme, added in his blog today: "He was a great person. Few people in the history of Russia or the world can compare with him in terms of force of intellect, or his clarity of understanding of the past, present and future." Gaidar died of a blood clot at his home in the Moscow region. Friends say he had been in poor health since he was mysteriously poisoned at a conference in Ireland in 2006, collapsing soon after eating breakfast. His sudden unexplained symptoms led to comparisons with the polonium assassination in November 2006 of the renegade FSB operative Alexander Litvenenko – though no link between the two cases was proved. Critics accused Gaidar of intellectual conceit and said that his zealousness for market reforms was reminiscent of the fanaticism displayed by his grandfather, the Soviet writer Arkady Gaidar, for Bolshevism. Defenders point out that Gaider's market-oriented supporters now run the Kremlin. Gaidar was born in Moscow on 19 March 1956. He graduated in economics from Moscow State University in 1978. After leaving politics, he remained influential behind the scenes, offering informal advice to Vladimir Putin on a range of economic issues. \|\|\|\|\| Yegor Gaidar, a well-known Russian politician, died December 16 at age 54. Medics said that Gaidar died at 8 a.m. in his home outside Moscow. The politician died because of a blood clot, medics said. Yegor Gaidar was born on March 19, 1956. He was a well-known Russian statesman, politician and a prominent economist. Gaidar was one of the ideologists and supervisors of radical economic reforms conducted in Russia in the middle of the 1990s. He took high positions in the Russian government from 1991 to 1994 and served as Acting Prime Minister, and then worked as a deputy of the State Duma, Pravda.Ru reports. His father, Timur Gaidar, was a foreign military correspondent of the Pravda newspaper, the son of a well-known Soviet writer, Arkady Gaidar. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yegor Gaidar made a career working at the newspaper Pravda and Communist magazine published by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. He participated in the development of economic reforms run during Gorbachev’s perestroika period. While in government, Gaidar advocated liberal economic reforms according to the principle of shock therapy. His most well-known decision was to abolish price regulation by the state, which immediately resulted in a major increase of prices and amounted to officially authorizing a market economy in Russia. He also cut military procurement and industrial subsidies, and reduced the budget deficit. Gaidar was the First Vice-Premier of the Russian Government and Minister of Economics from 1991 until 1992, and Minister of Finance from February 1992 until April 1992. Read more news \|\|\|\|\| Yegor Gaidar, one of the leading architects of free market reforms in post-Soviet Russia, has died at the age of 53, his aide said on Wednesday. "Yegor Gaidar has died, I cannot currently give any more details," Gennady Volkov said. Gaidar reportedly died of natural causes when a blood clot became dislodged. He was one of the young reformers, including Anatoly Chubais and Boris Nemtsov, that President Boris Yeltsin surrounded himself with in the early 1990s and was acting prime minister during the second half of 1992. The parliament refused to confirm Yeltsin's choice, and Gaidar stepped aside for Viktor Chernomyrdin to become the president's economic adviser. He was vilified by the public for the hardships caused by his "shock therapy" policy to move Russia from the Soviet planned economy to free-market capitalism and left government in 1994, although he was elected to serve two terms in the State Duma, in 1993-1995 and 1999-2003. Chubais, the minister responsible for privatization in the early 1990s, praised Gaidar as Russia's savior. "It was Russia's huge good fortune that in one of the worst moments in its history it had Yegor Gaidar. In the early 1990s he saved the country from famine, civil war and disintegration," Chubais wrote in his blog. Chubais, who was also demonized over the economic reforms of the 1990s but unlike Gaidar has remained near the center of Russian power, said the former top official had remained an "intellectual and moral leader for all of us." "Few people in the history of Russia and in world history can be compared with him for force of intellect, clarity of understanding of the past, present and future, and a willingness to take the most difficult but necessary decisions," wrote Chubais, who oversaw the breakup of electricity monopoly UES and now heads the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation. Ian Bremmer, the president of Eurasia Group, one of the leading experts on Russia, told RIA Novosti, "I'm very sad to wake and learn of this news. It makes you realize how far we are from the days of 'transition'. egor was a towering intellect, a global thinker whose conception of Russia was grounded in history but not incapacitated by it. His untimely passing comes as a shock. This time, there's even less therapy. I'll miss him." Gaidar was born March 19, 1956 in Moscow, the son of former Navy admiral and journalist Timur Gaidar and grandson of famous writer Arkady Gaidar. He is survived by his wife, three sons and daughter. MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti)	Yegor Gaidar Russian liberal economist and politician Yegor Gaidar died on Wednesday at the age of 53. He was the son of the famous Russian journalist Timur Gaidar. Born in Moscow in 1956, he graduated in economics from Moscow State University in 1978. In January 1992 in the position of Russia's first finance minister he dropped state control over prices, making Russia a capitalist country with a market economy. While working as an acting Prime Minister of Russia, Gaidar provided the so-called "shock therapy" treatment of the Russian economy, a set of liberal economic reforms. His health was declining after he was allegedly poisoned in Ireland in 2006, collapsing soon after eating breakfast. This episode led to comparisons to Alexander Litvenenko, killed with radioactive polonium in November 2006. Yegor Gaidar died of a blood clot at his home in the Moscow region. He is survived by his wife, three sons and daughter. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday, the burial place is yet to be decided.
KIEV, August 15 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko sent an urgent proposal to Russia on Friday to draft a bilateral agreement on the Russian Black Sea fleet deployed in Ukraine. Yushchenko said he had presented Russia with "an urgent proposition to launch talks and draw up an agreement to regulate bilateral relations during military operations" such as those in Georgia over the past week. Ships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet patrolled the waters off the Georgian coast during Russia's "peace enforcement" operation that began after Georgia launched an offensive in breakaway South Ossetia on August 8. Yushchenko signed a decree Wednesday stating that Russia was required to notify the Ukrainian authorities of all movements by naval vessels and aircraft from its Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet. He signed the document after returning from Tbilisi, where he took part in a mass rally in support of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili amid fighting with Russia. Both leaders have pursued pro-Western policies, seeking to join NATO and the European Union and reduce Russian influence. Ukraine even threatened last weekend to refuse to allow the Russian vessels to return to the Sevastopol naval base. Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that the Russian Navy had sunk a Georgian vessel transporting missile launchers. Russia's Black Sea Fleet uses the Sevastopol base under agreements signed in 1997. Yushchenko announced earlier this year that Ukraine would not extend the lease beyond 2017. \|\|\|\|\| Stuck at Home, Men in Japan Learn to Help. Will It Last? The pandemic is exposing like never before the severe disparities in how Japanese couples divide household work. \|\|\|\|\| KIEV (Reuters) - Pro-Western Ukraine vowed on Thursday to make Russia seek official permission for movements of its warships based in the ex-Soviet state despite Moscow’s objections, placing the neighbors on a collision course. In this file photo Ukrainian activists of the Young People's RUKH political organization take part in a rally in front of the Russian Embassy, demanding the withdrawal of the Russian navy from its base in Sevastopol May 28, 2008. Pro-Western Ukraine vowed on Thursday to make Russia seek official permission for movements of its warships based in the ex-Soviet state despite Moscow's objections, placing the neighbors on a collision course. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based on Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula under an agreement signed by the two ex-Soviet states. Kiev’s jurisdiction over the area remains a highly sensitive issue among Russian nationalists and in the peninsula dominated by ethnic Russians. Ukraine’s plans for tougher rules on Russian naval moves, announced by President Viktor Yushchenko on Wednesday, are the latest affront to Moscow after Kiev’s sharp criticism of its military incursion into Georgia in support of breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Tension between the two states had already been simmering due to Moscow’s opposition to Kiev’s efforts to join NATO, and past disputes over gas prices and property. On Thursday, Georgian Chief of Staff Serhiy Kirichenko said Yushchenko’s decree would be carried out, no matter what. “There is a presidential decree and it will, naturally, be implemented,” Interfax Ukraine quoted him as saying. “I guarantee that we will do everything to ensure the president’s decree is carried out.” Investors priced Ukrainian assets sharply riskier amid concerns over the row with Russia, with the cost of insuring Ukrainian government debt widening sharply. Yushchenko’s decree on Wednesday required the fleet to secure permission for any movements 72 hours in advance. In Moscow, the deputy head of Russia’s general staff dismissed it as irrelevant. “We have one general commander for the Black Sea fleet. It is the President of Russia,” Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said. “And all commands from outside are illegitimate to us.” TENSION Ukraine’s leaders, like the United States, have backed Georgia throughout the conflict and urged Moscow to withdraw troops from its smaller neighbor’s territory. On Thursday, Yushchenko’s Website said the president had spoken to U.S. President George W. Bush and praised Washington’s “clear and consistent position”. Under the terms of Wednesday’s presidential decree, Ukrainian authorities must inform fleet commanders of their consent for the movement of warships and aircraft 24 hours before their scheduled departure. Should commanders fail to comply with the rules, Ukraine’s foreign ministry would be empowered to ask the vessel or aircraft to leave Ukrainian territory. The conflict in South Ossetia has given rise to suggestions that disagreements between Ukraine and Russia could rekindle tension between the two neighbors over the fleet and Crimea that existed throughout the early post-Soviet years. Under a 1997 agreement, Ukraine agreed to lease harbor space in the Crimea peninsula base of Sevastopol until 2017. Yushchenko and other officials say Ukraine has no intention of extending the lease and have called for negotiations to ensure for an orderly departure of the fleet by 2017 -- a position strongly criticized by the Kremlin. Nationalist Russian politicians regularly suggest that Moscow should reclaim Sevastopol -- or even all of Crimea -- as its own territory. Crimea, part of Russia from the late 18th century, was handed to Soviet Ukraine by Kremlin leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1954 when the collapse of communism was unthinkable. It reverted to independent Ukraine when Soviet rule collapsed in 1991.	Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko issued a decree limiting the movement of Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukrainian waters in response to its deployment in a blockade of Georgia's sea ports during the Russia-Georgia conflict. Ukraine has already before urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia's territory. Last weekend Ukraine threatened to refuse the Russian vessels reentry to the Sevastopol naval base if they became involved in the conflict in Georgia. Russian Москва cruiser of the Black Sea FleetThe Russian fleet is based in Sevastopol on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula under an agreement signed between Russia and Ukraine. Under the terms of the decree, the Russian navy is compelled to obtain Ukrainian permission 72 hours in advance of the departure of any of its warships or aircraft. Ukraine's foreign ministry would be empowered to demand a vessel leave Ukrainian territory if the Russians did not comply. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the Ukrainian move as reflecting "an obsessive desire to please NATO and join it." Russian deputy chief of General Staff, Anatoly Nogovitsyn, dismissed the decree as "nonsense" and said that the order would make Russia's Black Sea Fleet subordinate to the Ukrainian government. According to Russian RIA Novosti news agency, Yushchenko sent a proposal to Russia on Friday to draft a bilateral agreement on the Russian Black Sea fleet deployed in Ukraine. The Russian fleet blocked several Ukrainian vessels in the Georgian port of Poti but within a couple of days they were released. Georgian Chief of Staff Serhiy Kirichenko said on Thursday that the presidential decree would be carried out, no matter what. "Putin's next target will be Ukraine" said Richard Holbrooke, a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations in a CNN interview.
NEWS MIDDLE EAST Violence at al-Aqsa compound Israeli police arrested 17 Palestinians after Friday's clashes in Jerusalem's Old City [AFP] Clashes broke out between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem after Friday prayers. Israeli policemen using tear gas and stun grenades entered the area around the mosque. Seventeen Palestinians were arrested and 17 Israeli police officers were reported to be wounded. Israeli riot police with the visors of their helmets pulled down scuffled with worshippers, some of them middle-aged or elderly. Medics tended several injured people lying on the stone pavement. Jewish worshippers were evacuated from the Western Wall plaza at the foot of the compound. Tense calm prevailed in the Old City by the end of the day. Day of Anger A "day of anger" on the Muslim day of rest had been called by Tayssir al-Tamimi, the Palestinian chief justice, who on Tuesday called for "all Palestinians to go and protect al-Aqsa against Israeli plans that aim to destroy the mosque". On Friday Palestinians hurled stones, bottles and rubbish in outrage over what Israel says is renovation work. Your Views "The daily teachings of suffering and hatred must be replaced with tolerance and co-existence" Docdeb, NY, US Send us your views Israeli police streamed on to the hilltop compound known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, to try to quell what Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, called Muslims rioting over the repair work. Clouds of tear gas rose up at the holy site and stun grenades set off sharp booms. Twenty Palestinians were treated for injuries, a Palestinian medical source said. Witnesses said police arrested a number of people. Mike Hanna, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said tear-gas shells and rubber-coated bullets were fired in different areas of the Old City, injuring a number of people. Dr Khalil el-Baba, a doctor treating some of the injured, also said Israeli officers fired rubber-coated steel bullets. Israeli police denied this. Friday prayers Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the Jerusalem mufti, who delivered the main Friday sermon, criticised what he called Israel's "aggression". He said: "We condemn this blatant Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa mosque and on the worshippers." Thousands of Palestinians had attended prayers at the mosque and heard him criticise the current Israeli works. Israel is "Judaizing Jerusalem", he declared, urging Muslims throughout the world to "protect" occupied East Jerusalem and the mosque esplanade. Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said the mufti issued calls for calm over the mosque's loudspeaker system, normally used for the call to prayer. Stun grenades Maher al-Ami, a journalist for Jerusalem's al-Quds newspaper, said: "We were at Friday prayers and suddenly they [the Israelis] began to shout and throw stun grenades." Adnan Husseini, director of the Muslim organisation Waqf, said: 'We are surrounded. There is one gate still open but they [the Israelis] won't let anyone leave." Rosenfeld said: "Seventeen policemen were hurt, nine of them taken to hospital. Seventeen Arab rioters were arrested and police are in full control. "Around 150 worshippers are now leaving in peace and quiet after dialogue between police and Muslim representatives." Heavy deployment Israel had deployed 3,000 police officers around Jerusalem's Old City in advance of Muslim prayers at the mosque compound, amid widespread Arab anger over Israeli excavation work nearby. Palestinians ran for cover when they were charged by Israeli police on horseback [AFP] Ilan Franco, Jerusalem police chief, said officers were posted on Friday amid "intelligence indications" that disturbances could erupt. Arab states say the work could damage the foundations of the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. Speaking in Saudi Arabia, a day after striking a Palestinian unity government deal, Mahmoud Abbas, the president, said the Israeli works amounted to "hostile measures". Israeli authorities say the building work, begun on Tuesday, is being carried out to replace a centuries-old ramp 60 metres away. Thousands of Muslims regularly attend Friday prayers at al-Aqsa mosque. A controversial visit to the mosque compound in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then leader of the Israeli opposition, sparked the most recent intifada. Source: Agencies \|\|\|\|\| The Islamic Movement rally at the Mugrabi gate is blocking Jews from entering the Western Wall complex to pray, said Aryeh King, from the Jewish associations in East Jerusalem. King appealed to Jerusalem district police to disperse the protestors and added that, if no action were taken by police, he would appeal to the High Court. (Lilach Shoval) \|\|\|\|\| While the recent infighting between Hamas and Fatah has shown the mutual hate and enmity between the two main Palestinian factions, it pales into insignificance when both sides raise to an occasion - real or fabricated - to display their Joo-hate. The waves of hysteria about the newly generated myth about "Israeli Designs on Al-Aqsa" are getting higher and higher by the day. Just to watch the language used by various Muslim sources is highly educational, seeing a new low in the anti-Israeli propaganda. So: Israeli designs on Al-Aqsa (Al Jazeera) Attempts to “obliterate” the Islamic stamp of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al Jazeera) Ethnic cleansing operation (Al Jazeera) Israel's intentions to destroy holy Islamic sites (Abu Mazen via Haaretz) What Israel is doing in its practices and attacks against our sacred Muslim sites in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa is a blatant violation (King Abdullah II via Haaretz) MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List) warned on Tuesday that the excavations are likely to ignite a third intifada, which will include protests and conflict throughout the Arab and Muslim world. "I have a stern warning for the enemy," Khaled Meshal said at a news conference in the Syrian capital. Head of the northern branch of the Islamic movement Sheik Ra'ad Salah, and the head of Jerusalem's Supreme Muslim Council Ikrima Sabri called this week for all Muslims in Israel to flock to the Temple Mount complex to prevent Israel from actions that they say are meant to destroy the Mugrabi Gate. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday said that Israeli excavation works near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were likely to endanger regional peace efforts, Israel Radio reported. The dig is part of a plan to rebuild the Mugrabi bridge walkway planned to run from the Dung gate to the Mugrabi gate, which serves as the primary entrance to the compound referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as al-Haram al-Sherif, the Noble Sanctuary. Husseini said he suspected that the excavations around the holy site were attempts to tunnel under it - a common allegation among Muslims, though one never substantiated - and demanded that Israel cease all digs immediately. *** And, of course, the created myth is immediately foolowed by dire threats. The threats come even from the Israeli Muslims:It is clear then what should be expected and, indeed, came from the others:But what is really going on?The following diagram (from BBC , to avoid accusations of bias) shows the location of the bridge:It is easy to see that the location of the bridge is a) outside the Temple Mount and b) quite far away from the Al-Aqsa mosque. To get a better visual impression, here is a snapshot of the area (the Mugrabi bridge is marked by the red line): Currently the bridge is a wooden temporary construction, a clear safety hazard that must be addressed - for the sake of some of the same rubble rousers that create the hysteria today. It's enough to remind that the old bridge collapsed in 2004: However, the tactics of the Joo-haters are clear: to use the opportunity for heating up the scene and unite the divided Palestinian fractions now is much more important than the destiny of some bridge. And if it collapses again, so what, it is an additional bonus that will allow to blame Zionists anew.To add fuel to conflagration, some parties would use anything:Of course, coming from the camp that produced uncounted myths like use of uranium shells in Gaza, poisonous gases, dissemination of bird flu, poisoning of wells - this one is not surprising.The goal of the current Palestinian PR exercise is clear: while overcoming the internal squabbles is difficult to impossible, it would serve all parties to turn the attention to the Zionists' "atrocity". While keeping the knives ready for the next opportune moment.See more from Judeopundit Labels: Hatefest, Politics, Religion \|\|\|\|\| JAKARTA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, urged Israel on Friday to stop excavations near Jerusalem's most important holy Islamic site, saying the move could worsen the Middle East conflict. Israel says the excavation is aimed at salvaging artefacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex, also sacred to Jews. But Muslims fear the work could damage the foundation of the 1,400-year-old al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine which has been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian fighting in the past. "We call on Israel to stop the excavation because not only the activity has the potential to physically harm the mosque which is highly regarded by Muslims, but also will add to the tension unnecessarily and complicate efforts to revive the peace process in the Middle East," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told a news conference. The excavation work has been criticised by several Arab countries and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said any damage to al-Aqsa would release Palestinian militant groups from a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip. The Arab group at the United Nations appealed on Thursday to the U.N. Security Council to stop the excavation, which Israel says will not harm the mosque. Indonesia also welcomed an agreement reached on Thursday by rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government during talks in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. "It's a step forward. I very much hope this meeting will be a success," he said. Around 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam. Internecine fighting between forces loyal to President Abbas and the governing Hamas movement has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December. In a January 2006 election, Hamas beat the long-dominant Fatah movement of President Abbas, who is seen as a moderate. The United States severed contact with the new Hamas government and other factions refused to join. \|\|\|\|\| Amid the old city of Jerusalem and rising above it is the ancient site of Solomon's Temple and the point from which the Prophet Mohammed journeyed to Heaven. Holy to Jews and Muslims, it is as dangerous these days as a ticking atom bomb. Any readjustment of its ancient stones can detonate outrage among millions of faithful around the world. On Friday, Muslims in Jerusalem protested against Israeli excavation work next to al-Aqsa, one of Islam's holiest shrines, which sits atop the site. Around the world, Muslims declared a universal "day of anger," Israeli police stormed into the Muslim compound and fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at youths trying to hurl stones at Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall. Israeli police claim that 17 protesters and 15 police officers were injured in the clashes, but Palestinians say many more were hurt in skirmishes around the mosque grounds. The latest crisis began when Israeli authorities started rebuilding and extending a pedestrian ramp which rises to the Mugrabi Gate, an entrance that allows tourists to view the gardens of the sacred Muslim precinct, the silver al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, a shrine clad with turquoise mosaics and topped with a glowing, golden dome. The ramp is a simple piece of construction that will rest on seven concrete pillars. A 2004 earthquake and a snowstorm had damaged the old pedestrian bridge. But with tension running high between Israelis and Palestinians, the repair work has become a volatile religious issue, one that radical Muslim clerics are using to whip up more hatred against Israel. Says Dan Seidemann, a Jerusalem lawyer trying to broker a solution to the latest religious flare-up, "It's reaching critical mass and the situation could explode at any time." Neither Muslims nor Jews are comfortable sharing this holy site, and religious extremists are trying through bombs, fire, stones and other provocations to drive the other out. Some Muslim clerics say that re-building the pedestrian walkway is tipping the balance of co-existence between the two faiths. As an editorialist wrote wearily in the Israeli daily Ha'aretz: "The excavation work and bridge construction...have turned into the Battle of Armageddon, as happens every time." In 1996, tunneling by Israeli archeologists underneath the compound led to riots between protesters and Israeli troops in which 69 Palestinians and 16 Israeli soldiers were killed. The Mugrabi Gate has always been a thorn in the side of the al-Aqsa worshippers. It provides the only Israeli access to the Muslim mosque and shrine, and it was through this gate in 2000 that Ariel Sharon, then the Israeli opposition leader, strutted into the Muslim grounds and sparked a bloody Palestinian uprising. It is also via this pedestrian ramp that Israeli police swarm into the Muslim precinct whenever trouble erupts as they did during Friday's riots and Muslim leaders are worried that the new, reinforced ramp will allow more police and extremists to trespass on their holy shrine. Some Christians and Jews believe that the building of the Third Temple by the Jews will herald the Messiah's arrival, and that can only be accomplished by destroying the Muslim place of worship. But Israeli authorities insist they are making the ramp stronger only to make it safer for thousands of daily visitors. Muslims also say that the excavations will also be destroying chunks of their religious heritage, but Israeli archeologists and Palestinian workers on the site are clearing away every stone and pottery fragment with the precision of surgeons. Not that it matters. Throughout the Muslim world, the Israeli excavations adjacent to al-Aqsa are being portrayed as sacrilege, as another blow by Israel and, indirectly, by its ally America, against Islam. For the last three days, the story has topped headlines and news broadcasts throughout the Muslim world. In Mecca, Palestinian leaders from the rival Fatah and Hamas movements took a break from their efforts to avert a civil war and condemned Israel's supposed tampering with the holy place in Jerusalem. Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said: "Israel has a clear scheme to demolish the al-Aqsa mosque through various games and tricks, and we hope to see a decisive Arab and Islamic position. The language of condemnation is not enough." Also in Mecca, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that further excavation could endanger a November cease-fire in Gaza between Palestinian militants and Israelis. The crisis will also complicate Abbas' task of persuading Hamas to moderate its hostility towards Israel, which it refuses to recognize. Meanwhile, in Iran, spiritual leader Ali Khamenei warned: "We must make the Zionists regret their action." All this hostility could have been avoided, say Israeli experts, if the authorities had first sought clearance from the Waqf, the Islamic board which governs the al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is under pressure from his neighbor, Jordan's King Abdullah, and from his own defense minister Amir Peretz, to halt the controversial dig. So far, Olmert has refused their entreaties, saying that the changes would not " harm" anyone. Meir Ben-Dov, a leading Israeli archeologist who has worked on the site for 39 years, criticized the excavation work. He told the Israeli press that it was " short-sightedness by someone who wants riots, by people with no brain." Already, one Palestinian militant group says it intends to attack synagogues in revenge for the excavations. The standoff at Temple Mount/al-Aqsa, over a simple repair, threatens to blow into something far larger and more dangerous. With additional reporting by Jamil Hamad and Aaron J. Klein in Jerusalem \|\|\|\|\| Zafar ul Haq urges Muslim countries to snap diplomatic ties with Israel ISLAMABAD: PML-N chairman Raja Zafar ul Haq has urged the Muslim countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel to snap their ties for pressurizing the Jewish state to abandon its efforts to construct Temple of Solomon in place of al-Aqsa mosque. "The Muslim countries which have recognized Israel should snap diplomatic ties and withdraw their envoys in order to exert pressure on it for preventing it from building Temple of Solomon in place of al-Aqsa mosque. Such attempts on the part of Israel will put in jeopardy the global peace", he said this while addressing a press conference here Friday in Mutmar Aalam Islami. He went on to say that pulpit built by Salah ud Din Ayubi in al-Aqsa mosque was razed in 1969. Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) came into existence after this incident. Israel soon after the establishment of OIC, planned to construct Temple of Solomon in place of mosque. This plan remained suspended from time to time. But the Jews are out to built this Temple at every cost. He alleged that people of Palestine were pitted against each other to secure materialization of this plan. US and other powers are backing Israel under international conspiracies. He pointed out that Yasser Arafat in the last days of his life had realized his mistake of recognition of Israel. " I have sent a letter to UN secretary general and director UNESCO to play their role in this regard", he added. \|\|\|\|\| JERUSALEM -- A fiery Islamic leader called on his fellow Israeli Arabs and Muslims around the world Thursday to rise up in protest of Israeli construction work near a holy site in Jerusalem. Fearing thousands might heed his call, Israeli police intensified security measures ahead of Friday Muslim prayers at the site, adding travel restrictions and plans to send a helicopter hovering overhead. The dispute centers on Israel's decision to begin repair work on an earthen ramp leading to the hilltop compound known as the Temple Mount to Jews and as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. The centuries-old ramp was damaged in a 2004 snowstorm, and Israeli authorities promised that its plan to replace it would not damage the holy site, about 60 yards way. But Muslim leaders began protesting the work as soon as it started Tuesday, and they called for wide-scale demonstrations Friday. "The aggression happening now is a tragedy, a crime," Raed Salah, a leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, told The Associated Press. He accused Israel of declaring "a regional, religious war." The site, home to the golden-capped Dome of the Rock shrine and Al Aqsa mosque, is especially important to Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. Not only is it Islam's third-holiest site, from where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven, but it also is a focal point of their national pride. The compound is also sacred to Jews as the site of their biblical temples. Israel has controlled the contentious compound since the 1967 Mideast War, but has left its administration largely to the Jordanian-controlled trust known as the Waqf and to the Palestinians. When fighting broke out between Israel and the Palestinians in 2000, Israeli restrictions prevented many Palestinians from the West Bank from praying at Al Aqsa. Salah began busing in Muslims from northern Israel to take their place, and his power at the site grew. He also has taken a lead in demonstrating against perceived Israeli violations at the site, and is known by many Palestinians as the "Sheik of Al Aqsa." Salah called for a large demonstration in the Israeli Arab city of Nazareth on Friday, which he declared "Al Aqsa Day." "This is the first step to get all the Palestinians inside Israel energized to participate in the protests," he said, adding that he hoped Muslims around the world would join. Muslim leaders abroad have denounced the work near the site, and UNESCO called on Israel "to suspend any action that could endanger the spirit of mutual respect until such time as the will to dialogue prevails once again."	Al-Aqsa mosque is regarded as the third holiest Islamic site. Violent clashes have broken out between Palestinians and Israeli police near the al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount in Jerusalem, from controversy over Israeli construction near the site, which is holy to both Muslims and Jews. The construction work reportedly is to repair a pedestrian bridge that leads to the Mugrabi Gate, the entrance to the mosque used by Palestinians, and runs over the Jewish Western Wall area of the complex. The earthen ramp bridge leads to a hilltop compound known as the Temple Mount to Jews and as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. The bridge collapsed in 2004 and was temporarily replaced with a wooden bridge which Israelis say is weakening and unsafe. Israel has controlled the contentious compound since the 1967 Mideast War, The construction involves excavation work and digging at the site, which Palestinian leaders contend is part of an attempt to dig under the mosque to find evidence of the Jewish Second Temple and/or to deliberately weaken the foundation of the mosque. Muslims dispute that the Temple was located at the site. Some artifacts have been salvaged from the digging work. Temple Mount and the Western wall. Israeli forces locked down Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem in anticipation of backlashes from the construction. The Old Jerusalem city limits were blockaded, allowing only Palestinians over 45 years old from entering and only on foot. Palestinians from the West Bank were completely barred. Opponents have declared the blockades and the construction work a deliberate act to prevent Muslims from accessing the holy site. The mass of protesters at the site have in turn blocked Jewish access to the Western Wall. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared the construction and blockade as "hostile measures" against Muslims. Palestinian chief justice Tayssir al-Tamimi declared a "day of anger" and called on Palestinians to defend the mosque. Arab and Muslim countries including Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia criticized Israel for the controversial work and urged it to halt construction. Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz also warned against starting construction. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League urged Muslim countries to freeze diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of the work. Around 150 Muslims were inside the mosque for morning prayers when the construction and blockade began. An Israeli Muslim journalist reported that the worshippers were unable to leave and received loud messages from Israeli loudspeakers. The al-Aqsa mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, having once been the central point of prayer (qibla) for Muslims and allegedly the place where Muhammad ascended into heaven. Conventional Judaism believes it is also the historic site of the First and Second Temples, the holiest temple in Judaism, which is prophesised to be rebuilt ahead of the coming of the Messiah. No deaths have been reported in the clashes, which simmered by evening. Demonstrations also took place at mosques throughout the Muslim world, including Egypt and Jordan. Protests were expected later in the day in Nazareth. The incident comes only a few days after rival Palestinian political factions, Hamas and Fatah, came to an agreement for a unity government aimed at restoring international support of Palestine and a return to Israeli negotiations.
Former US VP Al Gore 'will not face assault charges' Mr Gore denies any assault took place during a massage by Molly Hagerty Former US Vice-President Al Gore will not face charges over allegations he groped and assaulted a masseuse in his hotel room in Portland, Oregon, in 2006, law enforcement officials say. The authorities say there is "a lack of credible evidence" and the claims do not warrant a criminal prosecution. The decision comes a month after police reopened the investigation. Mr Gore does not dispute that he had a massage from Molly Hagerty, 54, but denies any assault took place. The case, which was closed previously because of a lack of evidence, was reopened in June after Ms Haggerty told the National Enquirer magazine that Mr Gore had tried to assault her. Having reopened the case, prosecutors reportedly chose not to pursue it because Ms Hagerty had refused a polygraph test and appeared to have been paid by the magazine. Mr Gore was in Portland to deliver a speech on climate change when the massage in question took place. Mr Gore separated from his wife, Tipper, in June. \|\|\|\|\| A spokeswoman for Al Gore said he 'unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learnt of its existence three years ago'. Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP Former vice president Al Gore has been cleared of allegations that he groped and assaulted a masseuse in a Portland hotel room in 2006. After a four-week investigation that included interviews with Gore, the masseuse, her acquaintances and hotel staff, authorities said there was no basis for prosecution. Senior deputy district attorney Don Rees cited "contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, lack of forensic evidence and denials by Mr Gore". Rees also said the masseuse and her attorneys were uncooperative, witnesses could not remember anything unusual, and that the masseuse failed a polygraph examination and would not say whether she was paid by a tabloid newspaper for her story. "Mr Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learnt of its existence three years ago," spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said. "He respects and appreciates the thorough and professional work of the Portland authorities and is pleased that this matter has now been resolved." \|\|\|\|\| Former Vice President Al Gore did not commit acts of sexual harassment "appropriate for criminal prosecution," according to office of the district attorney of Portland, Oregon, which has been investigating allegations that Gore made unwanted advances to a masseuse at a Portland hotel in 2006. Portland, Ore. police vow "to conduct a thorough, fair and timely investigation" An Oregon woman, Molly Hagerty, claimed that Gore propositioned her and tried to hug her when she came to his hotel room to give him a massage. But Senior Deputy District Attorney Don Rees, in a memo to the D.A., Michael D. Schrunk, wrote that Hagerty gave no indication afterwards that she was upset, as she later claimed. Rees noted that Hagerty sold her story to the National Enquirer, failed a polygraph test, thanked the hotel management two days after the alleged incident for sending business her way and "has not provided as repeatedly requested medical records she claims are related to the case." Rees concludes, "This case is not appropriate for criminal prosecution. The matter is closed and the investigative materials will be returned to PPB [the Portland Police Bureau]." Gore's spokeswoman, Kalee Kreider, issued a statement: "Mr. Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago. He respects and appreciates the thorough and professional work of the Portland authorities and is pleased that this matter has now been resolved." According to a 73-page "Confidential Special Report" made public by authorities on June 23, Hagerty, the "licensed massage therapist" who was not named at the time, said she was summoned to a suite at the upscale Lucia Hotel at the request of a guest, where "during the course of this massage session Al Gore did sexually assault me in his room." In a detailed statement given to police more than two years after the alleged incident, the woman described her surprise at arriving for the massage appointment to find Gore drinking beer and opening his arms in a hug, saying, "Call Me Al."	Gore's spokesperson, Kalee Kreider, said Gore denied all claims of sexual assault made by Hagerty. Former United States vice president Al Gore will not be facing assault charges due to allegations made by a masseuse in 2006, according to the , Oregon district attorney's office. Molly Hagerty, 54, claimed Gore "sexually assaulted me in his hotel room." Hagerty was called to Gore's Portland hotel room to give him a massage. Hagerty said Gore pinned her down and "he kept trying to have sex with her." Prosecutors closed the case, but after tabloid ''National Inquirer'' interviewed Hagerty they reopened the case. Hagerty refused to take a polygraph test. Deputy DA Don Rees said there is "contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, lack of forensic evidence, and denials by Mr. Gore." Rees continued saying Hagerty and her attorneys were uncooperative in the investigation.
We're sorry. The page you have requested has expired. Please visit our homepage for the latest Czech news , or visit our past issues page \|\|\|\|\| A daily in-depth look at current events in the Czech Republic. Volunteer loses weight in "Super Size Me" experiment Czech-style [09-03-2006] By Pavla Horakova Exactly a month ago the American documentary "Super Size Me" opened in Prague. On the same day, a volunteer started a similar experiment to the one the film's director, Morgan Spurlock, went through. Instead of eating McDonald's food for a month like Morgan Spurlock did, the Czech "human guinea pig" volunteered to eat typical Czech pub food for thirty days to see what effect it was going to have on his health. On Wednesday night he presented the results of his experiment in a Prague cinema - and they were quite surprising. Karel, photo: www.supersizeme.cz The audiences at the packed Cinema Aero greeted a tall big man in his forties who chose to be known as Karel Gustav Bozan for the duration of the experiment, entitled "Super Spek Me" - which loosely translates as "Super Flab Me". Unlike the hero of "Super Size Me" at the end of his experiment, Karel looked all fit and rosy-cheeked. Before he went on stage, he gave Radio Prague a brief interview. "I feel good, great! The food was varied and there were even enough greens in the garnish. As for beer, I tried to alternate brands but I always settled it with Pilsner. I liked the experiment, it was all paid for by the distributor, Aerofilms. I would do it again, maybe they will propose it to me!" Before Karel put his own body on the line, he underwent a thorough medical check-up. He went for tests again just as the experiment concluded. And here are the results: Karel lost six kilos, his liver enzymes went down and so did his cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid levels. His blood pressure remained the same. Zuzana Pudilova of Aerofilms. "The result of the experiment is surprising - both for us and the experts who monitored it. The medical report says our volunteer has lost weight and his blood sugar has dropped. So we have come to the conclusion that fatty Czech pub grub is not all that bad for you - which I guess wasn't meant to be the result of the experiment at all." Photo: www.supersizeme.cz Although what Karel ate all month can hardly be described as a healthy and balanced diet, there is an explanation for the improved results. Jan Smetanka was coordinator of the experiment. "The experiment suggests that it's not so important what we eat but how we eat. Before the experiment, Karel's eating habits were quite bad. But this past month he had to watch his diet. He ate regularly, three meals a day, which benefited his health a lot, as was proved by the medical tests." The month-long experiment "Super Spek Me" might have produced a completely different outcome had its protagonist been someone with a healthy lifestyle. Greasy Czech pub food certainly cannot be recommended as a good way to lose weight. A word of warning: Don't try this at home.	On February 8, the same day Super Size Me opened in Prague, a Czech film company's volunteer known as Karel Gustav Bozan began a 1 month diet of Czech pub food and beer in a Czech version called "Super Spek Me"; which translates loosely as "Super Flab Me". Zuzana Pudilova of Aerofilms described the volunteer at that time: "He is a well-built man between 45 and 50. He is almost 2 metres tall, he is not exactly thin but until now he has had quite a healthy lifestyle." Karel ate typical Czech pub food for an entire month with three rules: no vegetables or fresh fruit (unless they came with a meal) no exercise, and lots of beer. Karel's menu consisted entirely of typical Czech dishes. Obesity therapist, Iva Malkova, had warned at the beginning of the project: "People in the Czech Republic eat much more fat, especially animal fat than is recommended." Pub meals in the Czech Republic often consist of such fatty items as goose with dumplings or sausages. Yesterday the results were announced; Karel lost six kilos, his cholesterol went down and so did his liver enzymes, triglyceride and uric acid levels. His blood pressure did not change. At his interview with Radio Prague he said: "I feel good, great! The food was varied and there were even enough greens in the garnish. As for beer, I tried to alternate brands but I always settled it with Pilsner. I liked the experiment, it was all paid for by the distributor, Aerofilms. I would do it again, maybe they will propose it to me!" Zuzana Pudilova of Aerofilms said: "The result of the experiment is surprising - both for us and the experts who monitored it. The medical report says our volunteer has lost weight and his blood sugar has dropped. So we have come to the conclusion that fatty Czech pub grub is not all that bad for you - which I guess wasn't meant to be the result of the experiment at all."
Japanese nuclear regulatory officials Tuesday raised the severity rating at the earthquake - and tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant to the highest level by international standards, equaling the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown in the former Soviet Union.The country's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency announced that because of the amount of radioactive material released from the plant after the magnitude 9 earthquake a month ago, the rating would be changed to level 7, a "major accident " on the International Atomic Energy Agency 's scale, up from a level 5, an "accident with wider consequences."In a nationally televised news conference, the agency's spokesman, Hidehiko Nishiyama, said the decision was based on the amount of radioactive iodine and cesium spewed from the power plant in Fukushima , north of Tokyo Nishiyama stressed that the radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant was 10% of the amount at Chernobyl. He also said that unlike at Chernobyl, there had been no deaths linked to the accident at Fukushima."At Chernobyl, the reactor itself exploded," he said. "At Fukushima some radioactivity has leaked from the reactor, but the reactor itself continues to keep most of the radioactive material inside. In that sense, this is different from Chernobyl."Before the rating was elevated, the disaster had been rated at the same level as the 1979 Three Mile Island accident near Middletown , Pa.But Minoru Ogoda of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the change in the severity rating came because "the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean," the Associated Press reported.Measuring severity on the international scale involves factors including the amount of radiation released, how wide an area it reaches and how long any problems may last.Officials said the rating reflects the severity of the problem at the outset, when radiation levels were highest. Those levels have since fallen sharply, they said.Experts, nevertheless, say it will take years to recover from the damage incurred at the Fukushima plant.More than 27,000 people were left dead or missing as the disaster last month, centered in the northeast, destroyed fishing towns and caused severe damage to homes, businesses and almost everything else along more than 200 miles of coastline. The government has estimated economic losses of as much as $300 billion, not including costs such as the cleanup of the Fukushima plant, which is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.The announcement by nuclear agency officials came the day after three powerful aftershocks struck already jittery northeastern Japan within the span of 10 minutes, as the government announced new plans to expand the evacuation area near the stricken nuclear plant due to high radiation levels.Japan is trying to rebuild after the March 11 quake triggered a deadly tsunami that also left tens of thousands homeless. The tsunami has caused several fires and explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which has leaked dangerous isotopes into the air, soil and water.The first of Monday's temblors, which trapped some victims in collapsed homes and vehicles, hit at 5:16 p.m. near the coast in Fukushima prefecture, registering a magnitude 7.1 at a depth of 6 miles underground, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.It was sizable enough to rock buildings in Tokyo, about 150 miles to the south. A magnitude 6 quake hit a minute later in the same area, followed by another temblor, measuring magnitude 5.6, nine minutes after that.Aftershocks continued hours later, the agency said. In neighboring Ibaraki prefecture, one man died after falling and hitting his head during the shaking, according to the local Ryugasaki fire department.The quakes also triggered a landslide that buried three homes in Iwaki city. Two people died in the landslide, including a 16-year-old girl, according to public broadcaster NHK. Three other men pulled from the rubble were unconscious and taken to a hospital, NHK said. Rescuers continued their efforts Tuesday.Officials issued a tsunami warning after the quakes but later lifted it.The quakes temporarily knocked out the power to the Fukushima plant and led to a 50-minute stoppage in the water-spraying operations to cool four of the plant's six reactors. Highways were closed, bullet train services to the region were halted briefly, and as many 220,000 homes in Fukushima prefecture were without power.Tokyo Electric Power Co. said a fire broke out on the plant's premises Tuesday morning at a building where batteries are stored. Within minutes, firefighters put out the blaze, and there appeared to be no impact on workers' efforts to cool four of the reactors, the company said in a statement.On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government would expand a 12-mile evacuation area near the nuclear plant, adding to the ranks of the thousands who have already been told to leave their homes.Unlike the government's previous evacuation orders, the new one is based on data that show higher than normal radiation levels extending to towns and villages that lie beyond the 12- to 18-mile zone around the plant. The government has advised residents in the zone to stay indoors.It was unclear how many residents would be affected by the new order, which the government plans to carry out over the next month. Edano noted that the risk of a massive radiation leak from the Fukushima plant was "considerably lower." \|\|\|\|\| Japan: Nuclear crisis level raised to highest level The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was crippled by last month's earthquake and tsunami Japanese authorities have raised the measure of severity of their nuclear crisis to the highest level, officials say. The decision was taken due to radiation measured at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant, NHK reported. The highest level for nuclear accidents (seven) had previously only applied to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Meanwhile a 6.3-magnitude earthquake was reported off eastern Japan, the second tremor in as many days. The aftershocks come a month after a huge quake and tsunami hit Japan, leaving nearly 28,000 dead or missing. 'Preliminary assessment' The raising of the severity level of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant was announced on national television by an official with the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan. "This is a preliminary assessment, and is subject to finalisation by the International Atomic Energy Agency," said an official at the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), the government's nuclear watchdog, which made the announcement with the Nuclear Safety Commission, Reuters reported. Continue reading the main story Analysis Until now the incident at Fukushima was rated a level five, so upgrading to a level seven is a worrying jump. But officials here point out that the change is not being made because of a sudden deterioration at the plant. Rather a full assessment of the available data now suggests that Fukushima merits the higher rating according to internationally agreed standards. There is no suggestion that the decision is related to a recent series of powerful aftershocks. The move comes a day after the government announced it was extending the exclusion zone around the nuclear plant. Five communities where levels of radiation could pose a long term risk to health will be evacuated over the next month. The level seven signifies a "major accident" with "wider consequences" than the previous level, officials say. "We have upgraded the severity level to seven as the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean," said Minoru Oogoda of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. However, a nuclear safety agency spokesman told reporters the leaks were still small compared to those of the Chernobyl accident. "In terms of volume of radioactive materials released, our estimate shows it is about 10% of what was released by Chernobyl," he said. The decision to raise the threat level was made after radiation of 10,000 terabequerels per hour had been estimated at the stricken plant for several hours. That would classify the crisis at level seven on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (Ines). It was not clear when that level had been reached. The level has subsequently dropped to less than one terabequerel an hour, the report said. The severity level of Japan's nuclear crisis has so far been set at five, the same as that of the accident at Three Mile Island in the US in 1979. Japan has also said it is extending the evacuation zone around the crippled nuclear plant because of radiation concerns. The zone will be widened to encompass five communities beyond the existing 20-km (12-mile) radius, following new data about accumulated radiation levels, officials said. Japan's nuclear commission said that according to preliminary results, the cumulative level of external radiation exceeded the yearly limit of 1 millisieverts in areas extending more than 60 kms (36 miles) to the north-west of the plant and about 40 km to the south-southwest. On Monday, a 7.1-magnitude quake hit north-east Japan, leaving three people dead. It also triggered a brief tsunami warning, and forced workers to evacuate the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Tuesday's quake rocked buildings in the capital, Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of fresh damage, though Japan's Narita international airport temporarily closed its runways, and metro and train services were interrupted. The cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were damaged in last month's disaster and workers have been struggling to prevent several reactors from overheating. Officials have warned it will be several months before the situation at the nuclear facility is brought fully under control. Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) said on Tuesday that a fire had broken out briefly at Reactor 4, before being extinguished. The official death toll from the disaster is 13,130, while 13,718 remain unaccounted for. More than 150,000 people have been made homeless. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions \|\|\|\|\| Strong Quake Hits Japan on One-Month Anniversary of Disaster Photo: Reuters A strong aftershock rattled northeastern Japan Monday, triggering new tsunami warnings and the evacuation of an already-crippled nuclear power plant. Authorities also urged more people living near the plant to prepare to leave the area, citing concerns about long-term health risks from leaking radiation. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the magnitude of the aftershock at 7.1, the same strength as one that hit on Thursday. But authorities later revised it downward to 6.6. A tsunami warning was issued for portions of the northeast coast, but was lifted less than one hour later. Monday's aftershock struck just hours after people across Japan bowed their heads in silence to mark the one-month anniversary of the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami that killed up to 25,000 people and triggered the crisis at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant on the country's northeastern coast. More than 13,000 bodies have been recovered and more than 14,000 remain missing, many still lying under the rubble or washed out to sea. Officials at Japan's nuclear safety agency said workers were temporarily evacuated Monday from the Fukushima nuclear plant, which has been leaking radiation since the March 11 quake. They said outside electrical power to three of the plant's units was cut off, disrupting the injection of cooling water into the reactor cores, but that the electricity was restored after less than an hour. The officials said they had detected no change in radiation levels. Authorities also announced preparations to expand the 20-kilometer evacuation zone around the Fukushima plant. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said residents should prepare to evacuate from certain towns and villages outside the zone as soon as radiation levels exceed pre-determined levels. He said the government will coordinate with municipal officials in those areas and that residents should wait for further instructions. Edano also said residents living between 20 and 30 kilometers from the stricken Fukushima plant should be packed and ready to leave on short notice if the situation at the plant deteriorates. He said those who are ill or have small children should leave the zone in advance of any emergency. Edano said the decision to evacuate specified communities outside the 20-kilometer radius is based on radiation concentrations caused by geological and weather factors. He said residents must also be prepared for a new emergency at the plant, even though the likelihood of that is considerably lower than before. The Greenpeace environmental group issued a statement earlier Monday calling for the government to evacuate residents from several radiation hotspots and to remove the most vulnerable people from Fukushima city. It said its own monitoring showed residents of the city could receive the annual maximum dose of radiation within a few weeks. Earlier Monday, repair crews at the Fukushima plant had begun using remote-controlled power shovels and bulldozers to clear rubble from two nuclear reactors that were damaged by hydrogen explosions. Officials said they were also preparing to transfer highly radioactive water from a tunnel next to the plant's number two reactor into a condenser. Technicians have been pumping less radioactive water into the ocean since last week to make room in a temporary storage facility for the more dangerous water. The crisis has made many Japanese distrustful of nuclear power. About 2,000 to 3,000 people took part in a protest march Sunday demanding that the government shut down all nuclear plants in the country. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. Comments (19) There are many goods-carrying ships available, some even onshore, many can carry 60 000 tons. Why not sacrifice some ships as container vessels for the radioactive water. What keeps water out should be able to keep water in. Feeling so sad for the Japanese and the situation which they are in, without extending much help personally. But I am sure, all the days are not one and definitely they will come out of present struggle and crisis and they will move to safer days as earlier in due course. I am also sure that the present trend of after effects will lie down in its own and the japanese will be safer in days to come. With all the very best and with all emotional support, Yours loving, Peethambaran.P.M Quake after quake and crisis after crisis . Those repeated crisis indicate that the situation of our environment is deteriorating into worst . What they can do more them offering prayers and be patient . They can do more through change the policy of their countries by protesting against unacceptable linger of politicians which has led our world to this miserable level . It seems the rang of radiation will extend gradually which will spread fear and funk among public rapidly . I sympathize with Japanese child who should cope with our mistakes . Even ocean and marine life can not be saved in this catastrophe . I run out of words to say anything . It's a matter of regret a series of earthquake hit Japan one after another. We pray to god to relieve Japan from this catastrophic consequences. Besides,Japan government should shut down all radioactive plant in this moment. God bless them. Our endurance is being tested strongly. We shall overcome. We believe. thank you, i pray every one is recovering from the aftermath earthquake and tsunami. Also, my advice to the Japanese is that be aware that the country is in the red zone, There is no such thing as a "one-month anniversary." "Anniversary" can by definition be marked only on dates which are integral numbers of YEARS after the referenced event. VOA owes its audience correct use of English. These events only conform that we are helpless in-front of MOTHER NATURE. Its high time we have a rethink about nuclear power generation. We have to keep this earth livable for generation's to come. My prayer's are for people of JAPAN Shut up Jean! My thoughts and prayers remain with the Japanese people and that the earth may calm once again. I have been astounded by stories of strength and kindness from this great country. I sincerely hope they are getting as much aid as is needed. Hinduism offers some fixes to prevent future crises. Japan by its name and culture of work ethic is strongly bound to religion. Tantra and Vaastu are among the widely dominant religious norms that guide human beings to live in peace. They have made some very major blunders in these realms. Fixing them can help their coexistence with nature. I NEED HLEP TO JAPAN TOKYO ON ME MARCH 11 12 13 14 2011, JAPAN BY QUAEK. DANIEL BOYTER 39. YEAR OLD 1605 NOTYLE. DR The demand to shut down all nuclear plants in the country is of no help rather creating another period of turmoil. For years, millions are able to benefit from those power plants and it's never fair to compare the recent March11 disaster either to Chernobyl or Three Miles Island. Japan on the other hand simply needs support not another criticism. Philippines have only one neuclear reactor for electrics but you refuse to run it because of potential disaster. It's easier said than done,amigo. I feel so sorry for Japan. But I don't understand the Japanese government's actions for the leak of nuclear reactor. Earthquake and tsunami are natual disasters but the wide spread of radioactive substances is caused by the government's wrong measures. They should have received the UAS's help to protect people from radioacive materials. Why have to drain the toxic water into the sea,are there no other alternative options . this will raise international crisis. esp to then neighboring country .I am worrying about the salt we eat in future will be tainted. The construction of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant began in 1976 in response to the 1973 oil crisis. Days after the April 1986 Chernobyl disaster, the succeeding administration decided not to operate the plant. Strong opposition from its citizens and the fact that it has been built near major earthquake fault lines and close to the then dormant Pinatubo volcano were considered. \|\|\|\|\| Japan: Powerful earthquake hits north-east Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. A powerful earthquake has hit north-east Japan, exactly one month after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. The 7.1-magnitude tremor triggered a brief tsunami warning, and forced workers to evacuate the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. The epicentre of the quake was in Fukushima prefecture, and struck at a depth of just 10km (six miles). It came as Japan said it was extending the evacuation zone around the nuclear plant because of radiation concerns. The cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were damaged in last month's disaster. Workers have been struggling to prevent several reactors from overheating, and avert a large-scale release of radiation. The plant's operator, Tepco, said power used to pump water to cool three damaged reactors had been cut briefly but early indications suggested the plant had not sustained any further damage. The zone around it will be widened to encompass five communities beyond the existing 20-km (12-mile) radius, following new data about accumulated radiation levels, officials said. Top government spokesman Yukio Edano said the new evacuations would take place over the coming month, from areas including Iitate village, which lies 40km from the power station, and part of the city of Kawamata. "This is not an emergency measure that people have to evacuate immediately," he told a news conference, but added that there were concerns about long-term health risks. 'Standing together' The latest tremor struck shortly after the country stopped to observe a minute's silence to remember the nearly 28,000 dead or missing in the 11 March disaster. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Survivors in shelters marked the moment the quake and tsunami hit at 1446 (0546 GMT) with bowed heads. Prime Minister Naoto Kan thanked people around the world for their support. In an open letter carried in seven newspapers around the world, he said that the support had brought hope and inspired courage at a desperate time. "Through our own efforts and with the help of the global community, Japan will recover and come back even stronger. We will then repay you for your generous aid," he wrote. "With this in our hearts, we now stand together dedicated to rebuilding the nation." The official death toll from the disaster is 13,130, while 13,718 remain unaccounted for. More than 150,000 people have been made homeless. Many have lost their jobs. The prime minister has tried to reassure survivors that the fishing industry - which many in the area rely on for their livelihoods - would resume as soon as possible. Continue reading the main story In the exclusion zone We need funds and I think an environment that has a radiation risk simply isn't right - especially for my new baby. I have to make a very hard decision. I want to live peacefully in my hometown. It pains me that I can't. I have no choice but to carry on with my life, and I will work away from home temporarily. I haven't decided what I will do long-term yet. What I know for sure is that I have to give up my dream of being a children's football coach. Sadly my life has changed completely as a result of this disaster. The tsunami wrecked boats and piers, closing down big fishing operations. But the damage to the nuclear plant has also hit the fishing industry, as public and international buyers ditch Japanese food products over fears of contamination. During a visit to Fukushima on Monday, Tepco chief Masataka Shimizu apologised for the nuclear accident. The people who live near the plant are "suffering physically and mentally due to the nuclear radiation leak accident," he said. "We sincerely apologise for this," he said. The local community has been so angered by Tepco's handling of the incident that Fukushima's mayor refused to meet Mr Shimizu. Workers have been feeding water into three reactors at the plant to cool fuel rods. They are continuing to inject nitrogen into the No 1 reactor to prevent another blast caused by a build-up of hydrogen gas. They have also been releasing water with low levels of radioactivity into the sea so that they can transfer highly radioactive water to a sealed area on site. Officials have warned it will be several months before the situation at the nuclear facility is brought fully under control. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions \|\|\|\|\| Monday night, one person was killed in Iwaki and several others were trapped when a powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake triggered landslides there, the fire department said. It happened exactly one month after the country's devastating 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami. The earlier quake was centered about 100 miles (164 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo and about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The landslides in Iwaki buried three houses. Police in Fukushima Prefecture initially reported that four people were trapped. The Iwaki Fire Department later said more than four people were trapped, but the exact number was unclear. Authorities were trying to rescue them. Their condition was not immediately known, police said. The earthquake did not cause a tsunami. Workers at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which has suffered cooling problems and radiation leaks since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, evacuated briefly but soon returned to resume their efforts to cool the troubled facility. Prime Minister Naoto Kan delayed a scheduled news conference as a result of the earthquake, his office said. The government wants to handle the immediate emergency before holding a news conference, the office said. The Tokyo Electric Power Company said 220,000 households and businesses in Fukushima were without power after Monday's quake. Japan has been hit with hundreds of aftershocks since the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that killed at least 13,116 people. More than 14,000 remain missing. \|\|\|\|\| A survivor woman wipes her tear after she takes a moment of silence, exactly a month after a massive earthquake struck the area in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Lee Jin-man) Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force members take a moment of silence exactly a month after a massive earthquake struck the area in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Yomiuri Shimbun, Yasuhiro Takami) Children play games after taking a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m., exactly a month after a massive earthquake struck the area in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Japan, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Lee Jin-man) Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Masataka Shimizu, third right, and other TEPCO officials observe a minute of silence at the Fukushima Prefectural Office in Fukushima, Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP / Hiro Komae) Updated: Mon Apr. 11 2011 19:38:45 CTV.ca News Staff Yet another strong earthquake struck Japan Tuesday morning local time, the country's Meteorological Agency announced, a day after a powerful aftershock claimed a young girl's life. The agency gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 6.3, saying its epicentre was just off the coast of Chiba, east of Tokyo. The quake did not trigger a tsunami warning, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The quake was part of a series of aftershocks that have continued to rock Japan one month after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami devastated the northeastern part of the country. An estimated 25,000 people were killed and officials continue to struggle with radiation leaks and other problems at a nearby nuclear facility. Tuesday's quake came a day after a powerful aftershock struck about 160 kilometres north of Tokyo, just hours after the island nation paused to mark the one-month anniversary of the devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit March 11. Monday's aftershock, which was measured at a magnitude of 7.0 by Japanese officials and magnitude 6.6 by the U.S. Geological Survey, collapsed at least three houses in the city of Iwaki. At least seven people were believed trapped, local police said, in addition to a teenage girl who was found dead in the rubble of her collapsed home. A tsunami warning was issued immediately following Monday's aftershock, but was lifted approximately one hour later. Monday's tragedy occurred as government officials, citing long-term health concerns, told more residents of the disaster-stricken region to leave. In a press conference Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the residents of an additional five communities -- some of which are well beyond the existing 20-kilometre evacuation zone surrounding the crippled Dai-ichi nuclear power complex in Fukushinma prefecture -- should consider heading to another part of the country. Although the Japanese government's top spokesperson insisted there was no imminent peril, he admitted emergency crews have been unable to bring the nuclear crisis at the plant under control. "This is not an emergency measure that people have to evacuate immediately," Edano told reporters. "We have decided this measure based on long-term health risks." A month after the disaster, authorities are still struggling to restore a sense of normalcy in a country where more than 150,000 people are living in shelters, while persistent dangers at the damaged nuclear facility prevent many from returning to their homes. "My chest has been ripped open by the suffering and pain that this disaster has caused the people of our prefecture," said Yuhei Sato, the governor of Fukushima, which saw its coastal areas devastated by the tsunami and is home to the stricken Dai-ichi nuclear plant. The tsunami disabled the cooling systems at the six-reactor Dai-ichi plant, which has suffered explosions, fires and radiation leaks in the ensuing month. Nuclear safety official Hidehiko Nishiyama apologized Monday for the inconvenience caused by the radiation issues at Dai-ichi. "It's still difficult to give a timeline regarding when we can resolve the problem," Nishiyama said Monday. "We are very sorry for the evacuees who are anxious to see the problem resolved." Atsushi Yanai, a 55-year-old construction worker, has not been able to go home since the tsunami. His house was not harmed by the quake or the tsunami, but it is located within an evacuation zone surrounding the Dai-ichi plant. "We have no future plans. We can't even start to think about it because we don't know how long this will last or how long we will have to stay in these shelters," Yanai said. Many memorial services in hard-hit towns took place at 2:46 p.m. local time on Monday, a month after the massive quake struck on March 11. Marina Seito, a 19-year-old college student, was inside a basement restaurant when the quake hit. "Even after a month, I still cry when I watch the news," Saito said Monday, recalling the scene of the ceiling above her falling apart. But hours after Japanese citizens gathered to remember their dead on Monday, the ground began shaking again when the aftershock hit. With files from The Associated Press Comments are now closed for this story Jaid in Toronto @Pugfire: Aftershocks is usually a combination of both, but the most relevant one would be the effect in which an aftershock is usually characterized by a "weaker" earthquake in comparison to the original. So the only way an aftershock would be truly treated as an earthquake is that the score on the Richter scale is higher than the original with the other two conditions satisfied. Lanness My heart goes out to all the people involved in the unfortunate events in Japan. Pugfire Sad to hear of yet more problems in Japan. I do however have a serious question. Anytime there is an earthquake, we get aftershocks. But, when do "aftershocks" stop being that and become earthquakes again? After all, they are basically the same thing! Is it a time measurement? Distance from original epicenter? Amplitude?If anyone can answer this I'd appreciate it. Terri in Tokyo FYI: the moment of silence was at 2:56pm and the aftershock was at 5:16pm - not exactly "moments after the moment of silence" as described in the video blurb. Terri in Tokyo This one was shallow, and under land so it felt bigger than last Thursday's. And it was followed by several smaller ones in quick succession. Quite unnerving, but luckily, no reports of serious injury as yet. They are getting to be fewer and farther between overall, but just when you start to relax - along comes another big one.	A new magnitude 6.6 aftershock yesterday triggered a mudslide which left six people dead. The crisis at a on the northeast coast of Japan is now as severe as the in 1986, officials have said. Radiation is continuing to leak from the plant, which was damaged during the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami last month, which left thousands dead. Japanese authorities have warned the crisis is now a "major accident" with "wider consequences" than previously thought. A spokesperson for , the Japanese government nuclear authority, said officials had upgraded the crisis to a level seven on the —the same applied to the Chernobyl disaster—because of a number of factors, including the detection of radiation in crops. "We have upgraded the severity level to seven as the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean," he said. , the operator of the plant, has warned radiation was continuing to leak from the site and the magnitude of the crisis could exceed that of Chernobyl. Despite this, Japanese nuclear safety officials have insisted the leakage of radiation was small compared to the devastated plant in the former . "In terms of volume of radioactive materials released, our estimate shows it is about ten percent of what was released by Chernobyl," one nuclear official said. The news comes as a new blow after another powerful aftershock yesterday which left at least six people dead after they were killed in a in the city of . The landslide, which destroyed numerous homes, was triggered by a 6.6 aftershock which came exactly a month after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Fire officials in the city said three people had already been rescued and taken to hospital, and emergency workers were working to free an unknown number of others. The International Nuclear Events Scale; the accidents at the Fukushima I have been elevated to level seven, the highest level on the scale, putting it on par with the , originally the accidents were rated at level five, the same level of the . Workers at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant returned after they were briefly evacuated following the earthquake, and officials issued tsunami warnings for the northeast coast which were later cancelled. Workers have been fighting a desperate battle to prevent the reactors from overheating and entering . Raging fires burned into the night after the earthquake, and TEPCO reported widespread power outages; hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses had power cut off. Reports of the change in severity at the damaged nuclear plant followed the announcement that the around the site was to be expanded. A spokesperson for the government confirmed the radius of the zone would be expanded to include another five communities over the next several weeks. He stressed there was "no need to evacuate immediately" but said concerns had been raised over health risks from the leaking radiation. The new development at the plant and the aftershock are new blows to a country wounded after the massive earthquake in March, which caused a tsunami that washed away whole towns and villages along the country's northeast coast. Thousands of bodies have been recovered, and many more are still unaccounted for, many left under mounds of rubble or washed out to sea. More than 150,000 people remain displaced, living in emergency shelters. Before the aftershock struck yesterday, survivors of the first earthquake marked the time it hit a month ago with a across the country. Writing to seven international newspapers, , the , expressed his gratitude to people globally for their support. "Through our own efforts and with the help of the global community, Japan will recover and come back even stronger. We will then repay you for your generous aid," he wrote. "With this in our hearts, we now stand together dedicated to rebuilding the nation." == Sources == * * * (PUBLIC DOMAIN) * * * de:Nachbeben in Japan – Behörden weiten Sicherheitszone aus es:Aumentan el nivel de alerta radioactiva en la central nuclear Fukushima fr:Les accidents de Fukushima évalués de niveau 7 par les autorités japonaises pl:Fukushima: łączna ocena INES awarii podniesiona do 7. stopnia
View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes. RICHMOND, Va. - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express “profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said. “This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution,” said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. Story continues below ↓ advertisement advertisement The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s approval. The measure also expressed regret for “the exploitation of Native Americans.” The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. ‘Insidious institutions and practices’ The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery “ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding.” In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a “Massive Resistance” movement in the 1950s and early ’60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools. The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor — L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 — and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964. Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying “black citizens should get over” slavery. After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate “Juneteenth,” a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Click for related content R.I. college pledges $10 million over slavery wrongs © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. \|\|\|\|\| Virginia lawmakers express ’profound regret’ for slavery R ICHMOND - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express ”profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said. ”This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution,” said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s approval. The measure also expressed regret for ”the exploitation of Native Americans.” The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery ”ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding.” In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a ”Massive Resistance” movement in the 1950s and early ’60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools. The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor - L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 _ and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964. Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying ”black citizens should get over” slavery. After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate ”Juneteenth,” a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. © Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2 Low High Current Rating: Your Rating: Please enable cookies to rate articles Search the site all any relevance date Past 7 days Archives G o o g l e Order home delivery Save up to 60% ordering Boston Herald home delivery online. » click here	The State Capitol Building is the main seat of state government in Virginia. The Virginia voted unanimously Saturday in favor of a resolution apologizing for its role in . The former center of the during the became the first U.S. slave state to issue such a proclamation. "This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution," said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the Virginia House 96-0 and the Virginia Senate on voice vote. The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding." The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans." "The resolution's wording was a compromise between House and Senate lawmakers who tweaked the language from issuing an apology, to expressing 'contrition,' to expressing 'profound regret,'" according to the ''Richmond Times-Dispatch''. Prior to the cessation of slave importation, Virginia was a central hub in the slave trade. Historians estimate that more than 100,000 slaves passed through ports on the James River at Richmond, the state's capital. and are considering similar resolutions.
Copenhagen Climate Summit Ends with Meaningful First Step Deal Announcement follows two weeks of tough negotiations, but falls short of what some had hoped for Photo: AP U.S. President Barack Obama has announced that wealthy and developing nations have reached what, he called a meaningful agreement at the UN Climate Change conference. The announcement came in the final hours of two weeks of tough negotiations, but fell far short of what some had hoped for. Agreement came late in the evening and after a day of intense negotiations. President Obama announced what he called a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough. "For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change," he said. Negotiations stalled amid differences over mitigation efforts by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, verification and funding. That formed the core of discussions, said Mr. Obama. "Throughout the day we worked with many countries to establish a new consensus around these three points, a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action to confront the threat of climate change for years to come," he said. The agreement requires countries to list actions they will take to cut gas emissions by specific amounts and allows for verification. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it a good first step, but said a binding treaty must follow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called it a first step and urged more action. President Obama acknowledged that as well, saying this progress had not come easy and alone is not enough. "Going forward we're going to have to build on the momentum that we've established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We've come a long way but we have much further to go," her said. The agreement is a far cry from what environmentalists and developing nations had called for. They wanted a legally binding treaty with much more specific commitments. Some environmental groups criticized the agreement. Kim Carstensen of the World Wildlife Fund spoke of a non-deal that is not fair and does not meet the demands of the developing world. "It's been cooked up by a number of big countries in a closed room, without any transparency, without any civil society engagement in this building (the conference), without much engagement of the vulnerable countries," she said. Climate talks are to continue. Germany is to call a meeting on the issue in the coming months and a climate change summit is also expected to be held in Mexico within the coming year. \|\|\|\|\| COPENHAGEN President Obama announced here on Friday night that five major nations, including the United States, had together forged a climate deal. He called it “an unprecedented breakthrough” but acknowledged that it still fell short of what was required to combat global warming. The agreement addresses many of the issues that leaders came here to settle. But it has left many of the participants in the climate talks unhappy, from the Europeans, who now have the only binding carbon control regime in the world, to the delegates from the poorest nations, who objected to being left out of the critical negotiations. By the early hours of Saturday, representatives of the 193 countries who have negotiated here for nearly two weeks had not yet approved the deal and there were signs they might not. But Mr. Obama, who left before the conference considered the accord because of a major storm descending on Washington, noted that the agreement was merely a political statement and not a legally binding treaty and might not need ratification by the entire conference. The three-page accord that Mr. Obama negotiated with the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa and then presented to the conference did not meet even the modest expectations that leaders set for this meeting, notably by failing to set a 2010 goal for reaching a binding international treaty to seal the provisions of the accord. \|\|\|\|\| "A Meaningful and Unprecedented Breakthrough Here in Copenhagen" Posted by Jesse Lee on December 18, 2009 at 06:57 PM EST [View Full Size] In a much-anticipated United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the President arrived after nearly two weeks of work with the firm intention of seizing the opportunity to get something solid done. And as he explained in remarks at the end of the day, defying many expectations, the world will not leave empty-handed: Today we've made meaningful and unprecedented -- made a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough here in Copenhagen. For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change. Let me first recount what our approach was throughout the year and coming into this conference. To begin with, we've reaffirmed America's commitment to transform our energy economy at home. We've made historic investments in renewable energy that have already put people back to work. We've raised our fuel efficiency standards. And we have renewed American leadership in international climate negotiations. Most importantly, we remain committed to comprehensive legislation that will create millions of new American jobs, power new industry, and enhance our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. That effort at home serves as a foundation for our leadership around the world. Because of the actions we're taking we came here to Copenhagen with an ambitious target to reduce our emissions. We agreed to join an international effort to provide financing to help developing countries, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, adapt to climate change. And we reaffirmed the necessity of listing our national actions and commitments in a transparent way. These three components -- transparency, mitigation and finance -- form the basis of the common approach that the United States and our partners embraced here in Copenhagen. Throughout the day we worked with many countries to establish a new consensus around these three points, a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action to confront the threat of climate change for years to come. This success would have not been possible without the hard work of many countries and many leaders -- and I have to add that because of weather constraints in Washington I am leaving before the final vote, but we feel confident that we are moving in the direction of a significant accord. In addition to our close allies who did so much to advance this effort, I worked throughout the day with Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia, who was representing Africa, as well as Premier Wen of China, Prime Minister Singh of India, President Lula of Brazil, and President Zuma of South Africa, to achieve what I believe will be an important milestone. Earlier this evening I had a meeting with the last four leaders I mentioned -- from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. And that's where we agreed to list our national actions and commitments, to provide information on the implementation of these actions through national communications, with international consultations and analysis under clearly defined guidelines. We agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius, and importantly, to take action to meet this objective consistent with science. Taken together these actions will help us begin to meet our responsibilities to leave our children and our grandchildren a cleaner and safer planet. Now, this progress did not come easily, and we know that this progress alone is not enough. Going forward, we're going to have to build on the momentum that we've established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We've come a long way, but we have much further to go. To continue moving forward we must draw on the effort that allowed us to succeed here today -- engagement among nations that represent a baseline of mutual interest and mutual respect. Climate change threatens us all; therefore, we must bridge old divides and build new partnerships to meet this great challenge of our time. That's what we've begun to do here today. For energy holds out not just the perils of a warming climate, but also the promise of a more peaceful and prosperous tomorrow. If America leads in developing clean energy, we will lead in growing our economy, in putting our people back to work, and in leaving a stronger and more secure country to our children. And around the world, energy is an issue that demands our leadership. The time has come for us to get off the sidelines and to shape the future that we seek. That's why I came to Copenhagen today, and that's why I'm committed to working in common effort with countries from around the globe. That's also why I believe what we have achieved in Copenhagen will not be the end but rather the beginning, the beginning of a new era of international action. He then proceeded to take questions, read the rest of the transcript for more details.	President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a morning plenary session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. President of the United States Barack Obama has announced that wealthy and developing nations have reached what he called a "meaningful agreement" at the UN Climate Change Conference. The announcement came in the final hours of two weeks of tough negotiations, but fell far short of what some had hoped for. Agreement came late in the evening and after a day of intense negotiations. President Obama announced what he called a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough. "For the first time in history all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change," he said. Negotiations stalled amid differences over mitigation efforts by cutting greenhouse gas emissions; verification; and funding. That formed the core of discussions, said Mr. Obama. "Throughout the day we worked with many countries to establish a new consensus around these three points, a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action to confront the threat of climate change for years to come," he said. Obama sat down with the leaders of developing countries at a multilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and South African President Jacob Zuma. The agreement requires countries to list actions they will take to cut gas emissions by specific amounts and allows for verification. Obama noted in his speech, "And that's where we agreed to list our national actions and commitments, to provide information on the implementation of these actions through national communications, with international consultations and analysis under clearly defined guidelines." Obama also added that the leaders "agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius, and importantly, to take action to meet this objective consistent with science." Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a Sudanese diplomat who acted on behalf of the Group of 77 of developing nations blasted the agreement and the 2 degree mark stating to reporters, "The developed countries have decided that damage to developing countries is acceptable." On the 2-degree mark he stated the mark would "result in massive devastation to Africa and small island states." Mr. Di-Aping and various representatives of the most most vulnerable countries wanted a target of 1.5 degrees. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it a good first step, but said a binding treaty must follow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called it a first step and urged more action. President Obama acknowledged that as well, saying this progress had not come easily, and alone is not enough. "Going forward we're going to have to build on the momentum that we've established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We've come a long way but we have much further to go," he said. The agreement is a far cry from what environmentalists and developing nations had called for. They wanted a legally binding treaty with much more specific commitments. Some environmental groups criticized the agreement. Kim Carstensen of the World Wildlife Fund spoke of a non-deal that is not fair and does not meet the demands of the developing world. "It's been cooked up by a number of big countries in a closed room, without any transparency, without any civil society engagement in this building (the conference), without much engagement of the vulnerable countries," she said. Climate talks are to continue. Germany is to call a meeting on the issue in the coming months and a climate change summit is also expected to be held in Mexico within the coming year.
By Major Garrett FOXNews.com WASHINGTON -- President Obama, in laying out the plan for Chrysler's Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday, showed no love for the hedge funds that, he said, tried to hold out for a bigger payoff in the government's rescue of the ailing automaker. The hedge funds, which hold some of the company's debt, had refused to accept the government's offer of about 29 cents on the dollar for about $6.9 billion that Chrysler owed, and this reluctance forced the White House to push Chrysler toward bankruptcy in the hopes that a judge will allow Chrysler to shed this debt at prices even lower than the hedge funds were asked to accept. "A group of investment firms and hedge funds decided to hold out for the prospect of an unjustified taxpayer-funded bailout," Obama said, flanked by his economic, energy and environmental teams. "They were hoping that everybody else would make sacrifices, and they would have to make none. Some demanded twice the return that other lenders were getting. I don't stand with them." Instead, the president now stands behind one of the most hybridized company known to the automobile industry. The new Chrysler is a four-headed mutant partially owned by two governments, the United States (8 percent) and Canada (2 percent). It will be run by an Italian automaker, Fiat Group SpA. Fiat will pour its fuel-efficient technology into U.S. factories owned by fuel-hogging Chrysler to pump out vehicles whose sales will be financed by GMAC. Chrysler's CEO Robert Nardelli announced he would leave the firm when bankruptcy proceedings are complete. Chrysler also announced it will idle all auto manufacturing as part of the bankruptcy-planned restructuring. The tumult, Obama said, has and will cause pain for many of the auto company's employees, bond holders and dealers. But, he said at the White House, "the necessary steps have been taken to give one of America's most storied automakers, Chrysler, a new lease on life." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at the daily briefing that the hedge funds and investment firms were playing games. "They tried to, in a sense, play chicken with the government for a better deal, and nobody blinked," Gibb said. Later, Gibbs said the hedge funds and investment firms were within their rights to reject the deal, but that didn't diminish Obama's frustration or anger. "I'm not sure the president's problem with them is based on their rights," Gibbs said. "I think the president's problem with them is based on the notion that, as he said, and as many members of the team have said, and as many members involved in this agreement have done, which is make sacrifices in order for a company to move forward." The Associated Press reported that a group of funds identifying themselves as 20 of Chrysler's "non-TARP lenders" released a statement saying they had been sidelined during negotiations between lenders and the government. The group, which said it holds $1 billion in Chrysler debt, complained that the four banks were "obviously conflicted" because they had accepted money from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program while the funds had not gotten TARP money. The group said its offer to the Treasury Department to reduce its claim to 40 percent was "flatly rejected or ignored." According to its bankruptcy filing, Chrysler owes more than $10 million apiece to 20 of its unsecured creditors, many of whom are vendors and suppliers. A top administration official said the goal was a "surgical, short" bankruptcy that could be wrapped up in within two months. "We expect this to be a very short, 30-to-60-day bankruptcy process, during which the company will function normally," the official said. "People will be able to buy cars, they will have their warranties honored, and everything should go on normally." Auto industry experts warned that Chrysler bond holders and dealers could fight bankruptcy proceedings, delaying the restructuring for months and possibly years. "This is just nuts," said William Holstein, author of "Why GM Matters: Inside the Race to Transform and American Icon." "They don't know what they're talking about." Gibbs waved off questions about a bankruptcy process that could last longer than the 60-day target. "Let's not get 61 days into the equation," Gibbs said. "We'll have any number of opportunities to do that as we get closer." The new Obama "lease" on Chrysler's future will cost U.S. taxpayers $3.3 billion in up-front bankruptcy bridge financing and another $4.5 billion in exit financing. That up-front financing may not last if bankruptcy proceedings drag out. Under the deal, Chrysler won't begin selling Fiat-designed cars until 2011. The company will have to muddle through until then with a new board of directors and new CEO and with the United Auto Workers holding a 55 percent stake in the firm. Also, the government would appoint four of the members of a new six-member board of directors. Fiat would start with a 20 percent share and would be unable to acquire majority ownership until all outstanding U.S. loans were repaid. But with Nardelli soon to be gone, the UAW with majority ownership and Fiat starting with such a small company stake, analysts wondered how Chrysler would function in the short-run. "We've never done this in America -- to have a union having majority control," Holstein said. "If (current CEO) Nardelli is out and Fiat's not in management control, who is running the company? The U.S. government? The Canadians? Is it a labor and government coalition? I mean this is brand new territory, and historically governments and unions don't do well managing companies." The Obama White House set three benchmarks for Fiat to expand its ownership of the new company. -- Provide Chrysler with European distribution of its current product line -- Transfer its fuel-efficient technology to Chrysler's U.S. factories -- Manufacture a 40-mpg vehicle under the new Chrysler brand name \|\|\|\|\| DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC filed for bankruptcy on Thursday and announced an industry-changing deal with Fiat, after being pummeled by sliding auto sales and unable to reach agreement on restructuring its debt. The Chrysler logo is reflected in the rear view mirror of a vehicle on the lot at Clark Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in Methuen, Massachusetts April 30, 2009. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Despite weeks of intense negotiations, Chrysler failed to gain full support from its lenders to avoid the first-ever bankruptcy filing by a major U.S. automaker. The move was hailed by President Barack Obama as a critical step in saving 30,000 jobs at Chrysler, majority-owned by Cerberus Capital Group, and hundreds of thousands more jobs at affiliated suppliers and dealers. At the same time, Chrysler entered an expected alliance with Fiat SpA, in which the Italian carmaker was given an initial stake of 20 percent. The deal will allow Fiat to own up to 35 percent as it makes investments in U.S. operations and small-car technology for Chrysler. Over time, Fiat could eventually own 51 percent after Chrysler has repaid its loans to the U.S. Treasury. Chrysler has struggled in recent years to compete, hurt by its near total reliance on the U.S. market, poor quality and a truck and SUV-dominated vehicle line-up with the lowest combined fuel economy of any major automaker. Founded in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, three years later the company laid the cornerstone for the Chrysler Building, briefly the world’s tallest building and still a landmark on the Manhattan skyline. The Chapter 11 filing, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, has implications for the entire industry — including Chrysler’s rivals and suppliers. As part of the filing, the U.S. government will provide up to $3.5 billion in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and up to $4.5 billion in exit financing. Obama said he hopes the entire process will take only 30 to 60 days. Some of Chrysler’s 3,600 U.S. dealers are expected to close, and Chrysler Financial will stop providing loans for new cars and trucks. Instead, General Motors Corp’s financing arm, GMAC, will provide loans to Chrysler dealers and customers. The legal proceedings will be overseen by Judge Arthur Gonzalez, the same jurist who oversaw the Enron and WorldCom bankruptcies. In addition to Fiat’s ownership stake, U.S. officials expect Chrysler to be 55 percent owned by the United Auto Workers’ healthcare trust fund while the U.S. and Canadian governments hold a combined stake of 10 percent. Chrysler has three manufacturing plants in Canada and had to reach agreements with its unions there and the Canadian government under the restructuring. The automaker is not filing for bankruptcy in Canada, but the Canadian government, along with the province of Ontario, said they will provide $2.42 billion in financing to help the company restructure. FIGHTING WORDS The bankruptcy signals that Obama is prepared to play hardball with holdout lenders rather than knuckle under to their demands and will likely set the tone for similar discussions with bondholders of General Motors — which is now on the clock to restructure its operations by the end of May. While Obama voiced his support for Chrysler and the deal with Fiat, he was pointed in his criticism of the investors who did not agree to this deal. “I don’t stand with them. I stand with Chrysler’s employees and their families and communities,” the president said. “I don’t stand with those who held out when everybody else is making sacrifices. That’s why I’m supporting Chrysler’s plans to use our bankruptcy laws to clear away its remaining obligations.” This is not the first major government action with Chrysler. In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill providing Chrysler with more than $1 billion in loan guarantees. “Bankruptcy is what they have been headed for in the past several months,” said Mirko Mikelic, portfolio manager at Fifth Third Bank. “The biggest concern now is that the different stakeholders will be able to make the tough decisions they need to make.” Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli will leave the automaker following the emergence from bankruptcy. The U.S. government will place six members on the new company’s board and Fiat will appoint three. Shares of Chrysler’s U.S. rivals reacted positively to the news. GM shares ended 6.1 percent higher and Ford Motor Co ended up 9.7 percent, both on the New York Stock Exchange. FIAT: A DONE DEAL The bankruptcy filing did not stall the Fiat deal. Chrysler has been seeking a rescue deal from the Italian automaker while also trying to finalize its debt agreement. “It’s a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive, but to thrive in a global auto industry,” Obama said. “Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry.” In court documents on Thursday, Chrysler detailed its lengthy search for a partner over the last year and a half, including talks with General Motors and Nissan. Those talks did not pan out and Chrysler eventually found its way to Fiat. Slideshow (15 Images) The government’s debt-restructuring talks have been spearheaded by the Obama administration’s autos task force and former investment banker Steve Rattner. In a bid to win over three fund firms that had spurned an offer to accept $2 billion in cash in exchange for writing off all of Chrysler’s $6.9 billion in secured debt, U.S. officials sweetened the terms by throwing in another $250 million, people familiar with those discussions said. Chrysler’s plight reflects a slump in demand facing a global industry whose $2.6 trillion annual revenue is equivalent to the GDP of France and which employs more than 9 million people. \|\|\|\|\| Chrysler files for bankruptcy By Michael Rowland for AM Posted Updated Carmaker Chrysler has declared itself bankrupt after failing to secure a deal with its growing army of creditors, but the US Government is confident the company will rise from the ashes. The Obama administration had given the company until later today to come up with a viable business plan and rid itself of nearly $10 billion of debt. But it was not to be and Chrysler has become the first big US carmaker to go into bankruptcy. President Barack Obama paid tribute to Chrysler's rich history and its role in helping build and transport America's middle class. But he also said the Government could not afford to waste any more money trying to keep the company afloat. "It's been a pillar of our industrial economy, but frankly a pillar that's been weakened by papering over tough problems, and avoiding hard choices," he said. "For too long Chrysler moved too slowly to adapt to the future, designing and building cars that were less popular, less reliable, and less fuel efficient than foreign competitors." Bankruptcy does not necessarily spell the end for Chrysler. It will still be able to make and sell cars while working to consolidate a new alliance with Italian automaker Fiat. Importantly, bankruptcy will protect Chrysler from creditors, including many large hedge funds, who have been refusing to sign up to a restructuring deal. Mr Obama hopes a Chrysler-Fiat partnership will ensure the American car giant's future, but automotive analyst Erich Merkle is not so sure. "History would show that alliances really don't work that well, even though, no matter how good they may look on paper," he said. "Paper's one thing, implementing in the real world becomes a much more difficult task." Chrysler is one of America's oldest car companies, but has always been its most troubled. Since being founded more than 80 years ago the company has had a number of near-death experiences. It had its first brush with bankruptcy in the late 1970s, and has always struggled to compete with its larger rivals. David Hyde is an automotive historian who has written a book on Chrysler called Riding the Rollercoaster. "When Chrysler has a new line of cars fail, it may send the company right to the brink of bankruptcy," he said. "When that happens with Ford or General Motors, yes it's uncomfortable, but they get through it." With Chrysler now bankrupt, attention is turning to the fate of General Motors. Its restructuring deadline falls at the end of the month.	The American auto company Chrysler filed for bankruptcy Thursday, however a deal with European auto maker Fiat went through. The emerging Chrysler will be owned 55 percent by the United Auto Workers, eight percent by the United States Government, two percent by the Canadian Government and Fiat would begin with a 20 percent share. US president Barack Obama Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli will step down when the bankruptcy proceedings are finalized. Initially, the Italian company, Fiat, will appoint three members on the emerging Chrysler's new board, and the United States government will appoint six. Fiat can assume the majority of the ownership upon repayment of American loans. Chrysler administrators expect that the bankruptcy should take a couple of months. "We expect this to be a very short, 30-to-60-day bankruptcy process, during which the company will function normally," a top administration official said, "People will be able to buy cars, they will have their warranties honored, and everything should go on normally." The bankruptcy filing indicated that Chrysler was in debt to 20 creditors to a tune of more than $10 million each. Meanwhile, the deal with Fiat did go through, and Chrysler should have cars designed by Fiat out on the market by 2011. "It's a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive, but to thrive in a global auto industry," said American president Obama, "Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry." However, automotive analyst Erich Merkle has hesitations. "History would show that alliances really don't work that well," Merkle said, "even though, no matter how good they may look on paper." The restructuring has been managed by Steve Rattner, a former investment banker, and the U.S. Government auto task force. Obama has set three ultimatums before Fiat. Fiat should produce a 40 mile per gallon vehicle while managing the new Chrysler, transfer fuel efficient Fiat technology to Chrysler factories in the United States, and produce cars in Chrysler factories and distribute them in Europe.
Box > Bring on the Rockies Red Sox heading back to World Series after downing Tribe And thus, Boston completed its dramatic comeback from 3-1 down in this series, becoming the first team in Major League history to pull off that feat three times. Just like the Red Sox of 1986 and 2004, the '07 team is going to the World Series, where they will face the sizzling Colorado Rockies, beginning Wednesday night at Fenway Park. In all, 66 teams have faced a 3-1 deficit in the postseason and the Red Sox became just the 11th to crawl out of it. "We were down, 3-1, and still felt that we could win," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, whose two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning was arguably the biggest hit of the night. "There's obviously those three nights you go to bed and you don't sleep. All you think about is trying to win and trying to figure out how we're going to turn this around. We figured it out." Only then was the battle between two teams, who both went 96-66 during the regular season, settled. It all ended in a hard-fought Game 7 that was by no means indicative of the final score. The Red Sox broke it open with Pedroia's two-run blast in the seventh, and then a big six-spot in the eighth. Before that, it was a night full of anxious moments. "It was a real close game, just like the whole series," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "There were a lot of wide margins [in the scores], but it seemed like a real close series the whole way." The Red Sox, their season on the brink after Game 4, didn't trail once in the final three games, a span in which they outscored the Indians, 30-5. But by the seventh inning of Game 7, it was anybody's series. In fact, it was far too close for comfort for the Red Sox. Clinging to a 3-2 lead with one out in the seventh and Kenny Lofton standing on second, Franklin Gutierrez struck a 1-2 pitch from Hideki Okajima down the third-base line and just fair, hitting a camera well and taking a strange bounce. It appeared Lofton could have scored, but he was held by third-base coach Joel Skinner, leaving the Fenway crowd shocked in a happy sort of way. Then again, it was a play that looked easier on replays and in hindsight than in real time. "Sometimes that ball caroms right to the shortstop," said third baseman Mike Lowell. "I don't know, that's a tough angle. I had a tough angle at it. After the fact, maybe you say he has a chance. But I don't think you can second-guess that play." Like clockwork, the momentum of the game shifted thereafter. Casey Blake hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning, eliciting a deafening roar from the Fenway crowd. It would only get louder in the bottom of the seventh. With Rafael Betancourt on for the Indians, Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a grounder to third. But Blake bobbled it, turning it into a two-base error. Julio Lugo bunted Ellsbury to third, and then Pedroia hit that rocket of a two-run homer to left-center, giving the Sox some breathing room at 5-2. "I hit it good and the wind was kind of blowing it out to center, and it kind of pushed it," said Pedroia. "So I was like, 'Geez, don't hit the top of the fence.' Once it went out, I was so excited and had so much adrenaline going on, I don't even remember running around the bases, to tell you the truth. I just got around there. It was the biggest at-bat of my life, and I'll never forget it." And, without question, one of the biggest hits the Red Sox had all year. "We felt like we had a cushion," said Lowell. An inning later, Pedroia roped a three-run double to put the game on ice. With two on and nobody out in the eighth, Jonathan Papelbon came on and put out the fire, sending down three in a row. Papelbon finished off the ninth and clinched the AL pennant for the Red Sox, the 12th in the history of the club. After going 86 years without a World Series championship, Boston now has a chance of winning its second in the past four seasons. And just like in '04, they got there the hard way. "It's unbelievable. It's a great feeling just to go out there and play so well," said first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who merely hit .500 (14-for-28) in the series, with three homers and seven RBIs. "Just to win here at home, it was unbelievable. A lot of people doubted us, but we didn't doubt ourselves." Comeback Sox Of 66 teams in postseason history to find themselves in a 3-1 hole in a best-of-seven series, the Red Sox became just the 11th club to battle back and win the series. Series Team up 3-1 Series winner 2007 ALCS Cleveland Boston 2004 ALCS New York Boston 2003 NLCS Chicago Florida 1996 NLCS St. Louis Atlanta 1986 ALCS California Boston 1985 World Series St. Louis Kansas City 1985 ALCS Toronto Kansas City 1979 World Series Baltimore Pittsburgh 1968 World Series St. Louis Detroit 1958 World Series Milwaukee New York (AL) 1925 World Series Washington Pittsburgh Daisuke Matsuzaka started strong for Boston, limiting Cleveland to one run over the first four innings. He wound up getting the win by giving up six hits and two runs over five innings, walking none and striking out three. It was sweet redemption for Matsuzaka, who was bitter about the way he pitched in his Game 3 loss. "After our three straight losses, the team kept telling me to get ready to pitch in Game 7," Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino. "And I think everybody on the team worked very well together to bring us into Game 7, and I just wanted to respond as best as I could for my teammates today." Okajima, Boston's other rookie from Japan, got six big outs, leaving Papelbon to get the last six. The Red Sox never did use dominant ace Josh Beckett -- who was named MVP of the series -- seemingly making him available for Game 1 against the Rockies. For the third straight game, the Red Sox made some early noise against the opposing starter. This time, Pedroia and Youkilis led off the first with singles against Jake Westbrook, who wound up producing a gritty performance. After David Ortiz struck out, Manny Ramirez hit a hard liner that took a vicious hop over shortstop Jhonny Peralta and into left for an RBI single. If Peralta had fielded the ball, it would have been a sure double play. The Red Sox again got something started in the second. Jason Varitek led off with a double off the Green Monster and Ellsbury's single made it runners at the corners with nobody out. Westbrook got Lugo on a 6-4-3 double play, on which Varitek scored to make it 2-0. A similar theme developed in the third when the red-hot Youkilis led off with a double down the third-base line. After an Ortiz grounder moved him to third, Indians manager Eric Wedge opted for an intentional walk to Ramirez. Lowell got a run home, hitting a sac fly to right to make it 3-0. After that, Westbrook was nasty and the Red Sox had to wonder if they had wasted an opportunity. "It seems like we wasted some opportunities with all those double plays, but after Dustin's big hit, we were able to pour it on in the eighth," said Lowell. The pennant was finally Boston's when Coco Crisp made a spectacular catch in the triangle area of right-center for the final out. The Red Sox mobbed each other before going through the obligatory champagne celebration in the clubhouse and interacting with their rabid fans on the field. "We all believed in ourselves," said Papelbon. "This team has been through this situation before and we knew coming back home was going to be a different story." Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. \|\|\|\|\| Red Sox Win Their Way To World Series BOSTON (AP) ― Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia and these Boston Red Sox are taking a sweet streak into the World Series, too.Boston charged to its third straight win, completing yet another October comeback by overpowering the Cleveland Indians 11-2 Sunday night in Game 7 of the AL championship series.A pair of rookie Red Sox helped finish off their rally from a 3-1 deficit and reach the Series for the second time in four years. Matsuzaka pitched five solid innings, Pedroia drove in five runs and Boston got some help by a key blunder by an Indians base coach."The season is almost over we were down 3-1, you get that sense of urgency," said Pedroia, who hit his first postseason homer and doubled with the bases loaded. "Nobody wanted to go home, nobody wanted to say goodbye to each other. Once we got that win in Cleveland, we started to believe."Having ended their 86-year title drought in 2004 after digging out of a 3-0 hole against the Yankees in the ALCS, the Red Sox earned a chance to play Colorado in the World Series. The Rockies, who have won 10 in a row and 21 of 22, will come back from a record eight days off for Game 1 at Fenway Park on Wednesday night."The Rockies are on a magical run and we are going to have our hands full. We're going to try and represent the American League the best we can," general manager Theo Epstein said. "We haven't grown up any since '04. That's part of what keeps these guys so good. It keeps us all loose and we never stop believing."Colorado outscored Boston 20-5 in winning two of three during an interleague series at Fenway in June. The Red Sox did even better in winning the last three games against Indians, outscoring them 30-5 in that span.While Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and ALCS MVP Josh Beckett helped the Red Sox win their 12th pennant, the Indians only added more misery to a city that hasn't celebrated a World Series championship since 1948.The Indians were a double-play grounder from winning the crown at Florida in 1997. They appeared to take control of this series with three consecutive victories, but aces C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona couldn't win a single game between them."We won three games in a row and they won three in a row," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "I'm disappointed, obviously, we weren't able to finish it off."Jake Westbrook settled down to offer a solid outing in Game 7, and still the Indians came up short. They had a chance to tie it at 3 in the seventh inning, but third-base coach Joel Skinner mistakenly held up speedy Kenny Lofton as he rounded the bag.With runners at the corners, Casey Blake grounded into an inning-ending double play.Then, the Red Sox blew it open. Pedroia, who homered earlier, hit a three-run double and Kevin Youkilis launched a bottle rocket, a two-run drive off the giant Coke bottle above the Green Monster.Jonathan Papelbon pitched two innings for the save, finishing things off when center fielder Coco Crisp raced back into the center-field triangle, crashing into the wall to catch Blake's drive.Crisp was still on the ground when Papelbon chucked his glove into the air and then waited, crouching, for catcher Jason Varitek to leap into his arms.The Red Sox poured out of the dugout for their first playoff clinching celebration at home since the first round in 2004."The champagne tastes sweeter at home," they chanted in the clubhouse later.Boston kept the bases busy early against Westbrook, but three double plays in the first four innings kept the Indians in the game while their starter settled down. The Red Sox scored once in each of the first three innings, and Matsuzaka retired the first eight batters he faced.Cleveland cut the deficit to 3-2 through five, then had a chance to tie it in the seventh when Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo dropped Lofton's seemingly harmless popup in shallow left. Lugo drifted back, tracking the ball with his glove in the air and holding off incoming left fielder Ramirez with his right hand.But the shortstop let the ball bounce off his glove, and Lofton was safe on second.Franklin Gutierrez hit a sharp grounder over third base that bounced off the photographer's box in front of the grandstand and into shallow left. But Skinner held up both hands for the speedy Lofton, and the 40-year-old outfielder skidded to a stop.Lofton looked back for the ball and, seeing it in no man's land in shallow left, snapped his head back to stare at Skinner.A star in big games throughout his career in Japan, Matsuzaka followed two sub-par playoff outings with his first American postseason victory. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking none."I thought he pitched his heart out," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Those were some tough innings. He gave us what we needed."Fellow Japanese rookie Hideki Okajima pitched two innings of shutout ball. Papelbon closed, sending the sold-out Fenway into a frenzy.Westbrook settled down after spotting Boston a 3-0 lead, retiring seven consecutive batters before Jacoby Ellsbury -- another rookie -- bounced a chopper through third baseman Blake for an error. After Lugo's sacrifice bunt, Pedroia was up.The diminutive second baseman, with eight major league homers to his credit, hit an 0-1 pitch into the first row of the Monster Seats to make it 5-2. He also doubled to clear the bases after Boston loaded them in the eighth against Rafael Betancourt.Youkilis, who was a rookie when Boston won it all in '04, followed with a two-run homer to make it 11-2.Cleveland's Game 4 starter, Paul Byrd, was forced to defend himself before the finale when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from 2002-05. Byrd said he took HGH under a doctor's prescription."I do not want the fans of Cleveland or honest, caring people to think that I cheated," Byrd told a throng of reporters before the game. "Because I didn't."Notes:@ Boston is 5-5 all-time in decisive Game 7s. ... The Red Sox were already the only team to have rallied twice from a 3-1 deficit to win the LCS, in 1986 and '04. It was the first winner-take-all in the baseball postseason since the 2006 NLCS. ... Boston Game 4 starter Tim Wakefield was unavailable to come out of the bullpen. (© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) \|\|\|\|\| Boston advances to World Series with 11-2 win over Cleveland BOSTON -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima stood on the Fenway Park mound, posing for pictures with Boston general manager Theo Epstein, a Japanese flag and the American League championship trophy. This is what these Red Sox rookies came halfway around the world for: the World Series. Three years after ending its 86-year title drought, Boston completed another October comeback by overpowering the Cleveland Indians 11-2 Sunday night in Game 7 of the AL championship series. Having rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Cleveland, the Red Sox now play the streaking Colorado Rockies starting Wednesday night in Boston. This time, the Red Sox are bringing a bunch of guys who weren't around for the fun when they won it all in 2004. "We've never been through this. This is on the biggest stage," said rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who hit his first postseason homer and drove in five runs. "We worked too hard all year long to have our season get cut short. Nobody wanted to go home, nobody wanted to say goodbye to everybody. So once we got that win in Cleveland, brought us back here, we started to believe." Matsuzaka pitched five solid innings, and Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon each threw two scoreless innings in relief. Boston also got some help by a key blunder by an Indians base coach when Cleveland trailed just 3-2 with a chance to tie the game. "We won three games in a row and they won three in a row," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "I'm disappointed, obviously, we weren't able to finish it off." After digging out of a 3-0 hole against the Yankees in the '04 ALCS, the Red Sox needed three straight wins to advance this time. The Rockies, who have won 10 in a row and 21 of 22, will come back from a record eight days off. "The Rockies are on a magical run and we are going to have our hands full. We're going to try and represent the American League the best we can," Epstein said. "We haven't grown up any since '04. That's part of what keeps these guys so good. It keeps us all loose and we never stop believing." Colorado outscored Boston 20-5 in winning two of three during an interleague series at Fenway in June. The Red Sox did even better in winning the last three games against Indians, outscoring them 30-5 in that span. While Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and ALCS MVP Josh Beckett helped the Red Sox win their 12th pennant, the Indians only added more misery to a city that hasn't celebrated a World Series championship since 1948. Cleveland was a double-play grounder from winning the crown at Florida in 1997. They appeared to take control of this series with three consecutive victories, but aces C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona couldn't win a single game between them. Jake Westbrook settled down to offer a solid outing in Game 7, and still the Indians came up short. They had a chance to tie it at 3 in the seventh inning, but third-base coach Joel Skinner mistakenly held up speedy Kenny Lofton as he rounded the bag. With runners at the corners, Casey Blake grounded into an inning-ending double play. Then, the Red Sox blew it open. Pedroia, who homered earlier, hit a three-run double and Kevin Youkilis launched a bottle rocket, a two-run drive off the giant Coke bottle above the Green Monster. Jonathan Papelbon pitched two innings for the save, finishing things off when center fielder Coco Crisp raced back into the center-field triangle, crashing into the wall to catch Blake's drive. Crisp was still on the ground when Papelbon chucked his glove into the air and then waited, crouching, for catcher Jason Varitek to leap into his arms. The Red Sox poured out of the dugout for their first playoff clinching celebration at home since the first round in 2004. "The champagne tastes sweeter at home," they chanted in the clubhouse later. Twenty minutes after the last out, the ballpark still full, slugger David Ortiz walked onto the field carrying the AL trophy. He walked to the mound, held the prize up in the air for the crowd to see and then planted it on the ground like an explorer claiming new territory. The ballpark hushed when Ortiz picked up a microphone to address the crowd, but bedlam returned when Papelbon reprised his Irish step dance from the regular-season clincher. Players took their turns posing for pictures with the trophy while their kids ran the bases. "When things were not going well, we just took a deep breath. Young guys like Pedroia played a big part in this series," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "It's not over. We deserve a little bit tonight to celebrate. This is a special time and a special place, but it's not over." Boston kept the bases busy early against Westbrook, but three double plays in the first four innings kept the Indians in the game while their starter settled down. The Red Sox scored once in each of the first three innings, and Matsuzaka retired the first eight batters he faced. Cleveland cut the deficit to 3-2 through five, then had a chance to tie it in the seventh when Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo dropped Lofton's seemingly harmless popup in shallow left. Lugo drifted back, tracking the ball with his glove in the air and holding off incoming left fielder Ramirez with his right hand. But the shortstop let the ball bounce off his glove, and Lofton was safe on second. Franklin Gutierrez hit a sharp grounder over third base that bounced off the photographer's box in front of the grandstand and into shallow left. But Skinner held up both hands for the speedy Lofton, and the 40-year-old outfielder skidded to a stop. Lofton looked back for the ball and, seeing it in no man's land in shallow left, snapped his head back to stare at Skinner. "The ball was behind me. It's not my job. My job is to pick up the third base coach. He stopped me. I just got to do what he says. He's the third base coach," Lofton said. Said Skinner: "The ball kicked off hard there and it's hard to tell exactly where it is." "I've seen it bounce right back to the shortstop. When you have to make a decision and that's what I did. The ball ended up a little deeper than I thought. But it was one out, runners at first and third. We were OK," he said. A star in big games throughout his career in Japan, Matsuzaka followed two sub-par playoff outings with his first American postseason victory. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking none. "I thought he pitched his heart out," Francona said. "Those were some tough innings. He gave us what we needed." Fellow Japanese rookie Hideki Okajima pitched two innings of shutout ball. Papelbon closed, sending the sold-out Fenway into a frenzy. Westbrook settled down after spotting Boston a 3-0 lead, retiring seven consecutive batters before Jacoby Ellsbury -- another rookie -- bounced a chopper through third baseman Blake for an error. After Lugo's sacrifice bunt, Pedroia was up. The diminutive second baseman, with eight major league homers to his credit, hit an 0-1 pitch into the first row of the Monster Seats to make it 5-2. He also doubled to clear the bases after Boston loaded them in the eighth against Rafael Betancourt. Youkilis, who was a rookie when Boston won it all in '04, followed with a two-run homer to make it 11-2. Cleveland's Game 4 starter, Paul Byrd, was forced to defend himself before the finale when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from 2002-05. Byrd said he took HGH under a doctor's prescription. "I do not want the fans of Cleveland or honest, caring people to think that I cheated," Byrd told a throng of reporters before the game. "Because I didn't." Notes: Boston is 5-5 all-time in decisive Game 7s. ... The Red Sox were already the only team to have rallied twice from a 3-1 deficit to win the LCS, in 1986 and '04. It was the first winner-take-all in the baseball postseason since the 2006 NLCS. ... Boston Game 4 starter Tim Wakefield was unavailable to come out of the bullpen. (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)	Dustin Pedroia hit his first ever postseason home run in Game 7 which helped the Sox win the ALCS. The Boston Red Sox are once again headed to the World Series after being down three games to one. The Red Sox were most recently in the 2004 World Series, which they won. Last night's game ended with the Red Sox winning 11-2 over the Cleveland Indians. The $103 million rookie import from Japan, Daisuke Matsuzaka (nicknamed "Dice-K"), pitched five innings for Boston, allowing two runs on six hits. Cleveland's Jake Westbrook started and took the loss. This proved to be a much better showing for Boston's "Dice-K" than his previous outing, which Boston lost. The Sox jumped out to a quick lead, scoring a run in each of the first three innings on a single by Manny Ramirez, a sacrifice ground-out by Julio Lugo, and a sacrifice fly by Mike Lowell. The Indians scored their first run on a Ryan Garko double in the fourth inning, and a Grady Sizemore sacrifice fly in the fifth made the score 3-2 in favor of the Sox. In the sixth inning, Hideki Okajima came in to relieve "Dice-K" and pitched two scoreless innings before Jonathan Papelbon came in to close in the eighth. He entered the game with runners on first and second and no outs, but quickly retired the side and in the ninth managed to maintain the nine run lead, once again giving fans a performance of his Riverdance style victory dance. In the seventh inning, Red Sox rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run off of Rafael Betancourt that drove Boston's Fenway Park wild. Boston scored a total of 6 runs in a crazy eighth inning, on a single by J.D. Drew, a three-run double by Pedroia, and a two-run Kevin Youkilis home run which bounced off a large Coke bottle advertisement. Betancourt gave up the first four runs, with the home run allowed by Jenson Lewis. Youkilis was the first batter he faced in relief of Betancourt. The Sox will go on to face the Colorado Rockies, the surging National League Champions. The series will begin October 24th, with the first game at Fenway Park.
Call for inquiry into Murdoch payments to Coulson ANDREW SPARROW, and POLLY CURTIS in London THE UK Electoral Commission is being asked to investigate whether Rupert Murdoch’s News International payments to Andy Coulson after he started working for the UK Conservative party may have broken the law. Tom Watson, a Labour MP and a member of the House of Commons culture committee, said he wanted the Electoral Commission to investigate whether the payments and benefits – which reportedly included private health insurance and a company car – should have been declared because they amounted to a political donation. MPs on the committee are also angry because the reports appear to contradict evidence given to it by Mr Coulson himself. The former News of the World editor, who worked as the UK Conservative prime minister David Cameron’s communications chief from July 2007 until January this year (Mr Cameron became prime minister in May 2010), is expected to face further questioning from the committee about the payments. On Monday night, the BBC’s Robert Peston said Mr Coulson had received several hundred thousand pounds from News International after he started working for Conservative party. Mr Coulson was known to have received a payoff after he resigned from the News of the World in January 2007 following the conviction of journalist Clive Goodman and investigator Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking. But Mr Peston said Mr Coulson received his severance pay in instalments, and that he continued receiving money from News International until the end of 2007. Mr Peston also said Mr Coulson continued to receive his News International work benefits, such as healthcare, for three years and that he kept his company car. The report casts doubt on the reliability of the evidence that Mr Coulson gave to the culture committee in 2009. Mr Coulson, who at the time was working for the Conservative party on a reported salary of £275,000 – roughly half what he was thought to have been earning at the News of the World – said he did not have any “secondary income”. Mr Watson asked: “So your sole income was News International and then your sole income was the Conservative party?” Mr Coulson replied: “Yes.” Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive, appeared to confirm this when she gave evidence to the committee in July. Asked if the company had “subsidised” Mr Coulson’s salary after he left the News of the World , she said: “That’s not true.” Yesterday, John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP who chairs the culture committee, said Mr Coulson and News International should have been more open with the committee about the nature of this arrangement. “As I understand it, these were staggered payments from a severance package. So, arguably, that’s just delayed pay,” Mr Whittingdale said. “But if it is also true that Coulson was provided with a car and health insurance, then I would have expected him to have made that clear. And I would have expected News International to have made that clear when we asked them about it.” The committee is not meeting until September, but Mr Whittingdale said it may decide to seek further clarification on these matters from Mr Coulson and News International. Mr Watson said yesterday the committee would have to establish whether it had been “misled”. But he said that the Electoral Commission also had to establish whether the payments and benefits constituted donations to the Conservative party that should have been declared. In July, the Conservatives denied Mr Coulson was paid by News International while he was working for the party or the government. – (Guardian service) \|\|\|\|\| Andy Coulson faces the prospect of another public grilling by MPs in the next two months if the police do not charge him with illegal phone hacking. Members of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee are angry about the replies they received when they asked whether Mr Coulson still had a financial link with Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire after he began working for David Cameron. One member of the committee, the Labour MP Paul Farrelly, accused him yesterday of acting "like a spiv". The committee's Conservative chairman, John Whittingdale, complained that Mr Coulson should have been more "clear" in his answers. Other MPs were astonished that he should have been appointed to such a sensitive political post as David Cameron's media strategist without anyone apparently making inquiries into his continuing financial links to the Murdoch empire. Jack Straw, the former home secretary, said: "This shows a degree of carelessness by David Cameron in not scrutinising the appointment before it was made. It's pretty rum that a major political party placeman should have been receiving almost as much from a newspaper group as from his employer." When Mr Coulson was giving evidence at a public session of the committee, he claimed he had no "secondary income" when he took up his post as director of communications for the Conservative Party in July 2007. It has since emerged that he received hundreds of thousands of pounds in severance pay from his job as editor of the News of the World, paid in instalments to the end of 2007. Other perks from that job, such as free health insurance, were extended for three years and he was allowed to keep his company car. A Conservative Party spokesman said last night that the party was "not aware" of Mr Coulson's severance package until it was reported in the press. The spokesman added: "Severance payments are a private matter. It is not part of the HR process to discuss severance payments from previous jobs with potential employees." Tom Watson, a Labour member of the committee who has campaigned relentlessly to expose the phone-hacking scandal, is trying to uncover whether Mr Coulson declared the payments when he applied for a pass to give him access to Parliament. Passholders are required to tell the Commons authorities who is paying them. Mr Whittingdale said the committee would meet early in September to decide whether to recall Mr Coulson for more questioning, as the position was "complicated" by the police investigation into phone hacking. Mr Coulson was arrested in July and has not been charged. Mr Whittingdale added: "If it is true that Coulson was provided with a car and health insurance, then I would have expected him to have made that clear. And I would have expected News International to have made that clear when we asked them about it." \|\|\|\|\| Andy Coulson appears to have broken House of Commons rules by failing to declare payments and benefits he received from News International while holding a parliamentary pass sponsored by David Cameron. Registers held in the Commons archive, seen by the Guardian, reveal that in September 2007 – three months after Coulson was employed by Cameron's office – the former News of the World editor failed to declare the health insurance, company car and severance payments he was receiving from his old employers. The records also show that for at least two months after he resigned from his position as No 10's head of communications in January this year, Coulson continued to hold a parliamentary pass, sponsored by Downing Street, which allowed him access to parliament as a No 10 employee. That will raise new questions about whether Coulson – who Cameron has admitted seeing on a social basis since his resignation – continued to perform an unofficial role for the Tories after he had left. The Labour MP Tom Watson called for the parliamentary commissioner for standards to investigate. Commons rules say all holders of parliamentary passes sponsored by MPs, which allow unfettered access to most of the parliamentary estate, must register any paid employment, gifts or benefits worth more than £329 they receive within that calender year from sources that could "in any way" relate to their work in parliament. The Guardian also understands that News International continued to pay Coulson's legal bills after he stepped down as the editor of the News of the World in January 2007. The company is considering ending the arrangement after this week's revelations that Coulson had continued to receive payments after becoming Cameron's director of communications. Coulson is understood to have consulted lawyers frequently since leaving News International after several public figures brought civil cases against the News of the World, alleging that their voicemail messages had been hacked. News International paid his legal bills last December when he was a witness in the perjury trial of the former Scottish MP Tommy Sheridan. The company declined to comment. Cameron and George Osborne first employed Coulson when the Conservatives were in opposition in July 2007. He appeared on the next register for MP-sponsored passes, published in September, declaring no other employment, gifts or benefits in that calendar year. It is now known that he received hundreds of thousands of pounds in "several" instalments from News International after leaving the company. He also failed to register the health insurance and company car he received from the company under gifts or benefits. Coulson's pass was personally sponsored by Cameron, not the Conservative party. His register entry noted only that he was director of communications and planning for the Conservative party, making no mention of any other income. From October, his pass switched to a journalist's pass, sponsored by the Conservatives, which operated with a separate declaration register. Declarations are only required of an "occupation or employment", earning more than £657 in that calendar year, that could be benefited from access to parliament. For his entire period working for Cameron at Conservative campaign headquarters, and subsequently in Downing Street, Coulson declared nothing on the registers. A Conservative spokesman said: "It is the individual's responsibility to declare relevant financial interests to the parliamentary pass office. "We were not aware until Monday night of allegations that Andy Coulson's severance package, agreed with News International before he was employed by the Conservative party, was paid in instalments that continued into the time he was employed by the Conservative party." Watson, a member of the culture select committee who has campaigned on the phone hacking debate, is writing to the parliamentary commission for standards to complain about the apparent breach. "We now know that, in September 2007, Andy Coulson was receiving staggered payments, free private healthcare and apparently a motor car from News International," Watson said. "When he applied for his House of Commons pass, Mr Coulson was expected to declare these hidden payments under parliament's transparency rules. He failed to do so. "Moreover, instead of being allocated a political party press pass, he was placed on David Cameron's personal allocation of passes. This meant David Cameron had to personally vouch for his application, so presumably they had a discussion about it. I'm writing to the standards commissioner to request he investigates the matter." Commons officials confirmed that it could take up to a month for people who hand their passes in to be removed from the register of journalists' interests. Coulson resigned on 21 January and appears on the next two registers, published in March and April, but not from June. That suggests he could have continued to hold his Downing Street-sponsored pass up until May, four months after his resignation. He resigned from News International after the jailing of two private investigators who worked for the News of the World, during his time as the paper's editor, for phone hacking. \|\|\|\|\| Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.	Labour MP Tom Watson is calling for an investigation into payments by News International to Andy Coulson. The United Kingdom electoral commission has been asked to investigate whether payments made by to amidst the recent phone hacking scandal were illegal. Labor MP , who has been a driving force in the phone hacking scandal, called for the investigation after he believed that payments and benefits made to Coulson, including private health benefits and a company car, should have been declared as a political donation. Mr Watson has reportedly been trying to uncover whether Coulson declared these payments to the cultures committee upon applying for access to parliament. MPs are bewildered by Prime Minister David Cameron's hiring of Coulson without anyone looking into his financial history, and many have expressed outrage as the reports contradict evidence given by the former editor to the culture committee in 2009. He allegedly told the committee that he had received a salary of £275,000 and that he did not have a second income. Coulson is expected to face further questioning from the committee about the payments after he is cleared from the phone hacking scandal. , a journalist for the BBC, claimed that Mr Coulson had received several hundred thousand pounds from News International after he began working for the Conservative Party. Despite his ousting in 2007, Mr Coulson received his severance pay in installments from News International until the end of that year. Coulson was known to have received a payoff after his resignation from News of the World in 2007. The resignation came after the conviction of journalist for phone hacking. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has stated that both Coulson and should have informed the committee about the payments. The investigation will decide whether or not the electoral committee has been misled by Coulson, and whether the payments should be considered as a political donation. The committee is expected to meet in early September to decide on a plan of action.
ROME, March 3 (Reuters Life!) - Italian tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano, to whom Luciano Pavarotti owed his launch to stardom, died in Milan Monday. He was 86. Di Stefano died after a long coma caused by an attack during a robbery at his Kenyan holiday home in late 2004. Fellow Italian tenor Pavarotti, who died last year, had his big break when Di Stefano dropped out of a performance of "La Boheme" at London's Covent Garden in 1963. Pavarotti performed as the stand-in and a star was born. Local media said Di Stefano had never fully recovered from the savage beating he received from unknown assailants at his villa near the eastern Kenyan resort of Mombasa. Treated for serious head injuries, he was moved to a hospital in Milan where he slipped into a coma last December. Born in Sicily, Di Stefano made his operatic debut in 1946 and his debut at La Scala in Milan the following year. He made many recordings with Maria Callas and Pavarotti. (Editing by Charles Dick) \|\|\|\|\| Norm O'Neill, the dashing Test batsmen of the 1950s and 60s, has died after a long illness. "Norm O'Neill was one of NSW's and Australia's best ever cricketers," said Cricket NSW Chief Executive, David Gilbert. "He will be remembered as a dashing stroke maker who was a crowd favourite. He will be sadly missed." O'Neill OAM, who played 70 First Class matches for NSW between 1955/56 and 1966/67, scored 5419 runs at an average of 52.61. His entire first class career spanned 188 matches for 13,859 runs at 50.95. In his 42 Test matches O'Neill scored 2779 runs at 45.55. He made six centuries and 15 half-centuries with his high score of 181 coming in the first innings of the Tied Test against the West Indies in 1960. But O'Neill was something more than his statistics, said Warren Saunders, who played with O'Neill at his club St George and for NSW. "I've got beautiful memories of Norm O'Neill he was a sensational cricketer. He was a sensational sportsman, actually he was also a top-class baseballer as well as a cricketer," he said. "He was a wonderful fellow to play with in every respect, a great team man, a chamption batsman. He's got a great Test record but that doesn't really tell the story it was the way he got his runs that excited everybody. "He was a beautiful thrower with a very strong arm and a handy change bowler: he was the complete package.'' \|\|\|\|\| By Al Campbell Interview: Jack Fichter, Slideshow: Rick Racela STONE HARBOR — Joseph R. “Joe” Zelnik, Herald editor for 25 years, died March 3, 2008 at his home here surrounded by family. He was responsible for guiding the weekly newspaper from a 20-page print edition in December 1982 into the 60-plus page weekly with Internet presence that it grew to be by the time of his retirement, when he assumed the title "Editor Emeritus." A seasoned journalist who could write humorous columns and detail-oriented budget stories, Zelnik had been employed by the Delaware County Times from 1966 to 1976, then by the Philadelphia Daily News as an editorial writer for about a year and a half. From the Daily News, he went the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in the Delaware County Bureau in Media, Pa., where he spent five years. The newspaper ceased publication and Zelnik went to work for Buffalo (N.Y.) Courier-Express as an editorial writer, which went out of business six months later. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Buffalo in 1954 and a Masters Degree in 1959. His first journalism job was with one of his hometown’s two weekly newspapers in Gowanda, N.Y. Zelnik was an editor who never lost the zeal for writing. He continued to regularly report on freeholder meetings, county Open Space Board and the county Municipal Utilities Authority. Through his years working those beats, he nurtured invaluable sources that provided him with the basis for stories that won readers’ attention. The opening of the Cape May County Campus of Atlantic Cape Community College was one of his proudest moments because he had worked tirelessly for decades to reveal the need for such a college campus here. Funeral service will be private. A public celebration of his life will be held March 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Church, 9910 Third Ave., Stone Harbor. The family, in keeping with Joe’s casual dress style, asks that those who attend sport their favorite T-shirt or baseball cap. They also ask that those with memories of him be written and placed in a “memory basket” that will in the church on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a namesake Atlantic Cape Community College scholarship fund that will be established. Arrangements are by Radzieta Funeral Home, Hand Avenue, Court House. Please post any memories you have of Joe below.	right The following deaths were reported yesterday - ===Giuseppe Di Stefano=== Giuseppe Di Stefano, Italian tenor died yesterday in Milan. He has been in a coma since he was the victim of an assault in 2004. He died at the age of 86. ===Norm O'Neill=== Norm O'Neill, former Australian cricketer died yesterday. The death was a result of an long term illness O'Neill has been suffering from. An cricketer who has played against O'Neill said "I've got beautiful memories of Norm O'Neill he was a sensational cricketer. He was a sensational sportsman, actually he was also a top-class baseballer as well as a cricketer." ===Annemarie Renger=== Annemarie Renger, German politician died yesterday at the age of 88. In 1972 she became the first woman to become President of the Bundestag. She was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. ===Joseph Zelnik=== Joseph Zelnik, editor of the Cape May County Herald and the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin died yesterday. A public service is due to be held on Sunday.
Is there a fee for using Google Secure Access? No, Google Secure Access is free. Where can I go to download Google Secure Access? The Google Secure Access client is available for users at a few "hotspots" near Google's headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Customers of Airborne Gymnastics in Santa Clara, CA, and Kapp's Pizza Bar and Grill in Mountain View, CA, can download the client. When I install Google Secure Access, why does it ask if I also want to install the Google Toolbar? We've included the option to install the Google Toolbar because it improves your browsing experience. Can I uninstall Google Secure Access? Yes. You can uninstall Google Secure Access by simply running the Uninstall program. This can be found by clicking on Start Menu, Programs, Google Secure Access, and then choosing Uninstall. How do I make my connection even more secure? You can make your connection even more secure by using a software firewall. Windows XP users with Service Pack 2 can find it by clicking on Start, Control Panel, and then choosing Windows Firewall. Will my corporate VPN still work? Yes. You can connect to your corporate VPN while running Google Secure Access. I have configured Google Secure Access to connect automatically, but it's not working. What's going on? Certain wireless LAN management utilities and older wireless LAN adapter drivers prevent Google Secure Access from detecting that you're connected to the Google WiFi network. In this case it will not connect automatically, and you should connect manually to ensure the privacy and security of your network traffic. Will Google Secure Access work at other locations? No - the Google Secure Access client is only intended to provide secure web access for users at a few local Mountain View, CA "hotspots" that Google established as part of a community outreach program. Why is Google Secure Access a beta product? Google believes the best way to create products that meet the needs of our users is to make them available as early in the product development process as possible. We listen to user feedback and improve the product to suit their needs. We are excited about the widespread enthusiasm for this technology and are currently investigating ways to make it more broadly available in the future. How come Google Secure Access is no longer working on my computer? \|\|\|\|\| Is Google Readying Wi-Fi Service? FAQ page describes Google Secure Access, a client for wireless Net access. Nancy Gohring, IDG News Service Tuesday, September 20, 2005 Google may be close to launching a Wi-Fi service. Advertisement A FAQ page on the Google Web site instructs customers how to download Google Secure Access, a client application that is described on the site as a tool "to establish a more secure connection while using Google WiFi." A Google spokesperson declined to comment further on the company's Wi-Fi plans or strategy. Dabbling in Wi-Fi In April, Google began sponsoring a free hotspot in San Francisco's Union Square. In April, Google began sponsoring a free hotspot in San Francisco's Union Square. Also, Google has been exploring wireless access to its services with a local flavor. The company has been promoting local business listings that pop up on browser-equipped mobile devices, and driving directions to be obtained via SMS-enabled devices. Quiet Rollout The Google Secure Access FAQ page states that the Secure Access program can be downloaded at certain Google Wi-Fi locations in the San Francisco Bay area. However, the client can in fact be downloaded to any computer that is connected to the Internet. The page also says that while Google Secure Access should work at any Wi-Fi location, Google hasn't tested it elsewhere. The page states that Google Secure Access is a beta product. Google has taken this "public beta" approach with a number of its products, notably its e-mail service Gmail. It was widely available by invitation before it was "officially" launched. Related Topics: Wireless Printer Friendly Version \|\|\|\|\| Industries Google Readies for Wi-Fi Google’s web site describes a beta Wi-Fi service called Google Secure Access. Notices on Google’s web site on Tuesday offer a downloadable Wi-Fi client application known as Google Secure Access, suggesting that Google may be close to launching a Wi-Fi service. “Google Secure Access is a downloadable client application that allows users to establish a more secure Wi-Fi connection,” said the notice on the company’s FAQ page. Another page offers a download of the application and states, “Your wireless connection is almost ready to use.” The service is currently only available at “certain locations in the San Francisco Bay Area,” according to the FAQ. Google set up a hotspot in April in San Francisco ’s Union Square . Google acquired the wireless technology company Android in July and has reportedly been buying up dark fiber-optic wiring in different locations around the country for broadband access. The company’s second stock offering earlier this month raised considerable funds that could enable the Mountain View , California , search giant to expand into becoming an infrastructure provider (see Google’s $7B Question). Google shares were up $5.09 at $308.88 in recent trading. VPN Service The Secure Access service connects users to a virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts the traffic and sends it through Google servers to the Internet. Google said it wanted to make Wi-Fi access more secure with its new service. Despite Google’s prior moves into the Wi-Fi industry, the FAQ page describes the project as the result of a Google engineer’s own maverick ingenuity on his downtime. Google provides time for its engineers to work on independent research projects. “One of our engineers recognized that secure Wi-Fi was virtually nonexistent at most locations,” said the FAQ. “As a result, he used his 20 percent project time to begin an initiative to offer users more secure Wi-Fi access. Google Secure Access is the result of this endeavor.” On a privacy policy page, Google describes how the service will help protect users’ privacy. “Using insecure networks, such as public wireless networks, can leave your Internet traffic open to snooping by others in the vicinity of the wireless network,” said the page. “Google Secure Access helps address this problem by encrypting all traffic to and from your machine and passing it from the insecure network through a trusted gateway.”	right According to several pages on Google’s website, Google is launching a free WiFi service. This program, called '''''Google Secure Access''''', creates a Virtual Private Network allowing secure access to the Internet. ''Google Secure Access'' encrypts all traffic to and from a user’s machine while the user is connected to the wireless access point. Google provides its engineers with time to work on independent research projects. ''Google Secure Access'' was created as an independent research project by a Google engineer after he discovered that WiFi was insecure at most locations. According to the ''Google Secure Access FAQ'', the service is only available at "certain Google WiFi locations in the San Francisco Bay Area". According to some reports, the service is working from some independent (non-Google) WiFi locations in NYC. Like many of Google’s other popular services such as Gmail, ''Google Secure Access'' is still in the beta testing stage.
Dan Brown stars in High Court tale of treachery Dan Brown would have struggled to come up with a tale more filled with pseudo-historical intrigue and claims of treachery than the one revealed in Court 61 of the High Court yesterday. In the ornate setting of the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, the author of The Da Vinci Code, who made £45m in 2004 alone, finds himself being sued for allegedly ripping off the work of two biblical sleuths bent on rewriting Christian history, in order to provide the basis for his bestseller. Article Length: 765 words (approx.) \|\|\|\|\| Mon 27 Feb 2006 Dan Brown faces 'copying' challenge Dan Brown sat at the opposite end of a court bench from two writers who claim he copied their work for his blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code, in the Chancery Division of the High Court. Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh are suing their own publishers, Random House, claiming the internationally successful novel lifts from their 1982 book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, itself a best seller. This non-fiction work deals with theories that Jesus and Mary Magdalene married, had a child, and the blood line continues to this day - with the Catholic Church trying to suppress the discovery. It is similar to the theme explored in the Dan Brown novel which won best book at last year's British Book Awards and has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, earning the author £45 million in one year. If the two writers are successful and opt to take injunctions stopping use of their material, it could threaten the British release of the film adaptation of the novel, starring Tom Hanks and Sir Ian McKellen, which is scheduled to open on May 19. The case, expected to last up to two weeks, is also likely to clarify existing copyright laws over the extent to which an author can use other people's research. Dan Brown, whose earnings are estimated at more than £200 million, acknowledges the theories of The Holy Blood in his novel and names the villain in his story Sir Leigh Teabing, which, it has been suggested, was a deliberate part anagram of the surnames of the authors of the earlier work. The two books - which deal with parallel versions of the fate of Jesus Christ - have ended up in the High Court before Mr Justice Peter Smith. He was told by Jonathan James QC, representing the Holy Blood authors, that The Da Vinci Code is an infringement of his clients' copyright. © Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved. Related topic \|\|\|\|\| Sun 5 Feb 2006 Is Yale the key to new Brown blockbuster? YOU can criticise his prose style and question his devotion to historical fact. But there is no doubt the author of the Da Vinci Code is fast becoming the biggest publishing sensation on the planet. Dan Brown's new work, The Solomon Key, is as much as a year away but it has created an industry of its own with no fewer than three books already published which promise to reveal the secrets of the novel. Another two will come out before The Solomon Key itself. Without Brown or his publishers even officially confirming the title of the novel, numerous claims have been made about its contents, including the suggestion that President George Bush and a Yale University society will feature. The books speculate that having dealt with the Catholic Church and The Pope in The Da Vinci Code, Brown has now turned his attention to the heart of American power. They point to the "clues" Brown left on the dust jacket of The Da Vinci Code, which include longitude and latitude coordinates which lead to the CIA headquarters in Virginia. In Secrets of the Widow's Son, £10.99, Connecticut-based Da Vinci codologist David Shugarts offers the reader an explorer's guide to understanding the most important themes, ideas, symbols and historical events that Brown will use in The Solomon Key. Greg Taylor's The Solomon Key, £11.99, argues that the novel will be based around the Masonic views prevalent among the founding fathers of the United States. He claims the treasure hunt aspect of the book will involve the Kryptos statue at CIA headquarters. Frederick Zimmerman's The Solomon Key and Beyond - Unauthorised Dan Brown Update, £5.95, is believed to explore the supposed link between Washington, the CIA and hidden treasure buried in the capital in an area called Rosslyn. A further two books, Unlocking the Solomon Key by British author Simon Cox, and Beyond the Solomon Key by Shelley Klein, will be published later this year. Unlocking the Solomon Key promises an A to Z guide to the new novel and explaining Dan Brown's sources. The Da Vinci Code, for the few people who haven't read it, follows Professor Robert Langdon as he investigates the murder of an elderly member of an ancient society that guards dark secrets about the quest for the Holy Grail and the story of Christ. Its mix of code-breaking, art history, religion and mystical lore has helped it sell more than 40 million copies worldwide, four million of them in the UK. Despite a number of high profile publishing phenomena in recent years, not least Harry Potter, publishers say the hype generated by the new Dan Brown novel has never been seen before. Morris Paton, managing director of the Scottish Literary Trust, said: "It's unprecedented. Sure we have had spin-offs in the past but for books to come out before the original is unheard of. It's crazy." Mathew Perrin of Ottakars said that retailers had not yet decided on their launch plans for the new Brown book but midnight openings, as were seen for Harry Potter, have not been ruled out. "It is quite frankly astonishing," he said. "It's one thing to stand on the shoulders of giants but this is hanging off the coat tails of giants. Undoubtedly it will be huge. Will we open at midnight? We might do." According to Brown scholars, the plot of The Solomon Key will involve the deaths of politicians in Washington, the CIA, the Founding Fathers of America and the Masonic-like "Skull and Bones" society at Yale University of which both George Bush and John Kerry were members. Cox said that his contacts in America tell him there is a broad consensus on its content. He added: "It is going to be huge. The publishers are looking for as big a hit, if not bigger, than The Da Vinci Code." American writer Taylor added: "Based on Brown's modus operandi in previous novels it seems likely that a Masonic group will be framed for the murder of politicians in Washington." But last night some publishers warned that the rise in blockbuster books is indicative of the insecurity of the publishing industry, the retraction of titles and the reliance on a few best sellers. One prominent Edinburgh publisher who asked not to be named said: "This whole thing makes me sick. It's a piece of commercial nonsense. Is it reader led or publisher led? If you take Harry Potter that was reader led. In the first instance that book became a success not because of marketing but because of word of mouth amongst children in the playgrounds." THIS ONE WILL RUN AND RUN AMERICA is planning one of its largest print runs in publishing history in anticipation of the Da Vinci Code film. Random House has confirmed that it will print more than five million copies of the novel in three paperback versions beginning in March. The paperback editions of the book will hit the shelves in the US in March seven weeks before the movie, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, premieres in May. The same day, two versions of an illustrated screenplay including the film's full shooting script and still photographs from its production will be published. The book, by Dan Brown, follows Robert Langdon, a Harvard specialist in religious symbols, as he unravels the mystery behind the murder of a curator at the Louvre. Along with the curator's granddaughter, Sophie, Langdon uncovers a trail of clues that leads through the works of Leonardo da Vinci and into the catacombs of early Christian history. Related topic	The Da Vinci Code cover (U.K.) and , who jointly wrote together with a third author, a 1982 Non-Fiction book '''' have taken '''' publisher , to court claiming that The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail storyline has been stolen by . The third author of ''The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail'' , is not involved in the case. Random House is the of publisher of both ''The Da Vinci Code'' and ''The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail''. The central theme of the two books is that the bloodline from a marriage between and survives today. Random House has denied the claim and, Random House chief executive Gail Rebuck says in a statement that she believed the lawsuit was without merit. "As publisher of both ''The Da Vinci Code'' and ''The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail'', we are genuinely saddened that two of the three authors of HBHG have chosen to bring this litigation against us...Random House takes no pleasure in defending a legal action that it believes is without merit and we are confident that we will prevail." If this case is successful it could threaten the film; starring and from opening. ''The Da Vinci Code'' is a fiction book and has over 36 million copies in print worldwide. The dust jacket for the novel apparently includes longitude and latitude coordinates which lead to the headquarters near , . Brown's next book, ''The Solomon Key'', is rumoured to be about the Yale society. Notable alumni of the society include current United States President George W. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, and Massachusettes Senator John Kerry.
Sports Jamaica to host regional Under-17 football champs THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) received a huge boost yesterday when the sport's regional governing body, CONCACAF, revealed the country's successful bid to host next February's regional Under-17 Championships. The Championships will facilitate the qualification of four teams from the region for the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be staged in Mexico from June 18-July 10. Last night, JFF president Captain Horace Burrell expressed pleasure with CONCACAF's decision and said he was expecting the tournament to push the development of football in the western parishes. "A short while ago (yesterday) CONCACAF confirmed that Jamaica is selected as the host country for the CONCACAF Under-17 Football qualifiers which will take place between February 12 and 28 next year. I am extremely pleased with this decision as it will certainly help to give a fillip to western football development which, in recent times, has been facing numerous challenges," he said. In early August, CONCACAF's general secretary Ted Howard toured and inspected the newly built Catherine Hall facility, the Jarrett Park ground and the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium. Burrell said that the regional federation will shortly announce the two venues which will be used during the tournament. Burrell insisted that the JFF will be trying its utmost best to prepare youngsters for this tournament to ensure Jamaica's first qualification for an Under-17 World Cup since 1999 in New Zealand. "We intend to go all out in preparing our Under-17 players for this very important tournament and will be giving our youngsters much needed international exposure which I'm sure will put them in good stead to qualify," he said. "Hosting of this 12-nation tournament in Jamaica means a lot, not only to the football fraternity but certainly to the tourism industry. The hotel, transportation and hospitality industries will benefit from this. We expect inflow from hosting this tournament of between J$70-100 million," he added. Participating countries for the qualifiers will include the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago. The JFF has also announced the experienced Wendell Downswell as head coach of the team, while Omar Edwards will be his assistant. Downswell is currently coach of Digicel Premier League outfit Reno, while Edwards is the assistant at Boys' Town. \|\|\|\|\| Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter It has been officially confirmed that Jamaica will host the 12-nation Confederation of North, Central American Associations of Football (CONCACAF) Under-17 World Cup Qualifying Finals, after having a successful bid accepted by the regional body. The tournament will be hosted in western Jamaica from February 12-28, with two of three facilities inspected by the federation's general secretary, Ted Howard, earlier this month expected to be used. A decision on which of the grounds to be used, Jarrett Park, the New Catherine Hall Sporting Complex and the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, will be made at a later date. "I am understandably elated because the current administration is serious about youth development. We are determined to do more than just speak about it, hence our determination and persistence in securing this very important decision to host the qualifiers," president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, told The Gleaner last night, shortly after he got confirmation. The last and only time the country qualified for the Under-17 Youth World Cup Finals, which was held in 1999 in New Zealand, Jamaica hosted the tournament in western Jamaica. According to Burrell, the JFF is determined to see history repeat itself. "We intend to pull out all the stops to ensure that our team is well prepared for next February, which means that we will be looking to assemble them immediately," Burrell said. "Even with our current financial plight, the JFF intends to do all within our power to expose this unit to international football - both at home and overseas. I will be hitting the phone lines immediately, to see if we can secure camps and possible practice games for these youngsters, which they will certainly need if they are to vie for a place in the World Cup." Wendell Downswell has been appointed as head coach of the youth outfit, with Boys' Town assistant coach, Omar Edwards, expected to serve as his deputy. Downswell, a former national coach, was head of the Under-20 youth team that won a silver medal at the Pan Am Games in 2007. Edwards was voted as the top student at the series of coaching clinics held at the University of Technology over the last couple of months. The last time Jamaica hosted the final round of the Under-17 tournament at the National Stadium, the team, then led by the now-deceased David Hunt, fell just short of qualification in 2006. "It will not be easy," said Burrell. "We will be up against teams that have many of their players in professional outfits, but we will be looking to give it our best shot."	The logo of the Jamaican Football Federation Jamaica has been selected to to host the 2011 . The tournament will be hosted in western Jamaica from the 12th of February to the 28th. The tournament will decide what four teams will qualify for the . President of the , Captain released a statement about the decision. He said "A short while ago (yesterday) CONCACAF confirmed that Jamaica is selected as the host country for the CONCACAF Under-17 Football qualifiers which will take place between February 12 and 28 next year. I am extremely pleased with this decision as it will certainly help to give a fillip to western football development which, in recent times, has been facing numerous challenges." CONCACAF's general secretary toured the islands facilities in August. Burrell said that he will announce the two locations used for the tournament shortly.
Tidligt i går morges blev tre mænd fra Århus-området anholdt under mistanke om at planlægge og have til hensigt at udføre et terrorrelateret drab på den ene af de 12 tegnere bag Jyllands-Postens Muhammed-tegninger. Det kan ikke udelukkes, at de tre mistænkte har handlet efter ordre fra en terrorbevægelse i udlandet. Efter angiveligt flere måneders overvågning slog folk fra Østjyllands Politi og Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) tidligt i går morges en jernring om tre mænd i Århus-området. Lige omkring kl. 4.30 blev de anholdt under alvorlig mistanke om at have til hensigt at udføre et terrorrelateret mord på Jyllands-Postens 73-årige bladtegner Kurt Westergaard manden bag den stærkt omdiskuterede tegning af profeten Muhammed med en bombe i turbanen. »Jeg kan bekræfte, at formålet med PETs indsats i Århus natten mellem den 11. og 12. februar har været at forhindre et planlagt drab på en af tegnerne bag de Muhammed-tegninger, som Jyllands-Posten offentliggjorde den 30. september 2005,« siger politimester Jakob Scharf, PET. Den ene anholdte, en 40-årig dansk statsborger af marokkansk oprindelse, blev sigtet for forsøg på overtrædelse af straffelovens paragraf 114 om terrorisme. I aftes var det imidlertid PETs forventning, at han ville blive løsladt efter endt afhøring. Efterretningstjenesten valgte nemlig af hensyn til Kurt Westergaards sikkerhed at skride til anholdelse på så tidligt et tidspunkt, at der ikke var tilstrækkeligt med indicier til at søge at få manden varetægtsfængslet ved et grundlovsforhør. Men den pågældende danske statsborger vil, som Jakob Scharf siger, »fortsat være genstand for PETs interesse«. De øvrige anholdte, to tunesiske statsborgere på henholdsvis 25 og 36 år, står imidlertid til udvisning til Tunesien, idet de ifølge PET anses for at udgøre en fare for statens sikkerhed. PET har således anmodet regeringen om, at de to mænd på baggrund af en særlig bestemmelse i Udlændingeloven bør udvises af Danmark. Ifølge Berlingske Tidendes oplysninger har såvel justitsminister Lene Espersen (K) som integrationsminister Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) tilsluttet sig PETs ønske. Bekymret statsminister Både PET og Østjyllands Politi er yderst sparsomme med yderligere oplysninger om de tre anholdte og om den efterforskning, der førte frem til gårsdagens anholdelser. Men det står klart, at de to tunesere har været bosat og haft lovlig opholdstilladelse i Danmark i en kortere årrække, og at mindst en af de tre mænd blev anholdt i indvandrerbydelen Gellerup i Århus. De tre mænd skal endvidere være præget af markante og ortodokse religiøse holdninger. Der foreligger ingen oplysninger om, hvorvidt de tre har været styret af islamistiske terrorgrupperinger eller lignende i udlandet, eller om de har handlet på egen hånd. Men det er en kendt sag, at der har været fremsat adskillige dødstrusler mod de 12 Muhammed-tegnere, ikke mindst Kurt Westergaard, efter at Muhammed-krisen for alvor brød ud i lys lue begyndelsen af 2006. Som et af flere eksempler har den forbudte islamistiske gruppe i Storbritannien, Al Ghurabaa, offentliggjort en artikel med budskabet: »Dræb dem der fornærmer profeten Muhammed«. Men det har angiveligt ikke været PETs primære sigte at få de tre mænd varetægtsfængslet og senere dømt. Hovedformålet har været at forhindre, at en alvorlig terrorhandling en regulær henrettelse af mand, der er lagt for had i visse dele af den muslimske verden blev gennemført. Statsminister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (V) gav udtryk for dyb bekymring efter gårsdagens terrorrelaterede anholdelser. »Sagen viser desværre, at der også i Danmark er grupper af ekstremister, som ikke anerkender og respekterer de grundprincipper, det danske folkestyre bygger på,« udtalte han bl.a. \|\|\|\|\| På en og samme dag blev en 40-årig mand anholdt og løsladt for at planlægge gennemførelsen af et drab mod bladtegneren Kurt Westergaard - manden, der tilbage i september 2005 tegnede profeten Muhammed med en bombe i sin turban. Den 40-årige, der er dansk statsborger med marokkansk baggrund, blev anholdt i Århus i nat sammen med to tunesere, der begge har bopæl og opholdstilladelse i Danmark. Tirsdag var dansk-marokkaneren atter løsladt efter afhøringen. Det indikerer, at politiets beviser ikke har været stærke nok til, at man kunne gå i retten og kræve manden fængslet. Dermed har der efter alt at dømme været tale om en politiaktion, der alene havde til formål at forhindre et drab - og ikke at opklare en kriminalsag. Tunesere udvises De to tunesere bliver nu udvist. De er i øjeblikket frihedsberøvet efter udlændingelovens bestemmelser, men vil - sandsynligvis torsdag - blive fremstillet for en dommer. Dommeren skal dog ikke tage stilling til grundlaget for udvisning. Fremstillingen omhandler alene spørgsmålet om, hvorvidt det er hensigtssmæssigt fortsat at frihedsberøve de to tunesere frem til det tidspunkt, hvor selve udvisningen kan eksekveres. \|\|\|\|\| De tre store danske aviser Jyllands-Posten, Politiken og Berlingske Tidende vil alle trykke Kurt Westergaards omstridte Muhammed-tegning igen onsdag Både Jyllands-Posten, Politiken og Berlingske Tidende vil onsdag bringe Kurt Westergaards omstridte tegning af Muhammed med en bombe i turbanen. Det er første gang, at Berlingske bringer tegningen. Chefredaktørerne på Politiken og Berlingske er rystede over planerne om at myrde Kurt Westergaard og erklærer sig klar til at kæmpe for den frie debat. - Vi må i de danske medier sende et klart og utvetydigt signal til alle, der måtte få samme vanvittige tanke som dem, der ville angribe Kurt Westergaard, siger Berlingske Tidendes chefredaktør Lisbeth Knudsen til jp.dk. Da Muhammed-tegningerne blev offentliggjort i november 2005, valgte Berlingske Tidendes daværende chefredaktion ikke at bringe dem. Dengang var der ifølge Lisbeth Knudsen ikke tilstrækkelig journalistisk begrundelse for at bringe tegningerne. /ritzau/ \|\|\|\|\| Ingenting. Så kort kan man opsummere den viden, som forsvareren for én af de anholdte i bladtegner-sagen har om sagens videre forløb. Forsvareren, Henning Lyngsbo, er indkaldt som beskikket advokat i sagen, og han mødtes tirsdag eftermiddag med sin klient for første gang. - Jeg vil ikke oplyse, hvem min klient er. Men jeg har set ham, jeg har været sammen med ham, og jeg kan sige, at han har det udmærket, siger Henning Lyngsbo, der dog ikke ønsker at uddybe yderligere. - Jeg har ingen idé om, hvad der nu skal ske. Bolden ligger hos Politiets Efterretningstjeneste, og det er dem, der må lukke munden op og fortælle, hvad meningen er med alt dét her. Jeg aner ikke, hvad næste skridt bliver, siger forsvareren. /ritzau/ \|\|\|\|\| 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. \|\|\|\|\| The row saw Danish flags being burnt in Muslim states Intelligence agents said two Tunisians and a Dane of Moroccan origin had been arrested in Aarhus at 0330 GMT "to prevent a murder linked to terrorism". The editor of the newspaper that first published the caricatures said he had been deeply shaken by news of the plot. The pictures printed by Jyllands-Posten sparked violent protests two years ago. Danish embassies were attacked around the world and dozens died in riots. 'Concrete plans' In a statement, the head of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), Jakob Sharf, said its operatives had carried out pre-dawn raids in the Aarhus region. The detentions of the three suspects had been made "after lengthy surveillance", he added. The Danish citizen will be released pending further investigation, while the Tunisians will be held until they are expelled from the country. I have turned fear into anger and resentment Kurt Westergaard Cartoonist The PET did not identify the target of the alleged plot, but the online edition of Jyllands-Posten said its cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard, was the focus. The newspaper, based in Aarhus, said Mr Westergaard, 73, and his 66-year-old wife, Gitte, had been under police protection for the past three months. In a statement on Jyllands-Posten's website, Mr Westergaard said: "Of course I fear for my life when the police intelligence service say that some people have concrete plans to kill me. "But I have turned fear into anger and resentment." The editor of Jyllands-Posten, Carsten Juste, said he and his staff had been "deeply shaken" by the news. "We'd become more or less used to death threats and bomb threats since the cartoons, but it's the first time that we've heard about actual murder plans - that's new," he said. Muslim anger The BBC's Thomas Buch-Andersen in Copenhagen says the arrests have stunned people in Denmark, where the furore over the cartoons was thought to have passed. Mr Westergaard was one of 12 artists behind the drawings but he was responsible for what was considered the most controversial of the pictures. The caricature featured the head of Islam's holiest prophet with a turban depicting a bomb with a lit fuse. The cartoons were later reprinted by more than 50 newspapers, triggering a wave of protests in parts of the Muslim world. The demonstrations culminated a year ago with the torching of Danish diplomatic offices in Damascus and Beirut and dozens of deaths in Nigeria, Libya and Pakistan.	Scan of the cartoons as printed on page 3 of the "KulturWeekend" section of ''Jyllands-Posten'''s September 30, 2005, edition. In the early hours of Tuesday, Denmark's Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) (Danish Security Intelligence Service), arrested three people for their connection to an alleged plot to murder one of the cartoonists from the ''Jyllands-Posten'' Muhammad cartoons controversy. On September 30, 2005, ''Jyllands-Posten'' a Danish newspaper, published twelve cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. The paper solicited the cartoons for an article that explored "self-censorship" with regards to criticism of Islam. One of the cartoonists that responded was Kurt Westergaard, who contributed an image of Muhammed with a turban that looks like a bomb. PET says that Westergaard was the target of an alleged plot to murder him. At 4:30 a.m. CET (UTC+1), in a pre-dawn raid, they arrested three men in Aarhus, Denmark. The men, two Tunisians and one Danish citizen of Moroccan origin, are suspected of planning to kill Westergaard. PET commissioner Jakob Scharf said, "The purpose of the clampdown was to prevent a terror- related homicide. The clampdown occurred after a long period of surveillance." The Danish citizen has been released. It is thought that this means that the evidence against him is not very strong. However, the 40-year-old man "will continue to be of interest for the PET" says Scharf. The two other men, said to be 25 and 36 years of age, and who by all accounts were in Denmark legally, face deportation back to Tunisia. They are due to remain in custody until a judge can review their case on Thursday. "I have no idea about what is going to happen next. The ball is in the court of PET, and they are they ones who need to start talking and explain the meaning of all this. I have no idea what the next step is," said the public defender assigned to the Tunisians. The government and the PET has yet to present their case in court. As a result, it is unknown what evidence there is of a plot. Also, it is unknown if the men were under orders from groups outside of Denmark, as has been speculated by media. However, Scharf says that the pre-emptive police action "was to prevent a planned killing of one of the cartoonists behind the Muhammed-drawings." The primary objective was not to jail or deport anyone, but to prevent a murder. The Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, commented: "Unfortunately, this case shows, that in Denmark, too, there are groups of extremists, who do not recognize and respect the founding principles upon which the Danish people's government is built." Meanwhile, the editors-in-chief at the three biggest newspapers in Denmark have seen the alleged plot as a threat to their freedom of speech. These papers are ''Jyllands-Posten'', ''Politiken'' og ''Berlingske Tidende. '' To reassert their rights they all plan to republish the controversial Muhammad drawings on Wednesday. "We must in Danish media send a clear and unambiguous message to all, that might get the same insane thoughts, as those who would attack Kurt Westergaard," says ''Berlingske Tidende'' chief-editor Lisbeth Knudsen. Westergaard, who is 73 years old, has been under police protection since he received death-threats shortly after the original publication of the cartoons. "I fear for my life, when the police tell me there are certain people who are working with concrete plans to kill me," he says.
ABC News Process Begins for John Paul's Sainthood Pope Benedict XVI Opens the Process for the Sainthood of Pope John Paul II Pope Benedict XVI addresses clergy at the Basilica St John Lateran in the Vatican City, in this image taken from TV Friday May 13, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said Friday while speaking to the clergy that he had authorized the start of the possible sainthood process for Pope John Paul II, overriding the usual five-year waiting period following the death of a candidate before beatification procedures can begin. (AP Photo/Vatican TV via APTN) By DANIELA PETROFF Associated Press Writer The Associated Press VATICAN CITY May 13, 2005 Pope Benedict XVI put his predecessor on the fast track for sainthood Friday and appointed San Francisco Archbishop William Levada as his successor as guardian of church doctrine, the highest Vatican office ever held by an American. The pope's decision to authorize the start of the process for sainthood for Pope John Paul II overrode the usual five-year waiting period following the death of a candidate before beatification procedures can begin. The only other time the waiting period was waived was for Mother Teresa. The process was begun a year after her death. Benedict made the announcement in Latin during a meeting at the Basilica of St. John Lateran with the Roman clergy. Friday is the anniversary of an 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul in St. Peter's Square at the hands of a Turkish gunman. Also Friday, Benedict named the 68-year-old Levada as his successor the Vatican's chief watchdog of church doctrine. Levada helped draft the Catechism of the Catholic Church essentially the handbook on everything you need to believe to be a Catholic, and one of the major accomplishments of Pope John Paul II's papacy. Benedict and Levada are old friends, and Levada met with the pope on May 3, fueling speculation that he was on the short list for the job of leading the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In anticipation of the appointment, the Rev. Jim Bretzke, co-chair of the University of San Francisco's theology department, described Levada as intelligent, careful and fair. "He has all the right credentials," Bretzke said. "The conservatives respect him and even the liberals respect him." Levada has spoken out on some pressing doctrinal concerns, voicing opposition to same-sex marriages and saying priests should ask bishops for guidance on whether to refuse a Catholic politician communion if the politician supports abortion rights. He also has been involved in efforts aimed at Episcopal-Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States. Levada joined the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1976 and served for six years, leaving shortly after when then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took over as prefect in 1981. He returned as one of the five bishops on the congregation in 2000. \|\|\|\|\| Pilgrims at the Pope's funeral called for his immediate sainthood "The cause for the beatification of John Paul II is open," the new Roman Catholic leader told priests meeting at Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran. The Pope waived the usual rules which require a five-year wait before the Church begins to make someone a saint. John Paul II died on 2 April, leading to widespread calls from Catholics worldwide for him to be made a saint. Standing ovation BEATIFICATION PROCESS Beatification requires that a miracle has occurred Group approaches local bishop After Rome's approval an investigation is launched Findings are sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Case is presented to the Pope Blessed may be accorded a feast day Relics of the candidate may be venerated Canonisation (actual sainthood) requires proof of a second miracle Reasons for the fast track "And now I have a very joyous piece of news for you," Pope Benedict XVI said in Italian before making the announcement in Latin. The Pope read out a letter from Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the official in charge of sainthood, in which it said that Benedict XVI himself had authorised the start of the beatification process. The news was met with a standing ovation from the priests attending the meeting. It comes on the anniversary of an assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981, when he was shot in St Peter's Square by a Turkish gunman. Life examined Information will now be gathered on the former pope's life and teachings, including all private writings from the period before he became pope, and checked for orthodoxy to ensure that he expressed no heretical views. Pope John Paul II abandoned the five-year rule when he beatified Mother Teresa A commission of historians will be appointed to gather all of the documents together, which will then be examined by panels of theologians, and cardinals and bishops. If a two-thirds majority agree with John Paul II's beatification Pope Benedict XVI will then be called upon to give his own approval. But Vatican expert Michael Walsh told the BBC that for the process to be complete the Vatican authorities will then have to establish that a miracle has been ascribed to Pope John Paul II. "They have to prove someone has been miraculously healed... by his intercession, by praying to John Paul II, he or she has recovered from cancer or something of that sort," he said. Miracle needed In the days following his death Italian media carried a number of reports of alleged miracles attributed to Pope John Paul II, including one claim that an American man suffering from a brain tumour was cured after receiving communion from the late pontiff. But the alleged miracles occurred during the Pope's lifetime, and the beatification process studies those occurring after the candidate's death. Beatification allows public veneration of the person and for the person to be known as "Blessed". For actual sainthood, proof of at least two miracles is required. Beatification allows public veneration of the blessed person In normal circumstances five years must pass between the death of the person proposed for beatification and the start of the procedure, to avoid emotion playing a part. However, John Paul II dispensed with this rule himself when in 2003 he beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The entire process was completed just six years after her death. On Friday Pope Benedict XVI also announced who would succeed him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Sixty-eight-year-old William Levada, Archbishop of San Francisco, is the first American to hold the post as the Vatican's chief watchdog of orthodoxy. \|\|\|\|\| The pontiff said he was dispensing with rules ordering a five-year wait following the death of a candidate. The five-year rule is intended to allow time for emotions to calm after a person's death. He made the announcement in Latin during a meeting with the Roman clergy at the Basilica of St John Lateran. It is the first step to the canonisation of John Paul II, who died last month. At his funeral Mass, pilgrims chanted "Santo, Santo!" and held up banners saying "Santo Subito" - meaning "immediate sainthood". A commission is now expected to be appointed to examine John Paul II's life and gather his teachings to ensure orthodoxy and that he expressed no heretical views. It will also have to confirm that the former pope performed miracles. One miracle is required for John Paul II to be beatified, and a second for him to be declared a saint. After John Paul II died, Italian newspapers carried reports of alleged miracles that had been attributed to him. However, the reports stemmed from inexplicable cures that had occurred while the former pontiff was still alive. Vatican rules say a miracle has to have occurred after death for it to be considered in the sanctifying process. Pope Benedict's surprise announcement came on the anniversary of an assassination attempt on John Paul II, who was shot in St Peter's Square by a Turkish gunman in 1981. John Paul II himself lifted the five-year waiting period for the beatification procedures to begin for Mother Teresa, the nun who dedicated her life to caring for India's poorest people, when he launched the beatification process a year after her death in 1997. She was beatified in October 2003. Pope Benedict also named the archbishop of San Francisco, William Levada, to replace him as the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, once known as the holy inquisition. Archbishop Levada, a 68-year-old theologian, is the first American to hold the post. He joined the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1976 and served for six years. He returned as one of the five bishops on the congregation in 2000.	'''Background''' Wikipedia Wikipedia, Wikinews' sibling project, has in-depth background articles on: * beatification * intercession of saints * canonization * beatified people Today Pope Benedict XVI announced, in a meeting with the Roman clergy at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, that the process for beatification of Pope John Paul II can be started soon. The process of beatification is the first step in the Catholic Church towards the proclamation of santification (canonization) of a person. Usually there is a five year waiting period after the death of a candidate for beatification before the procedures may begin. Pope Benedict XVI waived this period on May 9. The only other case where the waiting period has been waived was Mother Teresa, whose beatification was begun in 1998, a year after her death, and completed in 2003. John Paul II can not be styled a saint until he has been both formally beatified and canonized, processes that have no timetables and may take several years. Since the process of beatification should be started in the diocese where the person died, the process should be started by the Cardinal Vicar, Camillo Ruini, who should instruct the process under the competent Court.
LONDON (Reuters) - The Church of England rejected an attempt by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to accommodate opponents of women bishops, dealing a blow to his authority and increasing the likelihood some traditionalists who favour an all-male clergy will leave the Anglican Communion. Williams, spiritual head of the world Anglican communion, had tabled an amendment at the church’s General Synod, or parliament, which would have strengthened the legal position of male bishops ministering in dioceses where parishes objected to women bishops. It would have provided for a so-called nominated bishop, working alongside the female bishop, taking his power from the church rather than the diocesan bishop. But although the amendment, jointly put forward by Archbishop of York John Sentamu, the church’s second most senior cleric, secured a majority of votes across all three houses of synod, it failed because one, the house of clergy, narrowly voted against. It is rare for archbishops to propose an amendment, and although there was a good chance it would fail, it still shocked many in the chamber. Calls for calm and for the synod to “hold its nerve” were made as clergy asked for time to seek guidance. “The archbishops left the door open...I am now gutted,” said one member of the synod, which met in York, northern England. The archbishops’ loss does not alter the principle of female ordination but it does make further compromise more difficult and increases the prospect of some traditionalists taking up Pope Benedict’s offer made last October which made it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Roman Catholicism. It could lead evangelicals to seek guidance elsewhere, taking their growing, often young congregations, with them, as well as their large funds. The ordination of women, along with homosexual bishops and same-sex marriages, is among the most divisive issues facing the Anglican Communion, which has 77 million members worldwide. The CoE began the process of consecrating women bishops five years ago, and other Anglican provinces have them, including the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. APOSTLES ALL MEN But the CoE has struggled to find a way of keeping traditionalist Anglo Catholics and conservative evangelicals within the same broad church as liberals who are in favour of female bishops. Conservatives say as Jesus Christ’s apostles were all men, there is nothing in the Bible or church history to support women bishops. Liberals say it is insulting not to admit women to positions of power, especially as nearly a third of the CoE’s working priests are female. The archbishops during the debate had reaffirmed their support of women bishops, but said they were looking for a way to keep the church together. But some of those in favour of women bishops said they had reacted with “sadness and dismay” at the proposal, saying a system that created two categories of bishop could not work and would lead to inevitable conflict. “I do not believe this is good news,” Christine Allsopp, archdeacon of Northampton, said. “I don’t believe this will deliver, and it certainly doesn’t feel good news for women clergy.” While traditionalists had threatened to leave if their call for further safeguards were not met, some women had likewise suggested they would not be able to work under the archbishops’ proposal. The synod has about 10 more hours over the next few days to discuss the Revision Committee’s draft legislation which recommends women should be consecrated as bishops on the same basis as men. It proposes a statutory code of practice which would allow traditional parishes to request that a male bishop perform blessings and ordinations to safeguard their interests. It has a number of hurdles still to get over before England could see its first woman bishop, possibly in 2014. The synod earlier in the session rejected two amendments which proposed more extreme measures. \|\|\|\|\| A bid by two of the Church of England's most senior clerics to avert a split over women bishops has narrowly failed. A general synod vote went against compromise proposals, offering safeguards for objectors, put by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. They were backed by a majority of the houses of bishops and laity, but not of the House of Clergy, meaning they fell. The Archbishop of York earlier urged an end to the "spin and propaganda" against the Archbishop of Canterbury. The two clerics are trying to stop a split over the women bishops issue which divides liberals and traditionalists. Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams had earlier insisted that the concessions did not represent a "loyalty" test to himself and Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. Continue reading the main story We recognise their good intentions in trying to help us all to hold together but I do not believe that this is good news The Venerable Christine Allsopp Archdeacon of Northampton Send us your comments "We should both be very disappointed if this was seen as some kind of covert loyalty test. Synod must scrutinise our suggestion in the way it would scrutinise any other," he said. Before the vote Dr Sentamu told the general synod of the Church of England "enough is enough" over the "general disregard for truth" about Dr Williams. Dr Sentamu said he was "deeply saddened" that there was not only a "general disregard for the truth, but a rapacious appetite for 'carelessness'." He said this was "compounded by spin, propaganda and the resort to misleading opinions paraded as fact, regarding a remarkable, gifted and much-maligned Christian leader I call a dear friend and trusted colleague - one Rowan Williams". Impassioned speeches The two most senior figures in the Church were urging synod members to support a last-ditch compromise deal aimed at avoiding a split over the introduction of women bishops. They proposed that a female bishop would have full authority in her diocese but "in practice refrain from exercising" certain functions in a parish which objected to her. A "complementary bishop" would have independent powers, and the powers of the two bishops would be "co-ordinate". Some 216 members voted in favour of the archbishops' proposals, and 191 against. But the result in the House of Clergy was 90 against and 85 in favour, with five abstentions. Under the rules, the proposals were lost as they failed to achieve a majority in each of the houses. Impassioned speeches were made both in favour and against the proposals. Gay bishop pressure The concession would have strengthened the legal position of male bishops ministering in dioceses where parishes objected to women bishops. But pro-women's ordination campaigners had claimed they could lead to a "two-track episcopacy". The Venerable Christine Allsopp, Archdeacon of Northampton, told the synod she was "dismayed" by the compromise being put. "We recognise their good intentions in trying to help us all to hold together but I do not believe that this is good news, I do not believe that this will deliver and it is certainly not good news for women clergy," she said. The general synod also voted against an amendment that proposed three new dioceses to cater for objectors to women bishops. Also proposed in the rejected amendment was the idea that male bishops appointed to minister in these dioceses would declare that they would not participate in the consecration of a woman bishop or priest. Dr Williams is also under pressure after the Crown Nominations Commission blocked the appointment of the openly gay Dean of St Albans, the Very Rev Jeffrey John, as the new Bishop of Southwark. \|\|\|\|\| By Emily Dugan The Archbishop of Canterbury was struggling yesterday to prevent warring factions within the Church of England from splitting over the ordaining of female bishops. When the 484 members of the church's General Synod reconvene in York tomorrow, the church's unity will be precariously balanced. Dr Rowan Williams won an early boost when members voted to "take note" of draft legislation on creating female bishops, but later suffered a setback when his amendment to appease traditionalists was voted down. Although the Synod has voted in favour of female bishops, it is now hoping to appease traditionalist factions who are threatening to abandon the church over the issue. This threat was made more urgent following the offer from Pope Benedict last year that the disaffected would be welcome in the Catholic Church. The move to appease traditionalists, put forward jointly with the Archbishop of York, Dr john Sentamu, proposed three new dioceses run by male bishops to cater for those objecting to change. The move was rejected by 258 votes to 134, with eight abstentions. Faced with the almost impossible task of balancing the wishes of traditionalists, who want to be protected from female bishops, and supporters of women's ordination, a compromise is proving tricky. The debate is expected to continue until Tuesday. Dr Williams insisted earlier that the concessions did not represent a "loyalty" test to himself and Dr Sentamu. "We should be very disappointed if this was seen as some kind of covert loyalty test. Synod must scrutinise our suggestion in the way it would scrutinise any other," he said The divisions have prompted speculation that Dr Williams might step down. Downing Street and the Church of England both denied reports that No 10 has ordered a briefing paper on how the Prime Minister should respond in the event that Dr Williams suddenly resigned.	Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in 2007 The Church of England's ruling body, the General Synod, yesterday rejected a compromise deal on the divisive issue of women bishops. An amendment to satisfy traditionalists was jointly proposed by its two most senior clerics, the Archbishop of Canterbury, , and the Archbishop of York, . Despite getting a majority of support across the Synod as a whole, it was rejected after narrowly being defeated in the vote of the House of Clergy. The amendment would have allowed male "complementary bishops" to cater to parishes, which objected to having a female bishop in their diocese. The bishops would supposedly have "co-ordinate" powers, but some campaigners supporting women bishops said the plans would result in an unfair "two-track" system. "I do not believe this will deliver, and it is certainly not good news for women clergy," said Christine Allsopp, Archdeacon of , of the proposed amendment. Many traditionalists have strongly opposed the ordination of female bishops, and threatened to leave the Church over the issue. The situation has been worsened by offers from Pope Benedict for disaffected Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church instead. Earlier Dr Sentamu had claimed that Dr Williams was facing "spin and propaganda", and called for it to end. Dr Williams insisted that the vote should not be considered a test of the Synod's "loyalty" to the two Archbishops, but the rejection is widely seen as a blow to their authority. The Synod is due to continue its debate on women bishops over the next few days.
A vote to decide King Gyanendra's future is due next year The pact formally ended a 10-year insurgency that killed 13,000 people. Under the landmark deal, the rebels will join a transitional government. King Gyanendra took over power in February 2005, but was forced to step down by a popular uprising last April. On Monday a panel held him responsible for excesses against pro-democracy protesters in the uprising. Prayer for peace In a statement, the monarch expressed his pleasure that "a peace agreement has been concluded in keeping with the nation's need and people's aspirations". The king expressed the hope that "by ensuring sustainable peace, a prosperous Nepal can now be built with the collective efforts of all Nepalese people through multi-party democracy". The monarch also prayed for "the eternal peace of the souls of all Nepalese who lost their precious lives". The country's multi-party government and the Maoist rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than six months since they co-ordinated mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament and end direct rule. The king has subsequently been stripped of all executive powers including the control over the 90,000-strong army. There has been a persistent call for the abolition of the monarchy since then. A constituent assembly election is due to be held early next year to decide its future. \|\|\|\|\| PM Koirala and rebel leader Prachanda celebrate the signing Under the deal, the rebels will join a transitional government and their weapons will be under UN monitoring. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses in fighting that has left more than 13,000 people dead. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist rebel leader Prachanda signed the deal in Kathmandu. End to conflict "This ends the more than one decade of civil war in the country," Prachanda said after the deal was signed. This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system Maoist leader Prachanda Viewpoints: Historic peace Should the king be punished? The country's multi-party government and the Maoist rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than six months since they co-ordinated mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament and end direct rule. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that the agreement brings an end to years of bloody conflict. The Maoists are now due to move into parliament and government, abandoning their guerrilla status. Our correspondent says that the agreement has been expected for several days, but is nonetheless historic. "The war is over," declared the chief government negotiator, Krishna Sitaula, as he read out the agreement reached after tortuous negotiations. He said the ceasefire declared by both sides six months ago had become permanent. Arms belonging to the rebels will be monitored by the UN Anyone committing violent acts from now on would be punished, Mr Sitaula added. In a celebratory atmosphere, the peace agreement was made public at a large gathering of politicians, diplomats and civil society leaders in Kathmandu. "This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system," 52-year-old Prachanda declared. "Our party will work with new responsibility and new vigour to make a new Nepal." Mr Koirala was equally ecstatic. "The agreement has ended the politics of killings, violence and terror and started the politics of cooperation," he said. "I would like to thank Prachanda as well for finding a peaceful solution. Nepal has entered into a new era and it has opened the door for peace. "Now we need to meet together in cooperation and understanding to make sure this agreement is fully implemented," the 85-year-old PM said. The UN has welcomed the deal, describing it as "another key step forward in the peace process". \|\|\|\|\| By Alastair Lawson BBC News Online South Asia The rebels control large swathes of rural Nepal It is estimated that they now have between 10,000 to 15,000 fighters, and are active across the country, with many parts completely under their control. So how did the rebels transform themselves from a small group of shotgun-wielding insurgents in 1996 to the formidable fighting force they are today? The disillusionment of the Maoists with the Nepalese political system began after democracy was re-introduced in 1990. Shining Path Many who are key figures in the rebel movement today played a role alongside mainstream political parties in over-throwing Nepal's absolute monarchy. Although they participated in the country's first parliamentary elections, their disenchantment with ceaseless political squabbling - and their anger at the plight of the rural poor - prompted them to take up arms. In doing so, there is little doubt that the two key rebel leaders, Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai, derived their inspiration from Peru's Shining Path rebels. The Maoists military strength has increased considerably in recent years Both men wanted to emulate the Shining Path's stated objective of destroying government institutions and replacing them with a revolutionary peasant regime. As with the Shining Path, Nepal's Maoists deal with dissent ruthlessly. Human rights groups say that like the security forces, they are guilty of numerous summary executions and cases of torture. The Nepalese Maoists have also made some "homegrown" modifications to Maoist ideology. Caste resentment They argue that what makes them different from other communist parties in the country is that they want a complete revamp of the multiparty democratic system as part of a programme aimed at turning the country into a Marxist republic. But on this issue there is some ambiguity, because in the past Maoist negotiators have hinted that they will abandon this demand so that the peace process can be kick-started. So powerful have the Maoists become that few dare defy their call for a general strike in Kathmandu In fact the only area where they have stayed consistent is in their demand for an end to Nepal's constitutional monarchy. Another key grievance of the rebels was the resentment felt by lower caste people against the authority wielded by the higher castes. The Maoists say that the reason they have so much support is because most of their supporters have traditionally been treated as second-class citizens or worse. Many analysts that this is the real explanation as to why such a seemingly anachronistic movement has made such dramatic headway. The rebels can now threaten Kathmandu itself Unquestionably there is a substantial number of people in Nepal who see the Maoists as the only genuine alternative to the old, repressive social order. The first Maoist attack is believed to have taken place in 1996, when six government and police outposts were attacked simultaneously in mid-western Nepal. Similar attacks took place on a regular basis in the same area over the next few years. Initially the rebels were not taken seriously at all by the government, diplomats, journalists or the all-pervasive aid agencies that dominate Nepal's economy. They were lightly armed and not considered a genuine military threat. Rebel abductions But since then they have become one of South Asia's most potent rebel groups, rivalling the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka. Today the Maoists are well organised, and the firepower at their disposal greater than ever. Rifles and explosives have been stolen from captured police outposts and it is believed that the country's open border with India has made it easier to smuggle arms and money. While many support the Maoists, others are fearful of them So powerful have the Maoists become that few dare defy them when they call a general strike in Kathmandu. The rebels' threat to cut off the city from the rest of the country can no longer be considered an idle threat. Only a few weeks ago, the rebels abducted hundreds of school children for a week long "re-education" course on Maoist ideology right under the noses of the security forces on the outskirts of Kathmandu. The Maoists may not yet have the strength to win their "People's War" but they are too strong to lose it. As one analyst put it, the government appears to be caught in a classic catch-22 situation. Until there is substantial social and economic development in the areas of the countryside where the Maoists hold sway, the insurgency will continue. But development cannot happen until the government gains even limited access to these areas, and access can only be achieved by using highly unpopular and potentially counterproductive military means against a well-organised guerrilla army.	Flag of Nepal Nepal's 10-year civil war has come to a peaceful conclusion with the signing of a historic accord between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Prachanda, leader of the Maoist rebel faction that had been fighting for political change. The deal was signed in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The deal would allow the Maoists into the Nepalese government, and place both Maoist and government weapons under UN scrutiny. The Maoists had been observing a ceasefire since its declaration more than six months previously. Prachanda said that the peace agreement would end the 238-year old feudal system. He added that his party would work with new responsibility and make new strong Nepal. Meanwhile, Koirala said that the deal ended the politics of terron and violence and started the politics of co-operation. He thanked Prachanda to find out a peaceful solution in the country. The government and the Maoist rebels were accused of human rights abuses in fighting that killed more than 13,000 people. Nepalese king Gyanendra Singh has welcomed Tuesday's peace deal between the government and the Maoist rebels.
Protests were launched against Faure Gnassingbe's appointment. They say the 24 April poll is being held too soon to be fully free. Supporters of the ruling RPT (Rally of the Togolese People) also held a rally in favour of the polling date. Togo was plunged into crisis earlier in February after the army installed Faure Gnassingbe as president hours after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema. Although he promised elections within 60 days, as stipulated by the constitution, this did little to quell protests from African neighbours and beyond. Organisation Around 2,000 people attended each demonstration, witnesses said. Opposition leaders say the 24 April deadline does not give them enough time to mount a proper campaign. "We will continue to fight for better organisation of the 24 April vote, but we will go to the polls and we ask opposition supporters to go and register on electoral lists," said Leopold Gnininvi of the CDPA opposition party. Supporters of the government insisted that the elections should take place on the scheduled date. "We say elections should take place on 24 April - only elections can decide between us," said Robert Assidi, a member of the youth wing of the RPT. Interior Minister Francois Boko said on Wednesday that a special 3,500 strong special security force would be deployed to ensure candidates would be able move freely in the run-up to the election. Emmanuel Bob-Akitani, vice president of the Union Forces for Change party, will stand as the main opposition candidate against Faure Gnassingbe. \|\|\|\|\| By EBOW GODWIN Associated Press Writer LOME, Togo (AP) - Opposition parties rallied on Saturday to call for presidential elections to be delayed, but supporters of Togo's deceased military ruler insisted the vote must go ahead as planned. Some militants attacked two plainclothes policemen on duty, causing them to be hospitalized with bruises and one with a fractured elbow, Security Minister Akila Esso Boko said. ``Ablode! Ablode!'' opposition supporters said, screaming their demand for ``freedom'' after 38 years under the dictatorial rule of Gnassingbe Eyadema, who died of a heart attack Feb. 5. The demonstrations came hours before the midnight deadline for presidential candidates to register for the April 24 vote. Faure Gnassingbe, the son of Eyadema whom the military briefly installed as Togo's leader within hours of death, was first to file on Friday, according to the Electoral Commission. He was followed by Nicolas Lawson, whose Party for Renewal and Redemption is small, but whose preacher-style speeches and frequent quoting from the Bible has won a strong following. Lawson's candidature threatens to split the opposition vote and imperil the chances Emmanuel Bob Akitani, chosen by a six-party opposition coalition of more radical parties that had appealed for opponents to military rule to back one candidate. Hundreds of opposition supporters marched through the capital Saturday and cheered Akitani as he demanded better representation on the nation's electoral bodies and urged them to be vigilant against repeats of previous, fraudulent elections. ``We can foresee another electoral holdup being planned by the Togo government,'' Akitani's coalition said in a statement calling on the Community of West African States to exert pressure on Togo's government to postpone the elections. A rally of the youth wing of Gnassingbe's military-backed party also drew hundreds of supporters Saturday, who yelled ``No'' to any election postponement. ``This will lead to an uncertain tomorrow,'' the youth wing's spokesman, Robert Assedi, said. The security minister, who is also in charge of territorial administration, has denied opposition charges that the government refused it representation on electoral bodies and said the three main opposition parties have not submitted names of representatives to serve on them despite several reminders. He also said the policemen who were attacked did not fight back. ``Togolese security agents have strict orders not to react even in the face of extreme provocation during protest marches,'' Boko told The Associated Press. ``But this should not be taken as a sign of weakness.'' Togolese security forces killed four protesters in February demonstrations against the military's installation of Gnassingbe.	Togo The opposition parties in Togo held a demonstration on Saturday to demand a delay in the upcoming elections. The elections to replace the deceased ruler, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, are scheduled to be held on April 24, 2005. The elections were scheduled after an outpouring of international criticism about the army's installment of the late president's son as the country's new leader. The son, Faure Gnassingbé, initially circumvented the constitutional process for new elections 60 days after the death of a current president, but announced elections after African and European leaders strongly criticized the move. The opposition is demanding a delay for the election, because they fear they will not be able to carry out a sufficient campaign. The candidates from the two prominent opposition parties, Emmanuel Bob Akitani and Nicolas Lawson, both registered with the election officials despite the view that elections should be delayed. In a demonstration in the nation's capital, Akitani's supporters cheered as the candidate called for better representation on elected bodies — something the government denies is a problem. The supporters of the current government also held a rally in the city, shouting "No" to the prospect of delaying elections.
Mugabe rules - again 01/04/2005 21:52 - (SA) Related Articles Mugabe's party wins elections Mugabe's party takes the lead Mass fraud in poll - Tsvangirai 10 000 votes 'out of nowhere' Gallery: Zim election Harare - President Robert Mugabe's party won enough seats to clinch a parliamentary majority, according to results announced on Friday in an election the opposition and rights groups said was skewed from the start. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai accused the government of stealing the poll and urged Zimbabweans to defend their votes. Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) won 55 of parliament's 120 elected seats, compared to 34 for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the national election commission announced. Mugabe appoints another 30 seats, ensuring his party a majority. Tsvangirai told reporters at an earlier news briefing: "The government has fraudulently, once again, betrayed the people. "We believe the people of Zimbabwe must defend their vote and their right to free and fair elections." Mugabe nephew declared winner Tsvangirai said inconsistencies in the results pointed to rigging. He cited the example of Manyame, 40km southwest of Harare, where Mugabe's nephew, ruling party candidate Patrick Zhawao, was declared the winner. Election officials announced on Thursday night that 14 812 people voted in that constituency. But early on Friday, they changed the total to 24 000 and said Zhawao got more than 15 000 votes. Election commission officials refused to comment on the discrepancy, but said they doubted there was any rigging. Tsvangirai's party has shied away from confrontation with Mugabe's increasingly repressive regime after street protests were violently crushed. His party has preferred to fight its battles in the courts - now packed with judges sympathetic to Mugabe. Tsvangirai said his party would do more this time than begin another round of appeals. Party leaders were meeting on Saturday to decide their next step. Independent Zimbabwean rights groups and the United States, whose diplomats observed the campaign and voting, agreed with Tsvangirai that the polls were seriously flawed. Lost six seats in by-elections Although this campaign had been relatively peaceful, they said bloodletting and intimidation in previous years had already skewed the poll in favour of Mugabe's party. The MDC won 57 of the 120 elected seats in the last legislative poll in 2000, but lost six of them in subsequent by-elections. In 2002, Tsvangirai was narrowly declared loser of the presidential poll. The independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which deployed 6 000 observers nationwide, said as many as a quarter of those who tried to vote before 15:15 (13:15 GMT) on Thursday were turned away because their names did not appear on the voters roll, or they failed to present proper identification. George Chiweshe, a former army officer who headed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, conceded some were turned away, but said the problem was not as big as the independent group estimated. He said 116 198 of the 1.4 million people who tried to vote before 14:00 (12:00 GMT) - less than 10% - were not allowed. Discussion Forums \| Newsletters \| Photo Galleries \| Earlier stories \|\|\|\|\| > HARARE, Zimbabwe, April 1 - Nearly complete results in Zimbabwe's national parliamentary elections pointed today to a victory for President Robert G. Mugabe's long-ruling party and a drubbing for his political opposition, which had predicted a strong showing for itself. The lopsided outcome cast new doubts on the strength and strategy of the democratic opposition, which lost elections in 2000 and 2002 that were widely condemned as fraudulent. Mr. Mugabe's opponents accused his party of fraud again today. Some called for mass protests against the Mugabe government, saying this week's vote proved that a fair election was currently impossible. Mr. Mugabe's supporters said the nation's first peaceful election in five years showed that he rules not by force or the threat of it, but with overwhelming popular support. With roughly three in four districts reporting, election analysts said the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front had captured 60 of the 120 seats at stake, and appeared poised to capture a two-thirds majority of the parliament, as Mr. Mugabe had hoped. That would further marginalize the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, which had claimed only 33 seats. That would seem to strengthen Mr. Mugabe's hand as the nation confronts a long series of economic and social problems that critics contend are a direct result of disastrous government policies. \|\|\|\|\| Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, April 2, 2005; Page A15 HARARE, Zimbabwe, April 1 -- The party of President Robert Mugabe tightened its 25-year grip on power Friday, gaining control of at least two-thirds of the country's parliament after elections that his political opponents, human rights groups and many Western governments denounced as rigged and a betrayal of the national will. A day after a nationwide vote, results that trickled in throughout Friday showed Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) with 74 seats compared with 40 for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Before Thursday's election, the opposition controlled 51 seats. In overall votes cast, ZANU-PF received 59 percent to 40 percent for MDC. One seat went to an independent candidate, Jonathan Moyo, the information minister who was fired by Mugabe in February after years in which he oversaw a sweeping crackdown on the nation's independent journalists. The results from 14 more districts were to be announced Saturday morning, officials said. But with Mugabe appointing 30 seats in addition to the 120 contested on Thursday, it was clear his party would control at least two-thirds of parliament, the margin required for ZANU-PF to be able to rewrite the constitution to further entrench its power. After an initial surge of opposition victories in its urban strongholds, a succession of rural precincts reported overwhelming victories for Mugabe's party, even in places where journalists and other independent observers reported few voters and little enthusiasm for the ruling party. "There's just absolute brazen rigging going on," said David Coltart, an opposition member of parliament from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. "I don't expect us to win a single rural seat." Observers from neighboring countries said in preliminary remarks that the election was open and transparent, but the U.S. State Department called it "seriously tainted." "Given everything that's gone on during [the] whole election process, including some of the reports we're getting now, it would be very hard to say that these are free and fair," said Richard A. Boucher, the department's spokesman. Alleged examples of rigging came in myriad forms, from the names of deceased people on voter rolls to extreme gerrymandering of districts to the intentional miscounting of ballots in rural areas beyond the reach of independent monitors. The supposedly indelible purple ink painted on the pinkies of voters to prevent them from casting multiple ballots was easily washed off. In Manyame district, the election commission announced that 14,812 people voted and that the ruling party's candidate received 15,448 votes. Election results also showed that about 10 percent of voters nationwide were turned away at the polls, fueling suspicion that some opposition supporters were purged from voter rolls. As the ruling party's victory became apparent, attention turned increasingly to whether opposition leaders would call for demonstrations to protest results. In a morning news conference, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, called on Zimbabweans to "defend their vote." "We do not accept that this represents the national sentiment," he said of the election. "This government has fraudulently, once again, denied the people."	Amid claims of rigging by the opposition party, news reports today from the Zimbabwe capital city of Harare, say current President Robert Mugabe has again clinched a party victory in this round of national elections. This national election bears similarity to the 2000 election when allegations that Mugabe's dominant political party, the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), used its position in power to steal the election were widespread. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who after that election appealed to the nation's courts for justice, appears ready this time to take the argument to the street, possibly sparking violent protests and unrest. The leader urged, "Zimbabweans must defend their right to vote and they must defend their vote." Past MDC street protests were met violently by Mugabe's regime, and the court system in Zimbabwe is seen as largely supportive of the Zanu-PF agenda. The Zanu-PF took 55 of the 120 seats in the Zimbabwe Parliament. The MDC took 34 seats. The MDC had received strong support during pre-election rallies and had hoped to gain enough new seats to gain a legislative majority in the parliament. Mugabe, now 81, will appoint another 30 seats, which will ensure his party a majority. Tsvangirai cites the area of Manyame located near the capital as an example of election rigging. Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhawao, the ruling party candidate was declared winner. On Thursday night election officials reported 14,812 votes were counted. Then early Friday morning, the total vote count was reported at 24,000, with Zhawao getting more than 15,000 of the vote. The over-night voting count inconsistency led him to charge, "The government has fraudulently, once again, betrayed the people," he told reporters at a news briefing.
Nelson Mandela was South Africa's first post-apartheid-era president US President George W Bush has signed a bill removing Nelson Mandela and South African leaders from the US terror watch list, officials say. Mr Mandela and ANC party members will now be able to visit the US without a waiver from the secretary of state. The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa's old apartheid regime. A US senator said the new legislation was a step towards removing the "shame of dishonouring this great leader". 'Rather embarrassing' Under the legislation, members of the ANC could travel to the United Nations headquarters in New York but not to Washington DC or other parts of the United States. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called the restrictions a "rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader Nelson Mandela." South Africa's apartheid government banned the ANC in 1960, imprisoning or forcing into exile its leaders. Mr Mandela, who turns 90 this month, was released in 1990 after spending 27 years in prison. He then became the country's first post-apartheid-era president, before retiring after serving one term in office. \|\|\|\|\| US embarrassment over Mandela terrorist 'threat' Posted Last weekend he was the guest of honour at a huge concert in London to mark his 90th birthday. More than 64,000 people packed Hyde Park and millions watched the concert on television around the world. But last weekend when former South African president Nelson Mandela was soaking in the musical tributes, he was still on the US Government's terrorism watch list. The internationally revered former South African president was officially regarded as a threat to US national security because of his long association with the African National Congress. Even the North Korean Government managed to get itself dropped from the list before Mr Mandela. In April this year US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had expressed her embarrassment at having to wave in people like the foreign minister of South Africa and former leaders like Nelson Mandela. That was an embarrassment shared by Amir Woods from the Institute of Policy Studies when she spoke to National Public Radio in the US. "It is absolutely a travesty that Mandela, that really all of the leaders of South Africa have to get a special pass to be able to travel to the US because of these travel restrictions," Ms Woods said. "So the Bush administration has quite rightly moved on North Korea to remove North Korea from that list of terrorists." "But all these decades, since the end of the Apartheid era we still have South Africa on, especially the African National Congress including Nelson Mandela, on that list of terrorists." "I think we need to really applaud the Black Congressional Caucus who, they took up this mantle and they have pushed just as they did in the anti-Apartheid struggle." "They have pushed to say look, we need to really recognise an error here in US policy and move swiftly to change it." "So it is their leadership that has brought congressional action, it is also the leadership of the South Africans who have said enough is enough." Dr Michael McKinley, a senior lecturer in international relations and strategy at the ANU, says the process of being included or dropped from Washington's terror watch list is complicated. "The definition of what goes on it is quite elastic," Dr McKinley said. "It goes back to his [Mandela's] days as an active member of the African National Congress, the ANC. "Because the United States was interested in conducting various arrangements with that Apartheid government it was thought necessary to put the ANC on there. "And also the ANC were thought to be and were left of centre." But how does North Korea qualify to be taken off the infamous list before a Nobel Peace Prize winner in Nelson Mandela? "This is one of the more curious developments because what prompted Washington to remove North Korea from the list was North Korea began behaving in a way which suggested they were going to meet, if not halfway at least part of the way, US demands with regard to their nuclear program," Dr McKinley said. "The nuclear program and their association with international terrorism are not necessarily connected. They can be, but they're not necessarily connected. "So the United States seems to have responded in one area because of a favourable development in another, which is not entirely logical in the circumstances." Adapted from a report by Paula Kruger for The World Today \|\|\|\|\| LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nelson Mandela, the indomitable anti-apartheid campaigner who emerged from decades of imprisonment to lead his country into a new era, will this week be joined audience of thousands and a star-studded guest list to mark his 90th birthday. Statesmen, royalty, major figures from the worlds of business, sport and entertainment will gather in London to honor the achievements of Mandela, who despite retiring from public life five years ago, has never left the public eye. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, film stars Robert de Niro, Will Smith and Forest Whittaker and TV presenter Oprah Winfrey are among those attending celebrations that will climax with the three-hour concert on June 27. To mark the occasion, CNN has produced a package of feaures looking at the man behind the legend. Exclusive interviews with his wife Graca Machel, his grandchildren and those who shared his journey through prison and presidency are accompanied by photo galleries, profiles and interactive features on CNN.com. CNN will also have behind the scenes coverage of the Hyde Park concert, featuring some of the biggest names in music -- among them Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Queen, Leona Lewis and the Soweto Gospel Choir. Friday's event also marks the 20 year anniversary of the Free Mandela concert -- featuring some of the same artists -- that was held in London to demand his release from prison. Proceeds from Friday's concert will go to the 46664 charity, the AIDS campaign named after the number Mandela wore while imprisoned by South Africa's apartheid authorities. He was released in 1990 after 27 years behind bars, and was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994. According to 46664, Friday's concert will see Mandela officially bow out of campaigning for the charitable causes that he has championed since he left public office. "You all know that I am supposed to be retired, but my friends and the charitable organizations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so of course I want to help them," Mandela said in a statement released by 46664. "So we have a bargain -- I am going to London and they will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds." \|\|\|\|\| Mr Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday later this year US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has asked for "embarrassing" travel restrictions on Nelson Mandela and South African leaders to be lifted. A bill has been introduced in the US Congress to remove from databases any reference to South Africa's governing party and its leaders as terrorists. The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa's old apartheid regime. At present a waiver is needed for any ANC leaders to enter the country. "It is frankly a rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterparts - the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader, Nelson Mandela," Ms Rice told lawmakers in Washington. Last week, Howard Berman, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, who introduced the bill said it was "shameful" that the United States still treated the ANC this way. "Amazingly, Nelson Mandela still needs to get a special waiver to enter the United States based on his courageous leadership of the ANC. What an indignity. This legislation will wipe it away," he said. South Africa's apartheid government banned the ANC in 1960, imprisoning or forcing into exile its leaders. Mr Mandela, who turns 90 this year, was released in 1990 after spending 27 years in prison. He then became the country's first post-apartheid-era president, before retiring after serving one term in office. He appears to be in reasonable health, but now makes far fewer public appearances.	Nelson Mandela has been classified as a terrorist since the time of Apartheid in South Africa Nelson Mandela has officially been taken off the US list of terrorists by the United States government. This comes after a statement by Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, who said that it was a "rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in ... the great leader Nelson Mandela," back in April. The ruling, which also applied to all members of the African National Congress means that Mandela can travel to the United States without being approved by the Secretary of State. Nelson Mandela has recently been in the media due to his upcoming 90th birthday. As part of the celebrations, a concert was held in Hyde Park, attended by many influential politicians, including Bill Clinton, former US president. Nelson Mandela was a campaigner against apartheid who served one term as president of South Africa. Last week the government of North Korea was removed from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. This announcement was made as a reward to North Korea for turning over all documents related to its controversial nuclear program. Pyongyang turned over to China documents related to its plutonium core and waste activities.